The first graduating class of a college for ultra-Orthodox females celebrated its diploma on Monday night. The class of 44 women who studied social work finished their studies with a ceremony at the International Congress Center Jerusalem. The college opened in the year 2001 with the blessing of former Sephardic Chief Rabbi and spiritual leader of the Sephardic-orthodox party Shas, Ovadya Yosef. “For the first time the haredi (orthodox) community has dared to openly legitimize university-accredited degrees for women,” he said. More information in the israel today magazine of March 2006