Jewish Scene  Dr. Ruchama Weiss
'Vayechi': On modesty and hypocrisy
Yona Arzi, Ruchama Weiss
Published: 15.12.13, 07:51
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10 Talkbacks for this article
1. The obvious
Sherlock Holmes ,   London England   (12.15.13)
It is permitted to hold women only services, and this has been done for many years, posibly monthly, and with or without separate krias haTorah. As a matter of interest, studies in the USA Reform movement have found that the more female rabbis, female cantors and female presidents of Reform temples, the fewer men bother to attend Temple on Shabbos morning.
2. Separation during prayers
Joseph ,   London England   (12.15.13)
This subject is a lot more complicated than you portray it. The Gaon and Posek HaDor Reb Moshe Feinstein ztl states that separate seating is a Halacha l'Moshe MiSinai. Although the Mishna clearly refers to the Ezras Nashim or Women's Courtyard and the Ezras Yisrael or Israelite [Men's] Courtyard, the Temple Avodah was not like a synagogue prayer service. Spectators observed the sacrificial cult performed by the Cohanim and Levitical choir and orchestra. If you are looking for purely historical evidence look at Hagia Sophia in Byzantium, where Justinian and the male courtiers apear in the ground floor mosaics, while Theodora and the ladies are portrayed in mosaic in the ladies gallery. The church followed on from the synagogue. In the sermons of S John Chrysentom it mentions him looking up at the ladies gallery to speak to thje ladies.
3. paintings of women
Akiva ,   NYC   (12.15.13)
If you study the history of art you will discover that for most of Jewish history we have used non-Jewish artists to decorate our religious items, such as illuminated manascripts, silver work etc. Naked cherubs, half-dressed women, images of Moses and Aaron etc are nothing unusual as non-Jewish artistic conventions.
4. A gallery on three sides
Yossi ,   Baltimore   (12.15.13)
In the later chapters of Sefer Ezekiel, the prophet describes the details of the Third Temple, which appears to have a ladies gallery on three sides. There is no hint of lady Cohanim performing the Avoda or lady Levites in the choir.
5. "seating was mixed" - sitting was forbidden in the Temple
Smadar ,   Ariel, Israel   (12.15.13)
"Historians and archeologists of the Mishna and the Talmud are in total agreement that in these periods, there was no women's section, seating was mixed" - there may or may not have been a women's section, but seating for sure wasn't mixed, for the simple reason that it was forbidden to sit down at all anywhere in the Temple courtyards. People stood all the time when watching the offerings and celebrations and when praying. The only exceptions were for the king and the possibly the Kohen Gadol. The Gemara mentions this in several places: Yoma 25a, Yoma 69b, Sotah 40b, Sotah 41b, Kiddushin 78b, Sanhedrin 101b, and Tamid 27b (sources according to Reb Chaim HaQoton)
6. As a woman i dont want to be a man
Ann ,   Israël   (12.16.13)
I think we have better things to do than fighting for false and useless rights; this is the result of feminism from the non jewish world; true jewish feminism is celebrating woman as the queen of her family, not a competive woman who wants to be a man, but a person who can live fully her feminity as a spouse, mother, educator, friend and so on. It is tiring to see always the same fighting which leads only to less peace and more wars. And as the psalms say: all the honor of the King's daughter is inside.......psalm45!
7. Psychological Truths
Zechariah   (12.16.13)
Nevertheless the Father ought teach his sons the mother her daughters if possible and the Capacity is there .This interaction is believed highly important .Rationally other teachers need be involved for Survivalist Skills of the Body Mind and Soul even for Atheists.
8. mixed worship
h.s.cohen ,   N.Y.C. U.S.A.   (12.16.13)
Can't we all just get along? So few of us so many of them.
9. But other woman have to think like you?
Not Ann ,   Israel   (12.16.13)
By what standard are their perceived rights "false and useless" as decreed by Ann? As a woman, clearly, they don't want to be Ann. But only Ann's rights are true and useful -- according to Ann.
10. To not Ann
Elisheva ,   Israël   (12.16.13)
By the standard of"what are we on earth for"!!
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