Esty Shushan

Esty Shushan

Esty Shushan is an ultra-Orthodox woman, mother of four children and the eldest of 12 brothers and sisters. She is the Founder and CEO of Nivcharot, a nonprofit organization that grew out of the “Lo Nivcharot, Lo Bocharot” movement (Hebrew for: “Not Elected, Not Electing”).

Esty is a lecturer, a media persona, writer, artist, decorator, facilitator and content creator. In recent years, she has lectured, in Israel and abroad, regarding her personal story and activism. She has launched the “Haredit Meduberet” (Hebrew for: an ultra-Orthodox woman who is being spoken about). In 2014, her film “Akara” (Hebrew: “Childless Woman”), focusing on early motherhood and large families, which was presented in festivals in Israel and abroad. She has created the film “Ehad Mi Yodea” (reference to the famous song from the Passover Haggadah) in 2020, which was broadcasted as part of a project focusing on Passover during COVID. She is currently working on a television show based on her personal story and a first poetry book, scheduled for publication by the Tangir Publication.

In 2017, Esty was awarded the “Daphna London Ya’ari” Award for feminist social activism. In 2018, Esty was named one of 20 most influential female activists in Israel by the “Lady Globes” magazine. In 2019 she was awarded the Rappoport Prize for groundbreaking feminist activism. In 2020, she was named one of 20 most promising young Israelis of the next decade.