Where it began

Bishvilaych (Hebrew: feminine form of “for you”) was established in 2004 by Sara Siemiatycki.

As director of a Jerusalem-based medical facility and community health advocate, Ms. Siemiatycki was struck by women’s overwhelming lack of information, anxiety, and sense of isolation surrounding health issues. Further investigation pointed to a serious discrepancy in health outcomes for women throughout Israel, with particularly low indicators for religious women.

Ms. Siemiatycki recruited Dr. Diana Flescher, a longtime activist in women’s health issues to address this gender gap and together, they opened the first and only prevention-based non-profit organization for women’s health in Israel.

Bishvilaych’s programs focus on providing underprivileged women and girls in Israel with the confidence and skills to become active participants in their health, challenging the traditional paternalistic approach to health care.

She serves as Bishviaych’s executive director, which includes funding, development and public relations as well as liaison with other organizations and government representatives.

She oversees all of Bishvilaych’s programs, supervises staff, lectures throughout the country, and –more often than not- can be found providing a fellow woman with the much needed support, practical guidance, or community resource.