Behind the Scenes with World Leaders

Rifka Ravitz: A Haredi Woman's Journey in Israeli Politics

Rifka Ravitz is a Haredi woman from Jerusalem who grew up in a religious neighborhood and learned in a Bais Yaakov school.
Her parents were American immigrants who didn't have a lot of money, but they never made their children feel deprived.
Ravitz became an English teacher after learning in a seminary and getting married at the age of 18.
Her husband is also a politician and a son of a member of Knesset.
Ravitz started her political career as an intern for her father-in-law, who was the head of the finance committee of the Knesset.
She later became an assistant to the head of the Likud party in the Knesset after her father-in-law had to let her go due to a new law against nepotism.
At the age of 22, Ravitz became the chief of staff to the minister of communications of Israel, making her the first Haredi woman in such a position.
Ravitz's husband became the speaker of the Knesset in 2006 after a hard campaign.
In 2014, Ravitz's husband ran for president, and she worked with him on his campaign for almost a year, which was challenging as she had her 11th child during that time.
Ravitz has met many world leaders throughout her career, and she is known for standing her ground and having them bow to her.
Most Haredi women in Israel work outside the home, with teaching being a popular job, and having large families is not uncommon.
Ravitz's experience as a mother of 12 has gotten easier with time, and she finds that her children take care of each other and play with each other, making it less stressful for her.Meeting World Leaders: A Former Chief of Staff's Experience
The interviewee worked as a Chief of Staff for the President of Israel in the 90s and early 2000s.
It was not typical for a woman to hold a high-ranking government job at that time.
Despite having a large family, the interviewee was able to balance work and home life.
The interviewee did not experience pushback from religious leaders in her position.
The interviewee was shocked when the President won the election.
After the President's win, the interviewee was given the opportunity to choose her job title and became the first woman to hold the position of Chief of Staff for the Prime Minister.
The interviewee met with Putin during a crisis and was nervous about the meeting.
Putin invited the Israeli delegation to a dinner, which was surprising but went well.
Putin shared a story about his childhood and his positive experience with a Jewish family, which impacted his views on Jews as a world leader.
The interviewee and the Israeli delegation met with the Pope to discuss a crisis involving land.
The delegation was given a protocol for meeting the Pope, which included shaking hands and giving a small present.
The interviewee did not shake hands with men and had the ambassador inform the Pope beforehand.Meeting the Pope and Biden: A Religious Woman's Experience
The author met with the Pope and Biden on separate occasions.
She did not shake hands with the Pope due to religious reasons and explained this to him through a translator.
The meeting with the Pope went well, but the Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs was upset with her for not shaking hands.
The author has also met with other world leaders, including Clinton, Bush, Obama, and Trump.
She and President Rivlin received an invitation from the White House to say goodbye to Biden at the end of his term.
The author did not stay in a hotel due to COVID-19 precautions and went straight to Washington, D.C.
They were hosted in the same room and had the same cookies as previous visits with other presidents.
The author and President Rivlin had a private meeting with Biden in the Oval Room.
They discussed environmental issues and asked about each other's spouses.
Biden reached out to shake the author's hand, but President Rivlin reminded him that she does not shake hands with men.
The meeting with Biden ended well, and the author was impressed by his kindness and warmth.
The author reflects on the importance of standing up for one's religious values, even in high-stakes situations.Rifka Zlotowski's Encounters with High-Profile Figures
Joe Biden expressed admiration for Rifka Zlotowski's decision to prioritize her family and values, and showed her a photo of his mother on a shelf in his office.
Zlotowski's grandmother made the decision to move to Israel with her family, leaving behind a comfortable life in the US, because of her belief in the importance of the Jewish state.
Zlotowski attended a premiere event for the movie Justice League in Los Angeles, where she met Gal Gadot and took a selfie with her.
Zlotowski's staff referred to her as "Wonder Woman" because of her ability to handle multiple tasks and responsibilities.
Zlotowski shared a story about Rabbi Wasserman, who initially asked a friend to sew a button back onto his coat, but eventually revealed that he was there to ask for donations for his yeshiva.
Zlotowski believes that people have a duty to stand up for their values and make a positive impact on the world.
Zlotowski's husband's parents also made the decision to move to Israel, giving up a comfortable life in the US, because of their belief in the importance of the Jewish state.
Zlotowski met the queen of Spain during a state visit, and was impressed by the hospitality and kindness shown to her and her delegation.
Zlotowski's encounter with Joe Biden showed her the power of a parent's influence on their children.
Zlotowski's encounter with Gal Gadot showed her the importance of taking advantage of unexpected opportunities.
Zlotowski believes that people should prioritize their values and beliefs, even if it means making difficult decisions.
Zlotowski's experiences with high-profile figures have taught her the importance of staying true to oneself and making a positive impact on others.