Home Home / Letter to Editors of Commonweal about J…

Correspondence

Jan. 18, 1965

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

Women & Judaism
View The Text

This content is currently available in its original PDF format. As we expand the library, we plan to add a text version as well.

RELATED CONTENT

Speech

How Equal Should Women Be? (1959)

I am qualified to speak on this subject because of the happy circumstance that there are as many women as men in my ancestry. Freud maintained that in the natural psychological makeup of the human race there is inherently a striving or battle between male and female. In addition, in any society, especially a competitive society, there will always be a tendency for friction between the sexes. Ancient societies were generally directed and dominated by one of the sexes. Some of them were matriarchal, dominated by the women or mother. Most societies of ancient days were patriarchal. Our own society was originally patriarchal. It is now in a state of transition. The whole problem of “How equal should women be?” is peculiar to modern society, emerging, as it is, from a completely patriarchal culture to a new kind of civilization – perhaps partially matriarchal. The whole concept of women’s rights is no more than about fifty years old. The problem was brought into sharp focus in World War I, when the men were away on the battlefield fighting, and women were called upon to serve their places in industry and offices, as a sort of second best. No one really thought that they would prove anywhere near as capable as men. They were, however, surprised by the fact that in many of these temporary positions, the women proved to be superior to the male. From that day on, American women have been getting more and more rights. Today there are two and a half million more women voters than men voters. One third of the American labor force – about twenty-two million – are women. We are today, insofar as the position of women in society, in a state of flux. And the stress and strain of the transition period is having its definite effect upon all members of our civilization. If you will excuse the metaphor, the pattern of the American woman’s position in society has been set – but the basting thread has not yet been taken out. Alterations still must and will be made.The problem today in A…
Women & Judaism

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

Correspondence

Letter to R. Berkovits about Article Draft (1975)

Dear Dr. Berkovitz: Thank you very much for sending me the draft of your newest article. Because of the importance of the subject, I do not want to comment until I have had a chance to study it further. My first reading leaves me impressed once again with the boldness of your efforts and the sweep of your concern. However, with such intellectual daring come risks, and I do want to think through the problem a bit further before offering my comments. I believe the enclosed letter will explain where I stand on the problem we have been discussing for some months now. My warmest regards to Mrs. Berkovitz. Cordially yours, Rabbi Norman Lamm
Women & Judaism