Preview

Power Of A Jewish Woman By Ruth Menashe

Powerful Essays
Open Document
Open Document
1191 Words
Grammar
Grammar
Plagiarism
Plagiarism
Writing
Writing
Score
Score
Power Of A Jewish Woman By Ruth Menashe
“The role of women in traditional Judaism has been grossly misrepresented and misunderstood” according to the article Torah 10: The Role of Women. Many modern religions and people believe the Jewish woman is suppressed, used and disrespected by her husband and she is given the same stereo-type as an Arab woman. The truth could not be more opposite. The Yes, a Jewish woman can be viewed as submissive and supportive. She can be quiet and lead from the back. And, she can forego a higher education and the ideas of self-sufficiency for the good of her home. But make no mistake, she is influencing and building the strong foundation for the future.
The above sounds somewhat contradicting and even confusing. This due to the balancing role a
…show more content…
Again, this may not be in the modern context, initial thought when one hears the word power. The article The Power of a Jewish Woman by Rabbanith Ruth Menashe discusses power as, “… is the ability to effect change and exercise control”. Using this definition the Jewish woman has a lot of power in control for she is obligated to teach the husband the Torah, she is trusted in her home to deliver a Kosher meal entrusted completely to her and her discretion, and she provides the insight to the man’s wisdom. Throughout the centuries, many rabbis have been known to consult their wives on matters of Jewish law in relation to the women’s role which have impacted many important moments in history to include, Jewish women’s influence in the laws of kashrut through the development of the strong foundations in her home and in the …show more content…
Her most important and influential role in modern society, her marriage, and her community must not be understated. This is because in this culture, she truly reflects the meaning of the cliché…”The woman behind the man’.
The role of the woman in traditional Judaism can be confusing and misconstrued if one does not take the time to read, reflect, and accurately interpret all of the fundamental teachings and principles clearly articulated in Jewish law. There is a traditional Jewish Chassidic saying when referencing the Jewish woman in particular which describes her aspirations for her wealth, her family, and her life. She is committed to her strong convictions and culture and doing all that she can to contribute to its longevity which is apparent in this

You May Also Find These Documents Helpful

  • Good Essays

    Although women were not permitted to inherit property or initiate a divorce in Israel, they were greatly respected and had a strong influence over their husbands and the imperial structures that made up their community. In social hierarchy, both the women of Egypt and Israel were an essential part of the civilization. In Egypt women could indeed own and inherit property and dissolve their relationship if they pleased to do so. In both civilizations the women were treated with…

    • 638 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Powerful Essays

    APUSH Unit 1 Rd 1 IDs

    • 4153 Words
    • 7 Pages

    all the power or most of the power. Women were highly respected and so were head of…

    • 4153 Words
    • 7 Pages
    Powerful Essays
  • Satisfactory Essays

    It also conveys the idea that women were not considered as important as males because it is to be the way they truly are. Lastly, this also may have signified that women were all viewed as the same and that differentiation was only amongst men. From this, women were to only serve as housewives and that was the sole priority for them to do. The perspective of the author shows that the roles of women in high society were dignified and they had no freedom towards any other activity than this sole purpose. The audience is to be shown how women were denied privileges and their continued roles as…

    • 673 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Satisfactory Essays
  • Best Essays

    Womens History Lit Review

    • 1886 Words
    • 8 Pages

    A fresh, personal, bottom-up approach to the women’s labor movement in the early 20th century…

    • 1886 Words
    • 8 Pages
    Best Essays
  • Powerful Essays

    Women have long played an important role in the shaping the nation of Israel which has shaped the Christian church of today. Not only were they daughters, wives, concubines, mothers, and grandmothers of men but they were also special agents of the Lord. It was the Hebrew midwives Shiphrah and Puah who refused the Pharaoh’s order to kill all males that preserved the life of Moses. (Exodus 1) It was the widow of Zerephath who offered food and lodging to Elijah. (1 Kings) There have been women who prophesied and served as spokeswomen for God such as Miriam (Exodus 15) and Huldah. (2 Kings 22; 2 Chron. 24) There were women such as Deborah who served as both a prophet and a judge doling out justice from under a palm tree for the people of Ephraim during the rule of Jabin. (Judges 4) Women such as these received the call of God to serve Him in the roles he directed, roles which were typically filled by men.…

    • 4887 Words
    • 20 Pages
    Powerful Essays
  • Good Essays

    A women in Hegemony and Traditional masculinity would be marginalized and need the aid of a man’s power. Elsie, Flora and Sara are example needing the power of a man to direct them and even save them. But Cookie has her own power. For example eighteen minutes and one second in to episode one Cookie Demand respect from Hakeem and when he refused she beat him with a broom. The act of violence is not power just a mechanism to establish or maintain power. For example when Elsie was confronted Gus she punched him and ran away. Elsie’s violence is not equal to Cookie’s violence because Elsie was afraid and Cookie was establishing respect. The Jamal is another prime example of person deed by Hegemony and traditional masculinity undesiring power. Jamal was deed as liking to inherent the company after Lucious but in the end Jamal is awarded…

    • 551 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Jewish feminism has had a significant impact on the development and expression of Judaism. They have faced many obstacles and brought about much change in the Jewish tradition. Jewish feminism is a movement that seeks to improve the religious, legal and social role and contribution of women within Judaism. Feminism can be traced back to the early 1970s where women began to question their roles amongst society. For Jewish women, they wanted to focus on the composition of the minyan, the exemption from some mitzvot, exclusion of women as witnesses of Jewish law and the position of women in relation to divorce proceedings. Each variant has responded differently to feminism and the level of impact as differed amongst Reform, Conservative and Orthodox Jews.…

    • 779 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    In the Jewish religion, men often play dominant roles while women remain belittled by the Jewish religion and its culture. Judith Plaskow, the author of Standing Again at Sinai; Judaism from a Feminist Perspective, highlights the ways in which Judaism marginalizes women. Women, in the Jewish religion, are always thought of as unimportant and are constantly playing minute roles. Plaskow points out the many ways in which women are constantly ignored throughout Jewish religion and culture. For example, Plaskow mentions that women are not even counted as people when it comes for a Minyan, while ten Jewish males of age 13 and older all count. Plaskow’s argument is very compelling because it highlights how religion has helped install male dominance…

    • 941 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Powerful Essays

    It is difficult to understand the role of women within a religion without a basic understanding of the religion in question; especially if talking of Judaism. It is now important to recognize that for faithful Jews, everything, whether within religious or secular life, revolves around religious laws or mitzvot (singular mitzvah).(1) The Jewish way of life encompasses every aspect of human endeavor. There is a verse in the Book of Isaiah: God desired for his righteousness ' sake to make the Torah great and glorious." (Isaiah 42:21) This verse was interpreted in rabbinic Judaism to mean that God provided many opportunities for people to acquire righteousness by giving them a multitude of commandments covering every situation in life. Orthodox Jews recognize 613 mitzvot. Whether a Jew is conducting business, preparing a meal, or doing any other thing a person might do, there is a mitzvah to give direction to that activity. In understanding this, it becomes clear why it is so difficult for women to question Orthodox Jewish beliefs.…

    • 1957 Words
    • 8 Pages
    Powerful Essays
  • Better Essays

    The role of women has changed dramatically throughout the centuries. The early years for women were always harsh and demanding, but as time went on and feminism spread, the role of women and family became more dominant.…

    • 1447 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Better Essays
  • Good Essays

    The contemporary struggle that Judaism faces is women’s rights throughout the divisions of Judaism. Judaism is broken into four branches or divisions (Orthodox, Conservative, Reform, Reconstructionist) (Malloy, M, 2010). Within the divisions are variations of religious observances including views of women and the roles and actions are considered acceptable and unacceptable within each branch (Malloy, M, 2010).…

    • 621 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Within the Jewish religion women are secluded from religious practices and are positioned in domestic roles where their primary job is keeping the men kosher.(Phoenix,2016) In Christianity women roles are based of the old testament of the story of Adam and eve which dictates women as being sinful and lesser than men. In the Islamic faith women are seen as lesser than the men and are house bound where they do domestic work and take care of their children. In all of these religions marriage was important and dictated the rules of men and women’s domestic coexistence. In Judaism there was a contract called the Ketubah, this contract binded the men to the women and stated what each individual duties were in the marriage for example, Men would honor and support marriage and set aside money for the women if there ever divorced while the women would honor and be faithful to the man.(Phoenix,2016) Though in Islam they didn’t have the Ketubah, they did have their own set of rules when it came to marriage for example, men have the right to divorce their wife whenever they wanted where the woman cannot.( Keddie,2005) .The inequality that each religion and culture has created shows their influence in dictating women’s roles as well as influencing them as being seen as lesser than men and having less…

    • 1415 Words
    • 6 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Bat Mitzvah

    • 1578 Words
    • 7 Pages

    The Story Of Ruth The word Bat Mitzvah directly means ‘the daughter of commandments’ in Hebrew and referred to when a girl turns of age (12 years old) she is recognized by the Jewish community as having the same rights as an elder Jewish women. The girl is now viewed as being morally and ethically responsible for her decisions and actions. The Bat Mitzvah is an important bond in religious and spiritual experiences, and the most crucial aspect of this celebration is the influence and long term effect the experience will have on the young woman’s Jewish identity. Young women find who have turned of age usually find it meaningful to choose one mitzvah (women within the Old Testament) to research in depth to developing a personal connection with…

    • 1578 Words
    • 7 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Sworn Virgin

    • 496 Words
    • 2 Pages

    Often when these women take on this role it will transform who they are instead of being a woman with no rights or powers. She will become a “Sworn Virgin” a man. And with this status she will be granted all the rights of a man and also the responsibility of a male role as well. Such as being head of household and working.…

    • 496 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    The Progressive Era

    • 1180 Words
    • 5 Pages

    She expresses the detailed struggle against patriarchy, poverty and restrictive Jewish practice; the striving for acceptance, independence and prosperity in the new…

    • 1180 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Good Essays