A Jewish champion, a cyclist and kickboxer who served in the IDF, has been removed as the keynote speaker at an international women's day event by a women's empowerment group called Inspire. The group stated that the decision was made 'in recognition of the current situation and the sensitivity of the conflict in the Middle East.'
Leah Goldstein, the keynote speaker who was uninvited, expressed shock at the decision, emphasizing that her presentation had nothing to do with politics. She mentioned that in her 11 years of speaking engagements, she had never faced any complaints about offending anyone.
Goldstein highlighted that her service in the IDF, which was compulsory over 30 years ago, was the sole reason for her removal. The organizers cited concerns about potential escalations, protests, and sponsor withdrawals as the basis for their decision.
Goldstein revealed that she had not received any further explanation from the event organizers, except for the safety concerns and the need to replace her as the keynote speaker. She had planned to speak about her life experiences, motivation, and athletic career, steering clear of political and religious topics.
She raised questions about the exclusion of Jewish women from the conference and pondered whether a Palestinian woman would face similar treatment. Goldstein emphasized the importance of inclusion, diversity, and creating a safe space for all women, regardless of their backgrounds.
Goldstein firmly stated that her IDF service did not influence her speech content and believed that even without her military background, she would have been replaced due to her Jewish identity. She expressed disappointment at being excluded solely based on her ethnicity and military service, viewing it as unjust and chilling.
