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September 26, 2005

Quotes for Egalitarianism Talk (2005)

Women & Judaism
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Egalitarianism in the Torah? - First Talk (2005)

2 Buzz Words of contemp’y non-O-Jsm: Plural’m; Egalitarn’m (=Eg’m). Is there such a concept in Tor? My thesis: Yes, but not dominate all else. Nuanced. Will give several cases which clearly pro-eg’m; and several which clearly hierarchical – and the reasons why so. No simple answers.Ex #1—pro- eg'm: Source=טור ת1״מ סימן צו ; so for all civil lawאשה שוה לאיש לכל עונשין שבתורה - ואיש צריר לנדותו עד רציית דינא וכן הוא דין האשהמעיד אני עלי את השמי□ ואת הארץ בין גוי בין ישראל בין איש ביןJ אשה בין עבד בין שפחה הכל לפי מעשיו של אד□ רוח הקדש שורה עליוr Genrl princpl hierarchy: "bottom" nvr totally derogdtd...Hierarchical #1: Distinctions betw G-d/man, and man/animal...Mn/Gd: imtate/impersonate; thus: .תהילים קמד-מה אד□ ותדעהו בן אנוש ותחשבהותהילים ח -ותחסרהו מעט מאלהים וכבוד והדר תעטרהו: :YetMn/Anml: כשרות, צער בעלי חיים.Hierarchical #2: בין ישראל לעמים - ST - Cone camp, J last request: 2 minute prayer: שלא עשני גויHierarchical #3: כהן לוי ישראל - true, but trade-off: gets תרומה, מקדים but also subject to burdensome restrictions—marriage, cemetery, etcמיתת נדב ואביהו שהם בגדר ״בקרובי אקדש״ :SOHierarchical #4: ת״ח והמון העם—read from רמבי׳ם הלי דעות פ״ה . True— but noblesse oblige Imbues public w כבוד התורהHierarchical #5: מצוות עשה שהזמן גרמא - Abudrahm... & Hedge of R explanation (הלכות נדה endows woman w awareness קדושת הזמן)Hierarchical #6: ולד זכר או נקבה...-אשה כי תזריע child-brth=paragon of creativity ; *Perplxg: at birth no joy bt טומאה; bee creatvty disturbs innr eqlbrium,/ requires reorienttn of כחות הנפש. Always טומאה <-'צירה:*Kab: בריאה ע״י שבירת הכלים; also: ע״ס דקדושה עם ע״ס דמסאבותאו ס\ *seed - has to rot; sculpture=getting rid of all that’s not in artist’s headj *Artists, writers; so: רבנו יעקב בעל הטורים and (להבדיל) Wagner*History: ערב רב^יצ׳ימ; French Rev־>Jacobins;( above exp/anatn=result of indvd! /diverse opinions קylק/nמהרשא/א1ה״ Freud/myself\THUS: period of טומאה אחרי לידה. Bt why 2 X for girl? bee created creator!The difference: The first t…
Women & Judaism

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Egalitarianism: Halacha and Tradition (2007)

Intro: Ari Berman/Green/Jack Rudin... Lecture – controversial – no one will be happy. Bullet-proof vest – stones/tomatoes. I ask you to hold your prejudices in check, & understand this = complicated subject, no simple answer. Definition: EGM from French: égalité; is belief all equal, no hierarchy. EGM begins w Emancipation even < Fr Rev (1789) to Congress of Berlin (1878) & then to 1933 (Rise Nazism); EGM originates Europe; rejected by Catholic, some Protestant & most of Islam. In USA, EGM – Civil Rights Revol & also → moral relativism; personal autonomy (both unacceptable to Hal). Alexis de Tocqueville (1857) attributed idea of Equality to Jsm (monotheism). BUT W. Europe: Elitists – Democracy (via EGM) = enemy excellence; reject idea equality as work of Js, so: hateful. Islam too rejects democracy/EGM universality, foreign to Isl trad. (Explains today’s militant Islamic assault vs America, Isr). “The Great Satan.” So (2003) Pres Malaysia to 57 Islamic leaders: “We = against a ppl who think; survived 2000 yrs pogroms by not hitting back but by thinking; invented Communism/Socialism/human rights/Democracy” – basically repeating Hitler’s views. AMER EGM – opportunities Js rel Js to participate in Am society; Ideal צלם אלקים – EGM has been good for Js – not only Orth, but all who identify as Js; even Chinese impressed. Dan Elazar: EGM in synagogue – little interest to Israelis. Need for individual choice = incomprehensible. EGM Roots in Tor? Yes, but not dominant all else. Will explain. Arguments For EGM in Jsm: אתם נצבים היום כולכם לפני ה׳ אלקיכם ראשיכם שבטיכם זקניכם ושטריכם כל איש ישראל – טפכם נשיכם וגרך אשר בקרב מחניך מחטב עציך עד שואב מימיך. ברכות דף יז/א מרגלא בפומייהו דרבנן דיבנה: אני בריה וחברי בריה; אני מלאכתי בעיר והוא מלאכתו בשדה; אני משכים למלאכתי והוא משכים למלאכתו; כשם שהוא אינו מתגדר במלאכתי כך אני איני מתגדר במלאכתו; ושמא תאמר אני מרבה והוא ממעיט – שנינו אחד המרבה ואחד הממעיט ובלבד שיכוין לבו לשמים. משנה סנהדרין פרק ד: לפיכך נברא אדם …
Women & Judaism

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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