Dedication of new course for ultra-Orthodox women at Ma'aleh

Ma'aleh's new film course for ultra-Orthodox women was opened today by Jerusalem's Mayor Nir Barkat and the Rabbi of Ma'aleh, Rabbi Mordecai Vardi.

Mayor Barkat and Rabbi Vardi cut the tape, and Rabbi Yisrael Gliss, a member of the steering committee for ultra-Orthodox issues, affixed the Mezuzah at the program's new premises adjacent to the main school building. The ceremony was attended by Maaleh students, staff and faculty. Mr. Barkat turned to the women who have in enrolled the course and addressed them as the brave pioneers of a completely new phenomenon in the ultra-Orthodox community. He praised the school's leadership and in particular the director of the school, Mrs. Neta Ariel, saying that Ma'aleh's contribution to Israeli culture and to Jerusalem in particular has been miraculous. Rabbis Gliss and Vardi added their own words of enthusiasm for the project, and Mrs. Neta Ariel spoke of her dream of setting up such a course for many years, saying she was delighted to see it finally come to fruition. She added that this was an opportunity for ultra-Orthodox women to seek out new career paths and to have a unique chance to express their way of life through the medium of film.