Women In Judaism
Stephen Gustofik
4/23/05
Mid-Term Paper #2
Judaism The Role of Women
If there are differences among various different cultures, it's the way they portray women. For example, the overall role of women in our society is mainly two different things to clean the house, take care of the kids, and to be used as a sex tool'. In other cultures, such as Judaism, women are viewed as more spiritual and intellectual. Today, I am going to define the way women are viewed in the Judaism culture as well as how it applies to the culture today. First of all, I'd like to say that the role of women in traditional Judaism has been vastly misunderstood. The modern man thinks that the Judaism culture belittles the women in their culture and are low on the chain of command; however, the role of women in halakhah, or Jewish law, whom dates back to the biblical period are in many ways better than the position of women who are under American civil law, as recent as a century ago. (Jewfaq.com) Most of the high powered feminist leaders of the twentieth century (such as Gloria Steinem) are Jewish women, and some commentators have reiterated that this is no coincidence: the respect accorded to women in Jewish tradition was also a part of their ethnic culture. …show more content…
The Talmud and later rabbinical writings speak the wisdom of Berurya, whom the life of Rabbi Meir was. Beruya's opinions on halakhah were accepted over those of her male contemporaries on several instances. In her son's marriage contract, the wife is obligated to teach the husband Torah. Many rabbis over the centuries have been known to consult their wives on matters of the Jewish law that relates to the women's role, such as laws of kashrut and women's cycles. The wife of a rabbi is referred to as a rebbetzin, practically a title of her own, which should give us all some type of idea of her significant in Jewish life.
4/23/05
Mid-Term Paper #2
Judaism The Role of Women
If there are differences among various different cultures, it's the way they portray women. For example, the overall role of women in our society is mainly two different things to clean the house, take care of the kids, and to be used as a sex tool'. In other cultures, such as Judaism, women are viewed as more spiritual and intellectual. Today, I am going to define the way women are viewed in the Judaism culture as well as how it applies to the culture today. First of all, I'd like to say that the role of women in traditional Judaism has been vastly misunderstood. The modern man thinks that the Judaism culture belittles the women in their culture and are low on the chain of command; however, the role of women in halakhah, or Jewish law, whom dates back to the biblical period are in many ways better than the position of women who are under American civil law, as recent as a century ago. (Jewfaq.com) Most of the high powered feminist leaders of the twentieth century (such as Gloria Steinem) are Jewish women, and some commentators have reiterated that this is no coincidence: the respect accorded to women in Jewish tradition was also a part of their ethnic culture. …show more content…
The Talmud and later rabbinical writings speak the wisdom of Berurya, whom the life of Rabbi Meir was. Beruya's opinions on halakhah were accepted over those of her male contemporaries on several instances. In her son's marriage contract, the wife is obligated to teach the husband Torah. Many rabbis over the centuries have been known to consult their wives on matters of the Jewish law that relates to the women's role, such as laws of kashrut and women's cycles. The wife of a rabbi is referred to as a rebbetzin, practically a title of her own, which should give us all some type of idea of her significant in Jewish life.