Jewish Scene
Rabbi Aviner: Girls should dodge army service
Kobi Nahshoni
Published: 03.06.07, 19:58
Comment Comment
Print comment Print comment
Back to article
41 Talkbacks for this article
31. #10
RW ,   Jerusalem   (06.04.07)
Concerning Devorah... Perhaps you, along with all others who know so much about Tanach should look into her shira and see what the Targum writes on it. PERHAPS... I doubt it though, you would look upon your religious brethren in a much different life. Rabbi Aviner I'm sure hasn't overlooked Devorah. Obviously, due to your poor example, you don't know as much as you think you do.
32. Women out, Almighty in?
Chavi ,   Sharon   (06.04.07)
As a religious woman, for many years I have been faced with the many aspects of Judaism that to the uneducated person make Judaism seem like a very chauvinistic religion. Over the years I have heard many explanaitions for various Halachic rulings and mitzvot. For instance, take the bracha said in the morning by men - "Blessed are thou.... who has not created me a woman" . For many years this seemed rather derogatory - is being a woman so terrible that men thank G-d every morning for not cursing them thus? As I grew up, I was taught that the reason men say this is because women are naturally closer to G-d and therefore less mitzvot are required of them (i.e. they are not required to fulfill mitzvot that are time dependant). I was taught that G-d was present even stronger in women than in men. Men are thanking G-d for being given the opportunity and the commandment to fulfill more mitzvot, to allow them to get closer to G-d in the way that is so natural for women. I am not sure what Rav Aviner said, but what he is reported to have said is very jarring. If women are the cause of all the spiritual deterioration in the army, then what he has allegedly said is that women are bad and should be kept far from all aspects of life where men take part. This is not the way of the Torah as I was taught it. My personal experience has been that the more religious people, men and women, there are around in the army, the stronger the support group the individual had to keep from "spiritually deteriorating". Not only that, but the religious community in the army has an enormous impact on the secular community - in teaching them about Judaism, setting a good example (usually cleaner language, better ethics) and allowing them to feel a part of their religion. I spent many Shabbatot in the army, and what I remember most is the secular soldiers who decided to join me for kiddush and candle lighting on Friday night, and Havdala on Motzei Shabbat. Some of these people had never known a religious person personally before, and were amazed that we were human beings. So, even though I greatly respect HaRav Aviner, I must say that I continue to support both religious men and women in the army, in jobs that are modestly appropriate for each.
33. #7 Joan of Arc
mother of four ,   Israel   (06.05.07)
was a "shikse" and horror of horrors ..... French, so she doesn't count :)
34. #6
Dorothy Friend ,   Tel Aviv   (06.05.07)
Doesn't seem so thinly veiled to me.
35. probably correct
augustine e johnson ,   birmingham, alabama   (06.05.07)
he is probably correct ======= augustine e johnson, usa
36. #2 - Yes.
Yoshuah ,   Beit El, Israel   (06.05.07)
Yes, Rav Aviner, like most Dati Leumi rabbis served in the army. And proudly, as an officer and not a chaplain, I might add.
37. #10 - You've Overlooked Devorah Herself
David ,   Jerusalem   (06.05.07)
What were Devorah's words to Barak? Curse you for putting this in the hands of a woman. In other words - she had no desire to go to war because it was her husband's job.
38. We shall be reducing our army strength
Daniel ,   Israel   (06.06.07)
Rabbi Aviner: Girls should dodge army service We shall be reducing our army strength by more than 50% in one shot!
39. #38 - The IDF Has Been Complaining...
David ,   Jerusalem   (06.06.07)
That it has too many people and wants to cut down on non-combat forces. I'm not going to panic if the girls listen to the good rabbi.
40. Prove IT!!
Seraphya Berrin ,   Petach TIkva, Israel   (06.06.07)
"Aviner advised female teens to prefer Sherut Leumi (national service) over service in the IDF, reminding them that there were no women in the armies of Moses, Joshua, Saul, David, the Hasmoneans or Simon Bar Kochba. " There is no indication that women weren't in the later armies. In fact there isn't any conclusive proof that women couldn't volunteer for the earlier armies if they chose to. I assume they didn't, because of the repressive societies. He claims to be Religious Zionist, but this is certainly not Modern Orthodox. So because the Armies of Moses, Joshua, Saul, David, the Hasmoneans or Simon Bar Kochba didn't use guns, tanks or airplanes, we shouldn't use them either?
41. self defence
isiaiah   (12.25.07)
all males who are of sound mind and health should defend the jewish people from 20- 60 years of age . womem should learn martial arts taught by women of modesty and courage .
Previous talkbacks
Back to article