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February 9, 1959

How Equal Should Women Be? (1959)

Women & Judaism
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Article

Letter to Editors of Commonweal About Judaism's Attitude to Women (1965)

To The Editors: Your readers should know that Gertrude Heinzelmann's description of Judaism’s attitude to women ("The Priesthood and Women," January 15, 1965) is bared on a colossal misunderstanding of the Jewish tradition. To say, as she does, that Judaism "consigned women to the harem as dumb beings without rights," is to betray a woeful ignorance of Judaism. "Harems" were unknown in Jewish life, even in the days when polygamy had not yet been legally proscribed. Women were never deemed "dumb beings"; they were con- sidored the equal of men in value, though different functions were assigned to each sex. And several tractates of the Talmud ( a "Pharisee" work) are devoted to safeguarding the personal and proper­ty רights of women long before the rest of the world thought it necessary.Women, contrary to Miss Heinzelmann’s assertions, were quite capable of initiating legal action on their own. Their exclusion from certain observances was not a prohibition but a release from duty, and then not from all religious duties, but only from positive commandments that must be observed at certain times. The Miehnah’s limitations on con ersation with women are not, as the author suggest an indication of feminine inferiority but a reflection of high moral standards; and the limitation applies not to "conversation" as such but to sihah, frivolous add idle talk. Similarly, the separation of men and women in the synagogue is a reflection not of the value of women but of the moral context from which prayer must issue and in which it becomes most meaningful. The remark that women were "herded into the loft" is pejorati e and unenlightening.Your author ascribes to Judaism the Idea that sex Implies uncleanness and wickedness, and thus "blames" Judaism for Paul’s notions on the subject. The facts are just the opposite: the Torah’s first command ment is procreation. The blessings pronounced at a wedding ceremony affirms the positive Jewish approach to sex and marriage.It la a pity that …
Women & Judaism

Outline

On Jewish Women and Suburbia (1960)

Throughout ages Jewish life has revolved about 2 poles: Torah – the element that is constant, unchanging, divine; and Chokhmah – culture or worldly wisdom, that white fluctuates, evolves, develops with time. Great minds of Judaism tried to blend both without doing violence to either, thus: Philo, Maimonides, Hirsch, etc. Today: scienceBut in addition to the meeting of Judaism and the high culture of the day, a confront- tation always took place on a lower but more significant level, that of the popular mass-culture. This participated in not only by the intellects but ordinary Jews, JewessesAt beginning this century, for first half of it, in U.S. question of whether can be Jews and Americans, whether can retain Torah identity whilst trying to "Americanize”...That was primarily an urban culture: can you live Like a Jew in tenement houses etc. Many failed – assimilated. We triumphed – otherwise wouldn't be hereToday: another, more serious problem of Torah vis-avis Chokhmah on popular level: that of Torah in Suburbia. Suburbia represents change of pace, new style living, etc..... Does Tefillin go with tennis? - Talmud with a big green lawn? - Mitzvos with PTA?... Some go to either extreme: wither answer is no, hence no suburbia, or answer is No, hence chop off & modify Judaism: temples as show-places instead of worship, services as exhibitions instead of experience etc.You as W.B.U.O.J.C.A. specifically Long Island chapter, represent an affirmation that Torah is not essentially incompatible with this new kind of suburban American experience.The change to suburbia is only one aspect of the whole mid-century change in style which causes so much tension, strain…hard on us. But women able to take it better than men. So Ashley Montagu. So: Isaac told Rebecca - Rabbis: earth & bone. You too can help your families, communities, make smooth change without loss of elemental Torah values…I know you're fatigued..so many requests & demands on time, attention, talents..…
Behaalotcha Women & Judaism

Correspondence

Letter to Editors of Commonweal about Judaism's Attitude to Women (1965)

To the Editors: Your readers should know that Gertrude Heinzelmann’s description of Judaism’s attitude to women ("The Priesthood and Women," January 15, 1965) is based on a colossal misunderstanding of the Jewish tradition. To say, as she does, that Judaism "consigned women to the harem as dumb beings without rights," is to betray a woeful ignorance of Judaism. "Harems" were unknown in Jewish life, even in the days when polygamy had not yet been legally proscribed. Women were never deemed "dumb beings"; they were considered the equal of men in value, though different functions were assigned to each sex. And several tractates of the Talmud (a "Pharisee" work) are devoted to safeguarding the personal and property rights of women long before the rest of the world thought it necessary.Women, contrary to Miss Heinzelmann’s assertions, were quite capable of initiating legal action on their own. Their exclusion from certain observances was not a prohibition but a release from duty, and then not from all religious duties, but only from positive commandments that must be observed at certain times. The Mishnah’s limitations on conversation with women are not, as the author suggests, an indication of feminine inferiority but a reflection of high moral standards; and the limitation applies not to "conversation" as such but to *sihah*, frivolous and idle talk. Similarly, the separation of men and women in the synagogue is a reflection not of the value of women but of the moral context from which prayer must issue and in which it becomes most meaningful. The remark that women were "herded into the loft" is pejorative and unenlightening.Your author ascribes to Judaism the idea that sex implies uncleanness and wickedness, and thus "blames" Judaism for Paul’s notions on the subject. The facts are just the opposite: the Torah’s first commandment is procreation. The blessings pronounced at a wedding ceremony affirm the positive Jewish approach to sex and marriage.It is a pity that an…
Women & Judaism