Countless surveys have proven that even the majority of secular and traditional Jews, prefer to have authentic Judaism as the flagship, rather than a watered down type of apologist mumble jumble.

at a synagogue. They are not coming for many other reasons, having to do with ideology and hypocracy.

It treats them differently, because they are different.

this is absurd!! the reformed jews in america are so because when 1st generations came from other lands they simply wanted to make a living from past discrimmations they felt from being persecuted elsewhere in the world. maybe they have assimlated some in order to be accepted into mainstream but are still connected. saying reform are worse than gentiles isnt going to win anyone any kudos but add to the further estrangement already felt by those reformed. not the way to bring them closer to our religion and bring them home so to speak! and anyways anyone ever stop to think why they are reform if men and women want to observe together but can not due to partitioning off in shul? reform already feel estranged but this makes them feel worse if they cant daven or pray together...think about it

The figures are accurate. They show that secular Israelis are no more interested into gender confusing Massorti synagogues than into gender discriminating Orthodox synagogues. They are just... "secular". And my guess is that the moment they get seriously interested into anything spiritual, they are more likely to turn Orthodox than Massorti. Everybody prefers a genuine Vuitton bag to a low quality copy.

Funny I grew up Conservative in the States and they kept telling everyone that Orthodoxy discriminates against women. HOW UPSIDE DOWN CAN YOU BE?! Living a secular lifestyle, in a culture which objectifies women, is much more discriminating for women than living in an Orthodox lifestyle. My wife and I our so glad our daughter is being raised in a very frum (religious) in our community. The first boy that will touch her will be the one to marry her. Why buy the candy when you can eat what you want and throw away the rest? A Torah lifestyle is so much more non-discriminating than an American lifestyle. How sad secular girls have to be raised to think that they have to be models and forever young- a guaranteed formula for depression and low-self worth. What's more discriminating against women living a Secular/Conservative/Masorati way of life or being religious? Think about it. Being on both sides of the fence it is clear to me!

for the day....you either accept them or you dont By all maens women should be treated fairly and justly.....but trying to force them inot being accepted as rabbis is simply going to far Would Moshe have stood by and let these secularist and atheist jews tell him what they are and arent going to follow? NO he would have called out, and the earth would have swallowed them all up and that would be the end of the matter

unlike Conservative and Reform, Orthodox women are happy with their lot and do not aspire to be like men. Orthodox women know what their role and goal in Jewish life is. Conservative and Reform, just like non-Jewish women, believe that by mimicking men’s responsibilities, they’ll be as great as men, their only goal in life. Conservative and Reform men do not appreciate that.

I'm religious and don't agree with what reform does, but i wouldn't say reform is worse then gentiles. they are still Jews with a Jewish soul that is so strong that even if a Jew were to convert to another religion when they return there is no "Re-Conversion" process. But still to change a religion so it fits your modern lifestyle is ridiculous, like Henry V breaking away from the Catholic church so he divorce the Queen and marry Anne Boleyn. About the partition, how it made any one think it is discriminating is a wonder to me. it's very simple, when i pray i need a clear head and if all the beautiful women of the community are siting to my left and right i won't be able to concentrate. prayer is a time for spirituality, combine that with physical beauty at the same time and you will be unable to focus during your private audience with the king- God.

at the time of our Prophet Muhammed peace be upon him there was one mosque for men, women and children i mean all of them were togther performing pray without any barrier, but nowadays muslims mosques are separated the two sexes i mean it is sometimes men in the first floor and woman in the second or the same mosques and be separated by a wall, when i ask my teacher of Islamic studies at school , she says that there is no justification for that and this is even against the Islamic rules , i mean people these days tend to misunderstand their religions, i believe that purity first is in the heart then in the place, we can separate people but we cannot separate hearts if they are united, after all mosque or synagogue is a place where one God is worshipped so people should go there with good intention , i mean it;s shame for someone to go to the holy places with black thoughts in his head May God guide u to the right path

I think women should be allowed to use the urinals together with men. It is also unfair that women are the only ones wearing skirts and bras! Aren't we all the same??

The Jewish people are forgetting who they are. This is a perfect example. Separation between the sexes in Synagouge has nothing to do with discrimination. 1) Since the temple was destroyed we try to replicate what is still permissable in the absence of a temple. In the temple there was a mens' section anda womens section. Instead of sacrifices we have prayer services. 2) In a synagouge we try to focus our body and soul to pray to G-d. It is natural for men and women to look at one another and to think about other things rather than G-d. Its not discrimination, we are trying to replicate the temple and psychologists will tell you when men and women are together, they both focus on the physical and everything else is secondary. This is the opposite what the goal is for the synagouge.

but then again, given that they believe that to belong you need to NOT believe in the Creator, nor in the divinity of the revalation of Torah on Sinai. that is no surprise.

Not one of the teaching staff in their institutions actually could pass the standard Rabbinic exam in Israel- Semichah. the Chief Rabbinate have dared then to try for over 30 years. Makes one wonder why they always are attacking everyone else.

Two of the key ideas in Judaism are difference and specificity, which in a rectified situation encapsulate in the concept of Shalom, i.e. a place for everything and everything in its place. For example, Jews differ according to whether they are Cohanim, Leviim or Israelim but does anyone seriously suggest that Israelim are discriminated against because they are excluded from the special mitzvot of the Kohen or Levi? However there are purely cultural accretions to Judaism, which have been picked up from host cultures. Examples of this with regard to the role of women can be found in N. African Judaism. These habits have nothing to do with halachah. However the Conservative movement uses such things as the thin end of its wedge. This movement and the Reform movement are nothing more than conveyor belts to assimilation, as the statistics show.

Kol Hakavod. Where there is a Rabbinic will to advance the role of women then a Halachic way may be found. The Masorti Movement has remained faithful to Jewish Law and has opened the doors to inclusion of woman. I am confident that there will be many foul and angry talkbacks that others shall post in reaction to this article. But "Sticks and stones will..."

Except for my favorites, you may wear my skirts and bras any time. If you'll let me take pictures for Youtube, you won't even have to shave your legs or disguise your face , hehehehe. As for those urinals, you have obviously never been to an Atlanta Braves or Falcons game. When you're confronted with the choice to end up with squishy shoes or head for the men's room, the latter wins out every time. There are times when standing on ceremony or pinching together one's knees are no longer sustainable options. You would, however, be surprised how fast a couple of desperate women will clear a men's room :-)

It seems that the only ones that feel discriminated against is the reform women. But orthodox women have no problem about being women. I think the problem lies in the fact that the belief in G-D is missing, so one feels that the fact that they are women means that they are being discriminated, but if there is a strong belief in G-D and that he runs the world, there is a sense of pride (as orthodox women will tel you) and joy that they are able to serve G-D in a special way that men cannot do. Imagine PM olmert one day saying that he would like ot be like a reular citizen, that is able to go where ever he wanted, and could drive his own car, i am sure you know what would happen. The same thing applies here.

Or are you under the rough raligious surface actually wimps?

who doesn't have and leadership qualifications would be much better off as a "regular citizen" EVEN TODAY. If only we could get him off his chair IMMEDIATELY.

agaist jewish traditions is pervasive-most of them favor gay marriage and recently in my shule they dispensed with the traditional calling kohanim to the torah first because kohanim are not women--too bad they said-''equality'' comes first..i didn't mind women reading from the torah because i wanted to fight assimilation,but it didn't stop there with masorati--they got women rabbis to make up feminist halacha about how unfair it is that there were no priestesses in the holy temple...

Apparently, we have to clear up what is meant by Jewish tradition. The"basic" laws of Jewish tradition do state what the status of women are and where they belong in society. The problem here is how it is translated. Maybe before one attempts to do that they should study the laws in depth and not just twist it around to suit their selfish needs.

Couldn't the daughters, mothers or sisters of these "kohanim" be called up first? They're also "kohanim". No? Kohanim are causing them double "discrimination" trouble: 1) against non-Kohanim 2) against the feminist. How can they bare it?

This refrain is often heard of in Israeli circles. They still know truth from fantasy, whether or not they decide to personally partake or not. Masorti is good at fund-raising and soup kitchens. So is the Salvation Army... admirable, certainly, but you hardly need to be Jewish to do so.

The equality is nice but the halacha process is a big fraud. Like the rabbanite.

then, let the Rabbis preach on and on about that. If any woman is kept down by anyone, she should leave. Where are the Levite Priests? Judaism is sliced like a pie, so many opinions how many of them are Torah based?