Jewish Scene
Battle over women's right to pray
Neta Sela
Published: 14.06.06, 16:23
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18 Talkbacks for this article
1. A Question for the Poskim
Reuven Brauner ,   Raanana, Israel   (06.14.06)
Ask the renowned Poskim what they think of this.
2. Women's right to perform
Sarah   (06.14.06)
Jewish women have always had a "right" actually an OBLIGATION to pray, beginning with the holy Matriarchs, Miriam, Devorah, Chana who inspired the method of prayer, throughout history. What this article is talking about is public display of religiosity. Feminists make a huge fuss about public rituals, reading scripture in front of an audience, posing in talit and tefillin for media cameras. None of this has anything to do with service to G-D.
3. Sarah #2
Tsvi   (06.14.06)
Sarah, you are truly righteous
4. poskim shmoskim
avramele   (06.15.06)
all of us stood and heard at sinai and therefore all of us women included have the historical right to interpret and live out out traditions in our own way.
5. Prayer is good.
Dave ,   Toronto, Canada   (06.15.06)
Prayer is good. I think this is tremendous. Kol Ha kavod to the congregation.
6. OK, but serving shrimp for kiddush is going too far.
Bunnie Meyer ,   Santa Monica, CA   (06.15.06)
7. "kvod ha-tzibur"
Shoshi ,   Israel   (06.15.06)
The main reason given for women not reading from the Torah - reading the Haftarah - etc has always been "kvod ha-tzibur" - the honor of the congregation, that it is embarassing to the congregation -- To me it is much more embarassing to have to hear a man who does not know the proper way to read, cannot get the words right, doesn't pronounce things correctly, and generally stumbles through the reading - but he can go up just because he is a man, while there are learned, talented women who would do a thousand times better - but we have to sit back because we are women. There is no halachic prohibition for many things - the problem is the fear of change and men's refusal to allow women to show that they are just as capable (if not more so)
8. reply to poskim shmoskim
mark ,   usa   (06.15.06)
yes all of us stood at mt sinai and heard that NO we may not interpret the traditions in our own way the torah tells us what to do ( this has nothing to do with my opinion on the matter but THAT should deffinintly not be shaping yours)
9. From a member of Shira Hadasha
Alexandra ,   Jerusalem, Israel   (06.15.06)
I need to correct a major inaccuracy in this report. Shira Hadasha does not count women in a minyan. A minyan is ten men. We do take on a voluntary obligation to wait for 10 women as well. Not because it is halacha, but because it is a gesture of inclusion. Also the synagogue is not egalitarian and does not claim to be. We do everything we can to increase the participation of women WITHIN HALACHA. However women do not fill all the same functions as men. The term egalitarian is misleading. Finally Sarah, I suggest you refrain from judging other people's motivations for religious actions.
10. I agree with R' Brauner
Adam Shapiro ,   Cape Town, S Africa   (06.15.06)
Yasher Koach R' Brauner! :) Regards to Shia and the rest of the family
11. misleading title!!
david p ,   nj   (06.15.06)
HOW ANTI DATI are you!!!? this header makes it seem like Orthodox Judaism doesnt allow women to pray!! Chutzpa!! Women have an OBLIGATION according to Jewish Law to pray- the question is HOW. Your anti dati attitude is sickening Ynet.
12. Article Title
Janie ,   Newark   (06.15.06)
Please change the title to this article. The dispute is not about womens right to pray- everyone agrees that women should pray and have a chiyuv (obligation) to pray. The question is about what role they can play in a shul Be honest and change this article title.
13. To Bunnie Meyer - from another member of Shira Chadasha
ESP   (06.15.06)
How dare you insult my congregation by insinuating we serve Shrimp for Kiddush? You should not be so quick to judge: remember that we are living in Eretz Yisrael, while you sit in California and speak Lashon Hara about your fellow Jews. Shame on you.
14. to those rabbis
(06.16.06)
kavod ha-brios doesn't apply when it goes against halacha, only when it goes against minhag
15. about the poskim
Anon ,   Gush Etzion, Israel   (06.16.06)
well each person is supposed to pick a posek. remember "aseh lecah rav." when the other person said poskim shmoskim, what I think they meant ot say is that the"renowned" poskim mentioned earlier carry no more weight than what thier rav muvak tells them.
16. Reply to ESP, RE: Bunny Meyer
Tzivah ,   Alexandria, USA   (06.16.06)
You don'trecognize a jokewhen you see it? Also what do they mean by saying they count women in the quorum, but don't start services until there are 10 men present? That is not couting women. After all what is a quorum for?
17. Thanks to Shira...
ezra ,   canada   (06.16.06)
...Hadash members for correcting the YNet article which as usual not correct. And please don't worry about the stupid comment from california. This person is basically insulting everybody everyday on this website. beHatzlaha
18. Bias
Allan   (06.17.06)
The refusal to allow women the equality read from to the Torah is blatant sexism and bigotry. The excuse that it is according to Halacha that the prohibition is imposed is beyond lame. Halacha is law and law is a living entity. It evolves with the times and the generations. It is high time the orthodox came into the 21st century and understood that the Halacha that was applicable in their grandfathers times is not applicable today.
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