{"id":90409,"date":"2016-03-20T08:39:29","date_gmt":"2016-03-20T16:39:29","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.lukeford.net\/blog\/?p=90409"},"modified":"2016-03-20T08:39:29","modified_gmt":"2016-03-20T16:39:29","slug":"can-women-be-orthodox-rabbis","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lukeford.net\/blog\/?p=90409","title":{"rendered":"Can Women Be Orthodox Rabbis?"},"content":{"rendered":"

Historian Marc B. Shapiro writes<\/a>:<\/p>\n

\nI have found a number of statements by mainstream rabbinic figures that, if one didn’t know better, one would think that they were said by liberal Orthodox figures. For example:<\/span><\/div>\n
\n\u05d5\u05de\u05d4 \u05d0\u05e2\u05e9\u05d4 \u05d5\u05dc\u05d1\u05d9 \u05de\u05e8\u05d7\u05dd \u05e2\u05dc \u05d0\u05dc\u05de\u05e0\u05d4 [\u05d5\u05d1\u05e4\u05e8\u05d8 \u05d1\u05d9\u05de\u05d9\u05e0\u05d5] \u05e8\u05d7\u05de\u05d9\u05dd \u05d2\u05d3\u05d5\u05dc\u05d9\u05dd, \u05d5\u05d0\u05d5\u05dc\u05d9 \u05d0\u05e4\u05e9\u05e8 \u05dc\u05e2\u05e8\u05e2\u05e8 \u05d0\u05dd \u05d0\u05e0\u05d9 \u05db\u05e9\u05e8 \u05dc\u05d3\u05d5\u05df \u05d3\u05d9\u05df \u05d0\u05dc\u05de\u05e0\u05d4, \u05d0\u05d1\u05dc \u05de\u05e6\u05d3 \u05d4\u05d3\u05d9\u05df \u05d0\u05d9\u05e0\u05e0\u05d9 \u05e8\u05d5\u05d0\u05d4 \u05e4\u05e1\u05d5\u05dc \u05dc\u05e2\u05e6\u05de\u05d9.<\/span><\/o:p><\/span><\/div>\n
\nIf a liberal Orthodox rabbi made this statement, I think many would say that he was not “objective” and thus not suitable to serve as a dayan. Yet the statement I just quoted was made by R. Isaac Herzog.[1]<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/o:p><\/span><\/div>\n
\nI was surprised to see that R. Ovadiah Yosef stated that had the Hazon Ish been a dayan and seen the pain of agunot first-hand then he would have been more lenient.[2]<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/o:p><\/span><\/div>\n
\n\u05e8\u05d1\u05e0\u05d5 \u05d3\u05d9\u05d1\u05e8 \u05e2\u05dc \u05d4\u05d7\u05d6\u05d5\u05df \u05d0\u05d9\u05e9 \u05e9\u05d4\u05d7\u05de\u05d9\u05e8 \u05d1\u05e2\u05e0\u05d9\u05df \u05ea\u05e8\u05d9 \u05e8\u05d5\u05d1\u05d9 \u05d1\u05e2\u05d2\u05d5\u05e0\u05d5\u05ea, \u05d5\u05d4\u05d7\u05de\u05d9\u05e8 \u05e2\u05d5\u05d3 \u05d1\u05e2\u05e0\u05d9\u05d9\u05e0\u05d9\u05dd \u05d0\u05d7\u05e8\u05d9\u05dd, \u05d5\u05d0\u05de\u05e8 \u05e8\u05d1\u05e0\u05d5 \u05d0\u05d5\u05d3\u05d5\u05ea \u05d4\u05d7\u05d6\u05d5\u05df \u05d0\u05d9\u05e9, \u05e9\u05d0\u05dd \u05d4\u05d7\u05d6\u05d5\u05df \u05d0\u05d9\u05e9 \u05d4\u05d9\u05d4 \u05d0\u05d1 \u05d1\u05d9\u05ea \u05d3\u05d9\u05df \u05d4\u05d9\u05d4 \u05de\u05d5\u05db\u05e8\u05d7 \u05dc\u05d4\u05e7\u05dc, \u05db\u05d9 \u05db\u05da \u05d0\u05de\u05e8\u05d5 \u05d4\u05e8\u05d1\u05d4 \u05e9\u05db\u05d0\u05e9\u05e8 \u05d4\u05e8\u05d1 \u05de\u05d5\u05db\u05e8\u05d7 \u05dc\u05d5\u05de\u05e8 \u05d3\u05d1\u05e8\u05d9\u05dd \u05dc\u05de\u05e2\u05e9\u05d4 \u05d4\u05d5\u05d0 \u05de\u05d5\u05db\u05e8\u05d7 \u05d9\u05d5\u05ea\u05e8 \u05dc\u05d4\u05e7\u05dc, \u05d5\u05d0\u05de\u05e8 \u05e8\u05d1\u05e0\u05d5 \u05d7\u05d1\u05dc \u05e9\u05dc\u05d0 \u05e2\u05e9\u05d5 \u05d0\u05ea \u05d4\u05d7\u05d6\u05d5\u05df \u05d0\u05d9\u05e9 \u05d0\u05d1 \u05d1\u05d9\u05ea \u05d3\u05d9\u05df, \u05db\u05d9 \u05d0\u05dd \u05d4\u05d9\u05d5 \u05de\u05de\u05e0\u05d9\u05dd \u05d0\u05d5\u05ea\u05d5 \u05d0\u05d1 \u05d1\u05d9\u05ea \u05d3\u05d9\u05df \u05d4\u05d9\u05d4 \u05de\u05d5\u05db\u05e8\u05d7 \u05dc\u05d4\u05e7\u05dc, \u05db\u05d9 \u05d4\u05d5\u05d0 \u05d9\u05d5\u05e9\u05d1 \u05d1\u05d1\u05d9\u05ea\u05d5 \u05d5\u05db\u05d5\u05ea\u05d1, \u05d0\u05dd \u05d4\u05d9\u05d4 \u05d9\u05d5\u05e9\u05d1 \u05d1\u05d1\u05d9\u05ea \u05d3\u05d9\u05df, \u05d5\u05d4\u05d9\u05d4 \u05e8\u05d5\u05d0\u05d4 \u05d0\u05ea \u05d4\u05e0\u05e9\u05d9\u05dd \u05e9\u05d1\u05d5\u05db\u05d5\u05ea \u05db\u05e9\u05d1\u05d0\u05d5\u05ea \u05dc\u05d1\u05e7\u05e9 \u05dc\u05d4\u05ea\u05d9\u05e8 \u05d0\u05d5\u05ea\u05df \u05d5\u05db\u05d5’ \u05d4\u05d9\u05d4 \u05de\u05d5\u05db\u05e8\u05d7 \u05dc\u05de\u05e6\u05d5\u05d0 \u05e6\u05d3\u05d3\u05d9\u05dd \u05dc\u05d4\u05e7\u05dc. \u05d5\u05d1\u05e1\u05e4\u05e8 \u05d0\u05d1\u05d9 \u05d4\u05d9\u05e9\u05d9\u05d1\u05d5\u05ea \u05d0\u05de\u05e8\u05d5 \u05e2\u05dc \u05e8\u05d1\u05d9 \u05d7\u05d9\u05d9\u05dd \u05de\u05d5\u05d5\u05dc\u05d5\u05d6\u05d9\u05df \u05e9\u05d4\u05d9\u05d4 \u05d0\u05d5\u05de\u05e8 \u05d1\u05ea\u05d7\u05dc\u05d4 \u05e9\u05db\u05dc \u05e2\u05d5\u05d3 \u05e9\u05dc\u05d0 \u05e0\u05ea\u05de\u05e0\u05d4 \u05dc\u05d0\u05d1”\u05d3 \u05d4\u05d9\u05d4 \u05de\u05d7\u05de\u05d9\u05e8 \u05d1\u05ea\u05e8\u05d9 \u05e8\u05d5\u05d1\u05d9, \u05d5\u05e2\u05db\u05e9\u05d9\u05d5 \u05e9\u05de\u05d9\u05e0\u05d5 \u05d0\u05d5\u05ea\u05d5 \u05dc\u05d3\u05d9\u05d9\u05df \u05d4\u05d5\u05d0 \u05de\u05d9\u05e7\u05dc \u05d1\u05ea\u05e8\u05d9 \u05e8\u05d5\u05d1\u05d9 \u05d1\u05e2\u05d2\u05d5\u05e0\u05d4.<\/span><\/o:p><\/span><\/div>\n
\nRegarding R. Hayyim of Volozhin, who is mentioned by R. Ovadiah, see what he writes in Hut ha-Meshulash<\/i>, no. 8.<\/o:p><\/span><\/div>\n
\n\u05e9\u05db\u05ea”\u05e8 \u05e0\u05d5\u05d8\u05d4 \u05d0\u05dc \u05d4\u05d7\u05d5\u05de\u05e8\u05d0 \u05de\u05d7\u05de\u05ea \u05e9\u05d0\u05d9\u05df \u05d4\u05d3\u05d1\u05e8 \u05de\u05d5\u05d8\u05dc \u05e2\u05dc\u05d9\u05d5 \u05d5\u05d0\u05e3 \u05d0\u05e0\u05d9 \u05db\u05de\u05d5\u05d4\u05d5 \u05dc\u05d0 \u05e4\u05e0\u05d9\u05ea\u05d9 \u05d0\u05dc \u05e6\u05d3\u05d3\u05d9 \u05d4\u05d9\u05ea\u05e8\u05d9\u05dd \u05d4\u05e2\u05d5\u05dc\u05d9\u05dd \u05de\u05ea\u05d5\u05da \u05d4\u05e2\u05d9\u05d5\u05df \u05d8\u05e8\u05dd \u05d4\u05d5\u05d7\u05dc\u05d4 \u05e2\u05dc\u05d9 \u05e2\u05d5\u05dc \u05d4\u05d4\u05d5\u05e8\u05d0\u05d4 \u05d5\u05d4\u05df \u05e2\u05ea\u05d4 \u05e9\u05d1\u05e2\u05d5\u05d4”\u05e8 \u05d1\u05e1\u05d1\u05d9\u05d1\u05d5\u05ea\u05d9\u05e0\u05d5 \u05e0\u05ea\u05d9\u05d9\u05ea\u05dd \u05d4\u05d3\u05d5\u05e8 \u05de\u05d7\u05db\u05de\u05d9\u05dd \u05d5\u05d4\u05e2\u05dc\u05d5 \u05e2\u05dc \u05e6\u05d5\u05d0\u05e8\u05d9 \u05e2\u05d5\u05dc \u05d4\u05d5\u05e8\u05d0\u05d4 \u05de\u05db\u05dc \u05d4\u05e1\u05d1\u05d9\u05d1\u05d4 \u05e9\u05d0\u05d9\u05e0\u05dd \u05de\u05ea\u05d9\u05e8\u05d9\u05dd \u05d1\u05e9\u05d5\u05dd \u05d0\u05d5\u05e4\u05df \u05d1\u05dc\u05ea\u05d9 \u05d4\u05e1\u05db\u05de\u05ea \u05d3\u05e2\u05ea\u05d9 \u05d4\u05e7\u05dc\u05d4 \u05d5\u05d7\u05e9\u05d1\u05ea\u05d9 \u05e2\u05dd \u05e7\u05d5\u05e0\u05d9 \u05d5\u05e8\u05d0\u05d9\u05ea\u05d9 \u05d7\u05d5\u05d1\u05d4 \u05dc\u05e2\u05e6\u05de\u05d9 \u05dc\u05d4\u05ea\u05d7\u05d6\u05e7 \u05d1\u05db\u05dc \u05db\u05d7\u05d9 \u05dc\u05e9\u05e7\u05d5\u05d3 \u05e2\u05dc \u05ea\u05e7\u05e0\u05ea \u05e2\u05d2\u05d5\u05e0\u05d5\u05ea.<\/o:p><\/span><\/div>\n
\nSome people will think that the following statement, which appeals to a dayan’s emotion, is problematic:<\/o:p><\/span><\/div>\n
\n\u05d5\u05d4\u05d5\u05d0 \u05d4\u05d3\u05d1\u05e8 \u05d2\u05dd \u05db\u05d0\u05df \u05e2\u05dc \u05d4\u05d3\u05d9\u05d9\u05df \u05dc\u05e8\u05d0\u05d5\u05ea \u05de\u05e2\u05e6\u05de\u05d5 \u05d0\u05dd \u05d4\u05d9\u05d4 \u05e2\u05e0\u05d9\u05df \u05db\u05d6\u05d4 \u05d1\u05d0\u05d7\u05ea \u05de\u05d1\u05e0\u05d5\u05ea\u05d9\u05d5 \u05d7”\u05d5, \u05d5\u05d1\u05d0 \u05d4\u05d1\u05e2\u05dc \u05e0\u05d2\u05d3\u05d4 \u05d1\u05d8\u05e2\u05e0\u05d4 \u05db\u05d6\u05d5, \u05d4\u05d0\u05dd \u05d9\u05e8\u05e6\u05d4 \u05e9\u05d1\u05d9\u05d4”\u05d3 \u05d9\u05e4\u05e1\u05e7\u05d5 \u05e2\u05dc\u05d9\u05d4 \u05dc\u05d4\u05d5\u05e6\u05d9\u05d0\u05d4 \u05d1\u05e2”\u05db \u05de\u05d1\u05dc\u05d9 \u05db\u05ea\u05d5\u05d1\u05d4.<\/o:p><\/span><\/div>\n
\nYet this was said by R. Ovadiah Hadaya.[3]<\/span><\/span><\/span> <\/o:p><\/span><\/div>\n
\nIn fact, words very similar to those of R. Hadaya were earlier stated by R. Hayyim Palache.[4]<\/span><\/span><\/span> He explains that the Sages referred to Jewish women as \u05d1\u05e0\u05d5\u05ea \u05d9\u05e9\u05e8\u05d0\u05dc<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span> and not \u05e0\u05e9\u05d9 \u05d9\u05e9\u05e8\u05d0\u05dc<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span> in order to teach us that when a dayan and beit din deal with women in difficult halakhic circumstances, they should treat them just like their own daughters. Just like they would move heaven and earth to try to find a heter<\/i> for their own daughters, so too they should do this with every woman who comes appears before them. Here are some of his words, and I wouldn’t be surprised if they are soon emblazoned on the website of ORA<\/a>.<\/o:p><\/span><\/div>\n
\n\u05e9\u05d9\u05e8\u05d7\u05dd \u05d4\u05d3\u05d9\u05d9\u05df \u05d5\u05d4\u05d1”\u05d3 \u05d5\u05db\u05dc \u05de\u05d9 \u05e9\u05d4\u05d5\u05d0 \u05d7\u05db\u05dd \u05d1\u05e2\u05dc \u05d4\u05d5\u05e8\u05d0\u05d4 \u05dc\u05d4\u05e9\u05ea\u05d3\u05dc \u05e2\u05dc \u05e0\u05e9\u05d9 \u05d9\u05e9\u05e8\u05d0\u05dc \u05db\u05d0\u05dc\u05d5 \u05d4\u05dd \u05d1\u05e0\u05d5\u05ea\u05d9\u05d5 \u05e9\u05d9\u05e6\u05d0\u05d5 \u05de\u05d9\u05e8\u05d9\u05db\u05d5 \u05d5\u05d1\u05db\u05df \u05d1\u05d1\u05d0 \u05e2\u05dc\u05d9\u05d4\u05df \u05e6\u05e8\u05d4 \u05d5\u05e6\u05d5\u05e7\u05d4 \u05e9\u05e0\u05e2\u05dc\u05de\u05d5 \u05d1\u05e2\u05dc\u05d9\u05d4\u05df \u05d1\u05d0\u05d9\u05d6\u05d4 \u05d0\u05d5\u05e4\u05df \u05e9\u05d9\u05d4\u05d9\u05d4 \u05d5\u05ea\u05d4\u05d9\u05d9\u05e0\u05d4 \u05e6\u05e8\u05d5\u05e8\u05d5\u05ea \u05e9\u05d9\u05e9\u05d9\u05dd \u05db\u05dc \u05de\u05d2\u05de\u05ea\u05d5 \u05dc\u05d7\u05e4\u05e9 \u05d1\u05e1\u05e4\u05e8\u05d9 \u05d4\u05e4\u05d5\u05e1\u05e7\u05d9\u05dd \u05d7\u05d9\u05e4\u05d5\u05e9 \u05de\u05d7\u05d9\u05e4\u05d5\u05e9 \u05e2\u05d3 \u05de\u05e7\u05d5\u05dd \u05e9\u05d9\u05d3\u05d5 \u05de\u05d2\u05e2\u05ea \u05d5\u05d9\u05d3\u05d9\u05e2\u05ea\u05d5 \u05de\u05db\u05e8\u05e2\u05ea \u05d1\u05d9\u05e0\u05d5 \u05dc\u05e9\u05de\u05d9\u05dd \u05d0\u05dd \u05d4\u05de\u05e6\u05d0 \u05d9\u05de\u05e6\u05d0 \u05dc\u05d4\u05e4\u05d5\u05da \u05d1\u05d6\u05db\u05d5\u05ea\u05df \u05db\u05d0\u05dc\u05d5 \u05d4\u05d9\u05ea\u05d4 \u05d1\u05ea\u05d5 \u05de\u05de\u05e9 \u05db\u05d3\u05d9 \u05e9\u05dc\u05d0 \u05ea\u05e9\u05d0\u05e8 \u05e2\u05d2\u05d5\u05e0\u05d0 \u05db\u05de\u05d5 \u05e9\u05de\u05e9\u05ea\u05d3\u05dc \u05d4\u05d0\u05d1 \u05e2\u05dc \u05d1\u05ea\u05d5<\/span>?:<\/span><\/div>\n
\n
\n.The following sentence sounds very 20th century<\/div>\n


<\/span>\u05db\u05e0\u05e8\u05d0\u05d4 \u05e9\u05d4\u05e8’ \u05d6”\u05dc [\u05e8\u05e9”\u05d9] \u05db\u05d0\u05d1 \u05d4\u05d1\u05e0\u05d5\u05ea \u05d4\u05e4\u05da \u05d1\u05d6\u05db\u05d5\u05ea\u05df \u05d1\u05db\u05dc \u05d5\u05d0\u05d5\u05dc\u05d9 \u05de\u05d6\u05d4 \u05d4\u05e6\u05d3 \u05d4\u05d5\u05e1\u05d9\u05e3 \u05db\u05e4\u05d9\u05d9\u05d4 \u05dc\u05d7\u05dc\u05d9\u05e6\u05d4 \u05e9\u05dc\u05d0 \u05db\u05d3\u05d1\u05e8\u05d9 \u05e9\u05d0\u05e8 \u05d4\u05e4\u05d5\u05e1\u05e7\u05d9\u05dd.<\/span><\/div>\n

\nIt states that because Rashi had daughters he was led to decide the halakhah in a certain way. Although it sounds modern, it was actually stated by R. Levi Ibn Habib.[5]<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/o:p><\/span><\/div>\n
\nLook at the following sentences that explain a dispute among rishonim about the messianic era based on the environments they were living in.<\/o:p><\/span><\/div>\n
\n\u05d5\u05db\u05e4\u05d9 \u05d4\u05e0\u05e8\u05d0\u05d4 \u05d4\u05d7\u05dc\u05d5\u05e7\u05d4 \u05d1\u05d0\u05d4 \u05de\u05e1\u05d9\u05d1\u05ea \u05d7\u05dc\u05d5\u05e7\u05ea \u05d4\u05d6\u05de\u05e0\u05d9\u05dd \u05d5\u05d4\u05de\u05e7\u05d5\u05de\u05d5\u05ea \u05e9\u05d4\u05d9\u05d4 \u05dc\u05db\u05dc \u05d0\u05d7\u05d3 \u05d5\u05d0\u05d7\u05d3, \u05e9\u05d4\u05e8\u05de\u05d1”\u05df \u05d6”\u05dc \u05d4\u05d9\u05d4 \u05d1\u05e2\u05ea \u05d4\u05de\u05e6\u05d5\u05e8 \u05d5\u05d4\u05de\u05e6\u05d5\u05e7 \u05e9\u05d4\u05e6\u05d9\u05e7\u05d5 \u05d0\u05ea \u05d9\u05e9\u05e8\u05d0\u05dc \u05d5\u05d0\u05db\u05dc\u05d5\u05dd \u05d1\u05db\u05dc \u05e4\u05d4 \u05d1\u05d9\u05de\u05d9 \u05d4\u05d1\u05d9\u05e0\u05d9\u05dd \u05d1\u05d9\u05df \u05d4\u05e7\u05ea\u05d5\u05dc\u05d9\u05dd, \u05dc\u05db\u05df \u05dc\u05d0 \u05de\u05e6\u05d0 \u05de\u05e7\u05d5\u05dd \u05dc\u05de\u05dc\u05d0\u05d5\u05ea \u05ea\u05e7\u05d5\u05ea \u05d4\u05d2\u05d0\u05d5\u05dc\u05d4 \u05d0\u05dd \u05dc\u05d0 \u05d1\u05d9\u05d3 \u05d7\u05d6\u05e7\u05d4 \u05d5\u05db\u05e4\u05d9\u05d5\u05ea \u05d4\u05e8\u05e6\u05d5\u05df \u05d4\u05e0\u05e2\u05e9\u05d4 \u05e2”\u05d9 \u05e0\u05e4\u05dc\u05d0\u05d5\u05ea \u05db\u05d1\u05d9\u05de\u05d9 \u05e4\u05e8\u05e2\u05d4 \u05de\u05dc\u05da \u05de\u05e6\u05e8\u05d9\u05dd. \u05d0\u05d1\u05dc \u05d4\u05e8\u05d3”\u05e7 \u05d6”\u05dc \u05d4\u05d9\u05d4 \u05d1\u05e9\u05e2\u05ea\u05d5 \u05d5\u05de\u05e7\u05d5\u05de\u05d5 \u05d1\u05d9\u05df \u05de\u05dc\u05db\u05d9 \u05d7\u05e1\u05d3 \u05d5\u05e2\u05de\u05d9\u05dd \u05e8\u05d5\u05d3\u05e4\u05d9 \u05e6\u05d3\u05e7 \u05d0\u05e9\u05e8 \u05dc\u05d0 \u05e9\u05e0\u05d0\u05d5 \u05d0\u05ea \u05d9\u05e9\u05e8\u05d0\u05dc \u05d5\u05d4\u05d9\u05ea\u05d4 \u05ea\u05e7\u05d5\u05d4 \u05e7\u05e8\u05d5\u05d1\u05d4, \u05db\u05d9 \u05d9\u05e9\u05d5\u05d1 \u05dc\u05d1\u05dd \u05dc\u05d8\u05d5\u05d1 \u05e2\u05dc \u05d9\u05e9\u05e8\u05d0\u05dc.<\/span><\/o:p><\/span><\/div>\n
\nThis definitely sounds like a liberal Orthodox approach, since traditionalists do not usually say that rishonim are influenced by their environment when it comes to such an important thing as their vision of the End of Days. Yet the passage I quoted actually comes from R. Jonathan Eliasberg, Shevil ha-Zahav<\/i> (Warsaw, 1897), pp. 64-65.<\/o:p><\/span><\/div>\n
\nWhat about someone who writes words of praise for the woman who does not ask the rabbis if she can wear tallit and tefillin, but simply does it on her own? Believe it or not, such a sentiment is found in the writings of R. Yom Tov Algazi, who served as Rishon le-Tziyon in the 18th<\/sup> century.[6]<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/o:p><\/span><\/div>\n
\n\u05d5\u05d4\u05e0\u05d4 \u05d1\u05e4”\u05e7 \u05d3\u05d1\u05e8\u05db\u05d5\u05ea \u05d0\u05de\u05e8\u05d5 \u05d0\u05d9\u05df \u05e2\u05d5\u05d6 \u05d0\u05dc\u05d0 \u05ea\u05e4\u05d9\u05dc\u05d9\u05df \u05e9\u05e0\u05d0’ \u05e0\u05e9\u05d1\u05e2 \u05d4’ \u05d1\u05d9\u05de\u05d9\u05e0\u05d5 \u05d5\u05d1\u05d6\u05e8\u05d5\u05e2 \u05e2\u05d5\u05d6\u05d5 \u05d5\u05e2\u05d5\u05d3 \u05d0\u05de\u05e8\u05d9’ \u05d4\u05ea\u05dd \u05d4\u05d0\u05d9 \u05de\u05d0\u05df \u05d3\u05d1\u05e2\u05d9 \u05dc\u05de\u05d4\u05d5\u05d9 \u05d7\u05e1\u05d9\u05d3\u05d0 \u05dc\u05e7\u05d9\u05d9\u05dd \u05de\u05d9\u05dc\u05d9 \u05d3\u05d1\u05e8\u05db\u05d5\u05ea \u05de\u05e4\u05e0\u05d9 \u05e9\u05d4\u05d1\u05e8\u05db\u05d5\u05ea \u05d4\u05df \u05dc\u05d4\u05de\u05e9\u05db\u05ea \u05d4\u05d7\u05e1\u05d3\u05d9\u05dd \u05db\u05e0\u05d5\u05d3\u05e2 \u05d5\u05d4\u05d5\u05d0 \u05d4\u05e0\u05e8\u05e6\u05d4 \u05d1\u05d0\u05d5\u05de\u05e8\u05d5 \u05e2\u05d5\u05d6 \u05d5\u05d4\u05d3\u05e8 \u05dc\u05d1\u05d5\u05e9\u05d4 \u05e9\u05d4\u05d9\u05ea’ \u05dc\u05d5\u05d1\u05e9\u05ea \u05ea\u05e4\u05d9\u05dc\u05d9\u05df \u05d5\u05d8\u05dc\u05d9\u05ea<\/u> \u05e9\u05e0\u05e7\u05e8\u05d0 \u05e2\u05d6 \u05d5\u05d4\u05d3\u05e8 \u05d5\u05de\u05e2\u05d9\u05d3 \u05e2\u05dc\u05d9\u05d4 \u05d4\u05db\u05ea\u05d5\u05d1 \u05dc\u05d0\u05de\u05e8 \u05d5\u05ea\u05e9\u05d7\u05e7 \u05dc\u05d9\u05d5\u05dd \u05d0\u05d7\u05e8\u05d5\u05df \u05d3\u05e9\u05db\u05e8\u05d4 \u05d0\u05d9\u05ea\u05d4 \u05dc\u05d9\u05d5\u05dd \u05d0\u05d7\u05e8\u05d5\u05df \u05d1\u05e2\u05d4”\u05d1 \u05d3\u05d0\u05e2”\u05d2 \u05d3\u05d0\u05d9\u05e0\u05d4 \u05de\u05e6\u05d5\u05d5’ \u05d5\u05e2\u05d5\u05e9\u05d4 \u05de”\u05de \u05d9\u05e9 \u05dc\u05d4 \u05e9\u05db\u05e8, \u05d3\u05d2\u05d3\u05d5\u05dc \u05d4\u05de\u05e6\u05d5\u05d5\u05d4 \u05d0\u05de\u05e8\u05d5 \u05de\u05db\u05dc\u05dc \u05d3\u05de\u05d9 \u05e9\u05d0\u05d9\u05e0\u05d5 \u05de\u05e6\u05d5\u05d5’ \u05d5\u05e2\u05d5\u05e9’ \u05e0\u05de\u05d9 \u05e0\u05d5\u05d8\u05dc \u05e9\u05db\u05e8 \u05d0\u05d1\u05dc \u05d0\u05e3 \u05d7\u05db\u05de\u05ea’ \u05e2\u05de\u05d3\u05d4 \u05dc\u05d4 \u05e9\u05dc\u05d0 \u05d1\u05d0\u05ea’ \u05dc\u05e9\u05d0\u05d5\u05dc \u05dc\u05d7\u05db\u05de\u05d9’ \u05d0\u05dd \u05ea\u05d4\u05d9’ \u05de\u05e0\u05d7\u05ea \u05d0\u05d5”\u05dc \u05d0\u05dc\u05d0 \u05d4\u05d9\u05d0 \u05de\u05e2\u05e6\u05de\u05d4 \u05e4\u05d9\u05d4 \u05e4\u05ea\u05d7\u05d4 \u05d1\u05d7\u05db\u05de’ \u05d5\u05ea\u05d5\u05e8’ \u05d7\u05e1\u05d3 \u05e2\u05dc \u05dc\u05e9\u05d5\u05e0\u05d4 \u05e9\u05d4\u05d9\u05ea’ \u05e2\u05d5\u05e9’ \u05de”\u05e2 \u05e9\u05d4”\u05d2 \u05e9\u05dc\u05d0 \u05e0\u05e6\u05d8\u05d5’ \u05d1\u05d4\u05dd \u05de\u05e2\u05e6\u05de’<\/u>.<\/span><\/div>\n
\nIf someone says that the Talmud was written by men for men and reflects a male approach in the way it is written, I would normally assume that this person is a feminist who sees patriarchy at every corner and interprets everything through the prism of gender. Yet in fact this was actually said by R. Avrohom Chaim Levin of Chicago.[7]<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/o:p><\/span><\/div>\n
\nEven when it comes to women rabbis, I have been surprised by some of what I have found. Take a look at this rabbi’s response to a question:<\/span><\/div>\n
\n\u05d0\u05d9\u05e9\u05d4 \u05ea\u05d5\u05db\u05dc \u05dc\u05db\u05d4\u05df \u05db\u05e8\u05d1\u05e0\u05d9\u05ea \u05e7\u05d4\u05d9\u05dc\u05d4?<\/span><\/o:p><\/span><\/div>\n
\n\u05d0\u05e0\u05d9 \u05dc\u05d0 \u05d9\u05d5\u05d3\u05e2. \u05d1\u05e8\u05d5\u05e8 \u05e9\u05d9\u05e9 \u05e8\u05d0\u05e9\u05d5\u05e0\u05d9\u05dd \u05e9\u05d7\u05e9\u05d1\u05d5 \u05e9\u05d6\u05d4 \u05d1\u05e1\u05d3\u05e8 \u05d5\u05d9\u05e9 \u05db\u05d0\u05dc\u05d5 \u05e9\u05e1\u05dc\u05d3\u05d5 \u05de\u05d4\u05e8\u05e2\u05d9\u05d5\u05df. \u05e8\u05e9”\u05d9 \u05e2\u05dc \u05d4\u05ea\u05d5\u05e8\u05d4 \u05de\u05d1\u05d9\u05d0 \u05d0\u05ea \u05d3\u05d1\u05e8\u05d9 ‘\u05d4\u05e1\u05e4\u05e8\u05d9’ \u05e2\u05dc \u05d4\u05e6\u05d9\u05d5\u05d5\u05d9 \u05dc\u05de\u05e0\u05d5\u05ea \u05e9\u05d5\u05e4\u05d8\u05d9\u05dd: \u05d4\u05ea\u05d5\u05e8\u05d4 \u05d0\u05d5\u05de\u05e8\u05ea ‘\u05d4\u05d1\u05d5 \u05dc\u05db\u05dd \u05d0\u05e0\u05e9\u05d9\u05dd’, \u05d5\u05d4\u05e1\u05e4\u05e8\u05d9 \u05ea\u05de\u05d4 ‘\u05d5\u05db\u05d9 \u05d9\u05e2\u05dc\u05d4 \u05e2\u05dc \u05d3\u05e2\u05ea\u05da \u05e0\u05e9\u05d9\u05dd?’. \u05d0\u05e0\u05d7\u05e0\u05d5 \u05d0\u05d5\u05de\u05e8\u05d9\u05dd: \u05e8\u05e9”\u05d9, \u05de\u05d5\u05e8\u05e0\u05d5 \u05d5\u05e8\u05d1\u05e0\u05d5, \u05e2\u05dc \u05d3\u05e2\u05ea\u05da \u05d6\u05d4 \u05dc\u05d0 \u05e2\u05d5\u05dc\u05d4? \u05e2\u05dc \u05d3\u05e2\u05ea\u05e0\u05d5 \u05d6\u05d4 \u05e2\u05d5\u05dc\u05d4. \u05d0\u05d7\u05e8\u05d9 \u05e9\u05d6\u05d4 \u05e2\u05d5\u05dc\u05d4 \u05d9\u05db\u05d5\u05dc \u05dc\u05d4\u05d9\u05d5\u05ea \u05e9\u05d0\u05e0\u05d7\u05e0\u05d5 \u05e0\u05d5\u05e8\u05d9\u05d3 \u05d0\u05ea \u05d6\u05d4, \u05d0\u05d1\u05dc \u05d0\u05e0\u05d7\u05e0\u05d5 \u05dc\u05d0 \u05d7\u05d5\u05e9\u05d1\u05d9\u05dd \u05e9\u05de\u05d3\u05d5\u05d1\u05e8 \u05d1\u05e9\u05d9\u05d2\u05e2\u05d5\u05df \u05d0\u05d5 \u05d8\u05d9\u05e8\u05d5\u05e3. \u05d4\u05e6\u05d9\u05d5\u05d5\u05d9 \u05dc\u05d1\u05e0\u05d5\u05ea \u05e2\u05d5\u05dc\u05dd \u05e0\u05d9\u05ea\u05df \u05d2\u05dd \u05dc\u05e0\u05e9\u05d9\u05dd \u05d5\u05d2\u05dd \u05dc\u05d2\u05d1\u05e8\u05d9\u05dd, ‘\u05dc\u05e2\u05d1\u05d3\u05d4 \u05d5\u05dc\u05e9\u05de\u05e8\u05d4’.<\/o:p><\/span><\/div>\n
\nThis was not said by a liberal rabbi but by R. Aharon Lichtenstein.<\/span>[8]<\/span><\/span><\/span> R. Lichtenstein also deals with this matter in his conversations with R. Haim Sabato.<\/span>[9]<\/span><\/span><\/span> Here he tells us that he simply doesn’t know what will be in thirty years when it comes to women’s ordination. <\/span>
\n
<\/span>
\n<\/p>\n
\n\u05d0\u05d9\u05e0\u05d9 \u05d9\u05d5\u05d3\u05e2 \u05de\u05d4 \u05d9\u05e4\u05e1\u05e7\u05d5 \u05e4\u05d5\u05e1\u05e7\u05d9 \u05d4\u05d3\u05d5\u05e8 \u05d1\u05e2\u05d5\u05d3 \u05e9\u05dc\u05d5\u05e9\u05d9\u05dd \u05e9\u05e0\u05d4 \u05d1\u05e9\u05d0\u05dc\u05d5\u05ea \u05e1\u05de\u05db\u05d5\u05ea \u05e0\u05e9\u05d9\u05dd \u05d5\u05db\u05d3\u05d5\u05de\u05d4. \u05d0\u05d9\u05df \u05dc\u05d9 \u05de\u05d5\u05e9\u05d2 . . . \u05d9\u05d3\u05d5\u05e2\u05d9\u05dd \u05d3\u05d1\u05e8\u05d9 \u05d4\u05e8\u05de\u05d1”\u05dd, \u05e2\u05dc \u05e1\u05de\u05da \u05d4\u05e1\u05e4\u05e8\u05d9, \u05d1\u05e2\u05e0\u05d9\u05d9\u05df \u05d4\u05de\u05d9\u05e0\u05d5\u05d9\u05d9\u05dd \u05d4\u05e4\u05d5\u05e8\u05de\u05dc\u05d9\u05d9\u05dd, \u05d0\u05da \u05d9\u05e9 \u05e4\u05d5\u05e1\u05e7\u05d9\u05dd \u05e9\u05dc\u05d0 \u05e0\u05e8\u05ea\u05e2\u05d5 \u05de\u05db\u05da. \u05de\u05d4 \u05d9\u05d4\u05d9\u05d4 \u05d1\u05e2\u05ea\u05d9\u05d3 \u05d0\u05d9\u05e0\u05d9 \u05d9\u05d5\u05d3\u05e2. \u05d0\u05d1\u05dc \u05de\u05d4 \u05e9\u05d0\u05e0\u05d9 \u05d9\u05d5\u05d3\u05e2 \u05d6\u05d4 \u05e9\u05d4\u05d9\u05d5\u05dd \u05d7\u05e9\u05d5\u05d1 \u05e9\u05d1\u05e0\u05d5\u05ea \u05d9\u05e9\u05e8\u05d0\u05dc \u05ea\u05d3\u05e2\u05e0\u05d4 \u05ea\u05d5\u05e8\u05d4, \u05e9\u05ea\u05d4\u05d9\u05d9\u05e0\u05d4 \u05d3\u05d1\u05e7\u05d5\u05ea \u05d1\u05ea\u05d5\u05e8\u05d4. \u05dc\u05d2\u05d1\u05d9 \u05db\u05dc \u05d4\u05e9\u05d0\u05e8 \u05d0\u05d9\u05e0\u05d9 \u05d0\u05d5\u05de\u05e8 \u05d1\u05d3\u05d9\u05d5\u05e7. \u05d1\u05d4\u05d3\u05d9 \u05db\u05d1\u05e9\u05d9 \u05d3\u05e8\u05d7\u05de\u05e0\u05d0 \u05dc\u05de\u05d4 \u05dc\u05da<\/span><\/div>\n


<\/span>His position, which recognizes the possibility of change in this matter guided by Modern Orthodox\/Religious Zionist halakhic authorities, is much more nuanced than what we have been hearing recently. R. Lichtenstein recognized that changes occur and he was honest enough to admit that he didn’t know what the future will bring.<\/span><\/div>\n

\nR. Norman Lamm has also stated that he doesn’t know if women will be ordained, and that his opposition to women’s ordination is “social, not religious.”[10]<\/span><\/span><\/span> In another interview he took the middle ground, saying that he doesn’t know if it is halakhically permissible for women to become rabbis, but he also doesn’t know if this is forbidden.[11]<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/div>\n
\nRegarding the general matter of women’s ordination, I have already commented on it here<\/a>.[12]<\/span><\/span><\/span> Let me just add that I think I have read everything coming out of the RCA and its people in the last few months, and I confess that I still don’t see the objection to female clergy. I am not talking about women pulpit rabbis, but what is the problem with a woman chaplain at a hospital or a woman teacher of advanced Torah studies or even a woman posek (poseket)? I realize that there are objections to using the title of “rabbi” for women, and Saul Liebeman focused on this in his letter of opposition. So why not just come up with a different title?<\/o:p><\/span><\/div>\n
\nThe RCA is apparently opposed to giving learned women any title. However, titles are important, as they are community recognition that someone has reached a certain level. There are women who are learned and it is only fitting that they too have a title. In fact, some women who went into academic Jewish studies would have been just as happy to remain in traditional Jewish studies if there was some way of recognizing their achievements. And before you start putting down the importance of titles, I can tell you that there are learned (and not so learned) men who use the title “rabbi”, even though they have never received semikhah. They do so because they feel the title is important for their community work. By the same token, a title can also be important for women who are involved in teaching Torah and community leadership.<\/o:p><\/span><\/div>\n
\nAs for the title of “rebbetzin”, or “rabbanit” in modern Hebrew,[13]<\/span><\/span><\/span> this has no appeal for many of the Modern Orthodox, as I have mentioned here<\/a>. This point is also seen in a recent comment by Yakir Englander and Avi Sagi, that the title “rabbanit” is used to create a halo of authority where none exists.[14]<\/span><\/span><\/span> Yet as I note in the just mentioned post, there is biblical precedent for calling women by their husband’s title. I subsequently saw that in Shabbat<\/i> 95a, Rashi, s.v. \u05d0\u05e9\u05d4 \u05d7\u05db\u05de\u05d4<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span> claims that \u05d0\u05e9\u05d4 \u05d7\u05db\u05de\u05d4<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span> here does not mean a learned woman but the wife or daughter of a scholar who would have picked up some knowledge by virtue of her family situation.[15]<\/span><\/span><\/span> Isn’t this the same thing with rebbetzins in the haredi world? Simply by being married to a rabbi they end up more Jewishly learned, especially in practical halakhah, than the typical haredi woman.<\/o:p><\/span><\/div>\n
\nFor a long time the ones pushing women’s ordination have pointed to a responsum by R. Eliyahu Bakshi-Doron, Binyan Av<\/i>, vol. 1, no. 65, in which he affirmed that women could be poskot. Here is his conclusion.<\/span><\/div>\n
\n<\/a><\/span><\/div>\n
\nI have already noted here<\/a> that very few rabbis are poskim, but every posek is by definition a rabbi. And since R. Bakshi-Doron is telling us that a women can be a posek, it is easy to see why this responsum has been cited again and again in support of women rabbis. This led the RCA to turn to R. Bakshi-Doron for clarification as to whether he indeed supports women’s ordination. Here is the RCA letter[16]<\/span><\/span><\/span> and R. Bakshi-Doron’s response<\/o:p><\/span><\/div>\n
\n<\/a><\/a><\/div>\n
\nAs you can see, he strongly rejects the notion of women rabbis, seeing this as a Reform innovation. He also says that while women can function as poskot, they cannot be appointed to any such position in an official way, and thus a rabbinic position is also out of the question. (So again I ask, what would be the problem with a woman being given a title if she served as a chaplain or teacher? This does not contradict what R. Bakshi-Doron says.[17]<\/span><\/span><\/span>) R. Bakshi-Doron concludes his letter as follows:<\/o:p><\/span><\/div>\n
\n\u05d5\u05d9\u05e9 \u05dc\u05d4\u05d1\u05d4\u05d9\u05e8 \u05dc\u05d4\u05dd \u05e9\u05dc\u05d0 \u05d9\u05d4\u05d0 \u05d9\u05d4\u05d9\u05e8\u05d5\u05ea \u05dc\u05e0\u05e9\u05d9\u05dd \u05db\u05d3\u05d1\u05e8\u05d9 \u05d4\u05d2\u05de’ \u05d1\u05de\u05d2\u05d9\u05dc\u05d4, \u05d5\u05d7\u05e9\u05da \u05d3\u05e8\u05d0 \u05d3\u05de\u05d1\u05e8\u05d0 \u05d0\u05d9\u05ea\u05ea\u05d0. \u05d5\u05d9\u05e9 \u05d1\u05d3\u05d1\u05e8 \u05d7\u05d5\u05e1\u05e8 \u05e6\u05e0\u05d9\u05e2\u05d5\u05ea \u05d1\u05e4\u05e8\u05d8 \u05d1\u05d3\u05d5\u05e8\u05e0\u05d5 \u05e9\u05e4\u05e8\u05d5\u05e5 \u05de\u05e8\u05d5\u05d1\u05d4 \u05e2\u05dc \u05d4\u05e2\u05d5\u05de\u05d3 \u05d5\u05ea\u05d5\u05e8\u05d4 \u05e2\u05dc \u05de\u05db\u05ea\u05d1\u05db\u05dd \u05e9\u05d9\u05e9 \u05d1\u05d5 \u05db\u05d3\u05d9 \u05dc\u05d4\u05e1\u05d9\u05e8 \u05de\u05db\u05e9\u05d5\u05dc.<\/span><\/o:p><\/span><\/div>\n
\nRabbi Gordimer did a post<\/a> on R. Bakshi-Doron’s reply. In it, he translated the last sentence of the final paragraph of R. Bakshi-Doron’s letter.<\/o:p><\/span><\/div>\n
\nThere inheres in the matter (of women serving as rabbis and licensed halachic authorities) a lack of modesty, especially in our generation, in which immodesty is more prevalent than modesty. I thank you for your letter, which has enabled me to remove a source of misinformation.<\/o:p><\/span><\/div>\n
\nRabbi Gordimer did not translate the final paragraph in its entirety. The first part of it states: “It should be explained to them that haughtiness is not fitting for women, as stated by the Gemara in Megillah<\/i>.” The exact reference is Megillah<\/i> 14b.<\/o:p><\/span><\/div>\n
\nIf this wasn’t enough for the Orthodox feminists to stop citing R. Bakshi-Doron, then his next words will be. He wrote \u05d5\u05d7\u05e9\u05da \u05d3\u05e8\u05d0 \u05d3\u05de\u05d1\u05e8\u05d0 \u05d0\u05d9\u05ea\u05ea\u05d0<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span>. The first thing to note is that there is a typo here and \u05d3\u05de\u05d1\u05e8\u05d0<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span> should read \u05d3\u05de\u05d3\u05d1\u05e8\u05d0<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span>. The source of this passage is Midrash Tehillim 22:20 where it states: \u05d7\u05e9\u05d9\u05da \u05d3\u05e8\u05d0 \u05d3\u05d0\u05ea\u05ea\u05d0 \u05d3\u05d1\u05e8\u05d9\u05d9\u05ea\u05d0<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span>. This means, “Woe unto the generation whose leader is a woman.” This is definitely not the sort of thing that a typical RCA rabbi would feel comfortable putting in print, or announcing from the pulpit. For those arguing against women rabbis this kind of sentiment would hurt, not help, the cause. I think this is the reason why the RCA has not released a translation of R. Bakshi-Doron’s letter, and as noted, Rabbi Gordimer didn’t provide a complete translation either.<\/o:p><\/span><\/div>\n
\nTo give an example of how this passage from Midrash Tehillin has been used in the past, R. Yisrael Zev Mintzberg published his Zot Hukat ha-Torah<\/i> in Jerusalem in 1920. This work is devoted to showing that women are not permitted to vote. Look how he cites the passage in his conclusion on p. 33.<\/o:p><\/span><\/div>\n
\n<\/a><\/div>\n
\nR. Hayyim Hirschensohn referred to this passage as well, in his strong attack on R. Mintzberg in which he goes so far as to say that the latter does not even permit women to be women.[18]<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/o:p><\/span><\/div>\n
\n\u05d5\u05d0\u05d7\u05d3 \u05de\u05e8\u05d1\u05e0\u05d9 \u05d9\u05e8\u05d5\u05e9\u05dc\u05d9\u05dd \u05d4\u05e8\u05d4”\u05d2 \u05de\u05d5\u05d4\u05e8”\u05e8 \u05d9\u05e9\u05e8\u05d0\u05dc \u05d6\u05d0\u05d1 \u05de\u05d9\u05e0\u05e6\u05d1\u05e2\u05e8\u05d2 \u05e0”\u05d9 \u05d9\u05e6\u05d0 \u05d1\u05e7\u05d5\u05e0\u05d8\u05e8\u05e1 “\u05d6\u05d0\u05ea \u05d7\u05d5\u05e7\u05ea \u05d4\u05ea\u05d5\u05e8\u05d4” \u05d0\u05e9\u05e8 \u05d7\u05d5\u05e7\u05d4 \u05d4\u05d5<\/span>\u05d0<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span> \u05d7\u05d5\u05e7\u05e7 \u05d2\u05d6\u05e8\u05d4 \u05d4\u05d5\u05d0 \u05d2\u05d5\u05d6\u05e8 \u05d1\u05db\u05d7 \u05d4\u05e4\u05dc\u05e4\u05d5\u05dc \u05d5\u05d1\u05db\u05d7 \u05d4\u05e7\u05d1\u05dc\u05d4 \u05d5\u05d1\u05db\u05d7 \u05d4\u05d0\u05d2\u05d3\u05d4 \u05dc\u05e9\u05dc\u05d5\u05dc \u05db\u05dc \u05d6\u05db\u05d9\u05d4 \u05de\u05e0\u05e9\u05d9\u05dd \u05d0\u05e4\u05d9’ \u05de\u05dc\u05d4\u05d9\u05d5\u05ea \u05e0\u05e9\u05d9\u05dd, \u05db\u05dc \u05d4\u05d4\u05d5\u05dc\u05da \u05d1\u05e2\u05e6\u05ea \u05d0\u05e9\u05ea\u05d5 \u05e0\u05d5\u05e4\u05dc \u05d1\u05d2\u05d4\u05d9\u05e0\u05dd, \u05d0\u05d9\u05e0\u05d5\u05df \u05de\u05e1\u05d9\u05d8\u05e8\u05d0 \u05d3\u05d3\u05d9\u05e0\u05d0 \u05e7\u05e9\u05d9\u05d0, \u05d7\u05e9\u05d9\u05da \u05d3\u05e8\u05d0 \u05d3\u05d0\u05d9\u05ea\u05ea\u05d0 \u05d3\u05d1\u05e8\u05d9\u05ea\u05d0, \u05d3\u05d0 \u05d4\u05d9\u05d0 \u05d2\u05d6\u05d9\u05e8\u05ea \u05d0\u05d5\u05e8\u05d9\u05d9\u05ea\u05d0, \u05d5\u05d0\u05d9 \u05d0\u05ea\u05d4 \u05e8\u05e9\u05d0\u05d9 \u05dc\u05d4\u05e8\u05d4\u05e8 \u05d0\u05d7\u05e8\u05d9\u05d4.<\/o:p><\/span><\/div>\n
\nR. Shlomo Zalman Ehrenreich also cites the phrase \u05d7\u05e9\u05d9\u05da \u05d3\u05e8\u05d0 \u05d3\u05d0\u05d9\u05ea\u05ea\u05d0 \u05d3\u05d1\u05e8\u05d9\u05d9\u05ea\u05d0<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span> in order to make the following point:[19]<\/span><\/span><\/span> Women were not created to bring others to Torah. Rather, their role is to enable their husbands to reach perfection.<\/o:p><\/span><\/div>\n
\n\u05d4\u05d0\u05e9\u05d4 \u05dc\u05d0 \u05e0\u05d1\u05e8\u05d0\u05ea \u05dc\u05d8\u05d4\u05e8 \u05d0\u05d7\u05e8\u05d9\u05dd \u05dc\u05d0\u05d1\u05d9\u05d4\u05dd \u05e9\u05d1\u05e9\u05de\u05d9\u05dd \u05db\u05d3\u05d0\u05d9\u05ea\u05d0 \u05d1\u05de\u05d2\u05d9\u05dc\u05d4 \u05d9”\u05d3 \u05dc\u05d0 \u05d9\u05d0\u05d9 \u05d9\u05d5\u05d4\u05e8\u05d0 \u05dc\u05e0\u05e9\u05d9 \u05d5\u05d1\u05de\u05d3\u05e8\u05e9 \u05e9\u05d5\u05d7”\u05d8 \u05d7\u05e9\u05d9\u05da \u05d3\u05e8\u05d0 \u05d3\u05d0\u05d9\u05ea\u05ea\u05d0 \u05d3\u05d1\u05e8\u05d9\u05d9\u05ea\u05d0 \u05d4\u05d5\u05d1\u05d0 \u05d1\u05d9\u05dc\u05e7\u05d5\u05d8 \u05e9\u05de\u05e2\u05d5\u05e0\u05d9 \u05e9\u05d5\u05e4\u05d8\u05d9\u05dd \u05d1’ \u05e2”\u05e9. \u05d5\u05dc\u05e4\u05de\u05e9”\u05db \u05d3\u05db\u05dc \u05e2\u05d9\u05e7\u05e8 \u05d4\u05d0\u05e9\u05d4 \u05d4\u05d5\u05d0 \u05e8\u05e7 \u05dc\u05ea\u05db\u05dc\u05d9\u05ea \u05e9\u05d4\u05d1\u05e2\u05dc \u05d9\u05ea\u05e7\u05d3\u05e9 \u05e2\u05dc \u05d9\u05d3\u05d4.<\/span><\/o:p><\/span><\/div>\n
\nFinally, when it comes to the matter of women rabbis, I think people will find the following amusing, or disturbing. There are liberal Muslims in Israel, and these are the people that Israel should be supporting. Recently, a Muslim member of Kenesset, Issawi Frej, journeyed to Bnei Brak to try to convince some leading rabbis to support the appointment of women qadis. The problem is that Minister Yaakov Litzman of the Yahadut ha-Torah bloc is strongly opposed to appointing women as qadis, because he fears that this will then lead to pressure for recognition of women rabbis. Knowing that Litzman and the other haredi Kenesset members take their orders from the rabbis, Frej understood that he had to convince the rabbis of his position. Yet unfortunately for Frej and liberal Muslims as whole, and I think for the rest of us as well, the Bnei Brak rabbis he met with refused to budge. See the story here<\/a>.<\/o:p><\/span><\/div>\n
\nRegarding the issue of yoatzot, I don’t want to get into that in any detail, but I do want to call readers’ attention to the following which surprisingly has not been referred to by any of the supporters of yoatzot. In the Leket Yosher<\/i> (pp. 35-37 in the Machon Yerushalayim edition) we can see a yoetzet in action. A woman wrote to the wife of R. Israel Isserlein with a halakhic question. The wife inquired from her husband, R. Isserlein, and then replied to the woman. Had she already known the answer she would not have had to ask her husband. This is exactly what yoatzot do in the 21st<\/sup> century. Here is the text.<\/span><\/div>\n
\n<\/a><\/a><\/a><\/div>\n
\nThere is also a text in Niddah<\/i> 13b that refers to what we can term a yoetzet, yet I have also not seen it cited.<\/o:p><\/span><\/div>\n
\n\u05d0\u05de\u05e8 \u05e8\u05d1\u05d9 \u05d7\u05e8\u05e9\u05ea \u05d4\u05d9\u05ea\u05d4 \u05d1\u05e9\u05db\u05d5\u05e0\u05ea\u05d9\u05e0\u05d5 \u05dc\u05d0 \u05d3\u05d9\u05d4 \u05e9\u05d1\u05d5\u05d3\u05e7\u05ea \u05dc\u05e2\u05e6\u05de\u05d4 \u05d0\u05dc\u05d0 \u05e9\u05d7\u05d1\u05e8\u05d5\u05ea\u05d9\u05d4 \u05e8\u05d5\u05d0\u05d5\u05ea \u05d5\u05de\u05e8\u05d0\u05d5\u05ea \u05dc\u05d4<\/u>.<\/o:p><\/span><\/div>\n
\nRashi explains:<\/o:p><\/span><\/div>\n
\n\u05d5\u05de\u05e8\u05d0\u05d5\u05ea \u05dc\u05d4: \u05e9\u05d4\u05d9\u05ea\u05d4 \u05d1\u05e7\u05d9\u05d0\u05d4 \u05d1\u05de\u05e8\u05d0\u05d4 \u05d3\u05dd \u05d8\u05de\u05d0 \u05d5\u05d3\u05dd \u05d8\u05d4\u05d5\u05e8.<\/o:p><\/span><\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Historian Marc B. Shapiro writes: I have found a number of statements by mainstream rabbinic figures that, if one didn’t know better, one would think that they were said by liberal Orthodox figures. For example: \u05d5\u05de\u05d4 \u05d0\u05e2\u05e9\u05d4 \u05d5\u05dc\u05d1\u05d9 \u05de\u05e8\u05d7\u05dd \u05e2\u05dc … Continue reading →<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"om_disable_all_campaigns":false,"_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0,"footnotes":""},"categories":[110],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-90409","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-rabbis"],"aioseo_notices":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/lukeford.net\/blog\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/90409","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/lukeford.net\/blog\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/lukeford.net\/blog\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lukeford.net\/blog\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lukeford.net\/blog\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=90409"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/lukeford.net\/blog\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/90409\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":90410,"href":"https:\/\/lukeford.net\/blog\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/90409\/revisions\/90410"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/lukeford.net\/blog\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=90409"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lukeford.net\/blog\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=90409"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lukeford.net\/blog\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=90409"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}