The Traditional Role of Women
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The role of women in traditional Judaism has been grossly misrepresented and misunderstood. The position of women is not nearly as lowly as many modern people think; in fact, the position of women in halakhah (Jewish Law) that dates back to the biblical period is in many ways better than the position of women under American civil law as recently as a century ago. Many of the important feminist leaders of the 20th century (Gloria Steinem, for example, and Betty Friedan) are Jewish women, and some commentators have suggested that this is no coincidence: the respect accorded to women in Jewish tradition was a part of their ethnic culture. In traditional Judaism, women are for the most part seen as separate but equal. Women's obligations and responsibilities are different from men's, but no less important. However, women are discouraged from pursuing higher education or religious pursuits, but this seems to be primarily because women who engage in such pursuits might neglect their primary duties as wives and mothers. The rabbis are not concerned that women are not spiritual enough; rather, they are concerned that women might become too spiritually devoted.
http://www.jewfaq.org/women.htm
http://www.jewfaq.org/women.htm
Women's Mitzvot: Nerot, Challah and Niddah
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In Jewish tradition, there are three mitzvot (commandments) that are reserved for women: nerot (lighting candles), challah(separating a portion of dough), and niddah (sexual separation during a woman's menstrual period and ritual immersion afterwards). If a woman is present who can perform these mitzvot, the privilege of fulfilling the mitzvah is reserved for the woman. Two of these mitzvot can be performed by a man if no woman is present. The third, for reasons of biology, is limited to the woman. All of these mitzvot are related to the home and the family, areas where the woman is primarily responsible.http://www.jewfaq.org/women.htm
The Sages implemented the lighting of Shabbat and holiday candles for several reasons:
- Origins for Women Lighting Candles
The Sages implemented the lighting of Shabbat and holiday candles for several reasons:
- Peace in the Home: Shabbat and holidays are intended to be peaceful oases in chaotic lives.It is used to illuminate the home so that none can stumble in the darkness.
- Honoring the Day: to add light in the home to honor the Shabbat Queen.
- Pleasure: To fully enjoy the Shabbat delicacies, one must be able to see the food—which requires a well-lit room.
Women's Holiday: Rosh Chodesh
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Rosh Chodesh, the first day of each month, is a minor festival. There is a custom that women do not work on Rosh Chodesh. A midrash teaches that each of the Rosh Chodeshim was originally intended to represent the one of the twelve tribes of Israel, just as the three major festivals (Pesach, Sukkoth and Shav'ot) each represent one of the three patriarch.. However, because of the sin of the Golden Calf, the holiday was taken away from the men and given to women, as a reward for the women's refusal to participate in the construction of the Golden Calf.
http://www.jewfaq.org/women.htm
http://www.jewfaq.org/women.htm
The Role of Women in the Synagogue
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In traditional orthodox Judaism, men and women must be separated during prayer, usually by a wall or curtain called a mechitzah or by placing women in a second floor balcony. There are two reasons for this: first, your mind is supposed to be on prayer, not on the pretty girl praying near you. Second, many pagan religious ceremonies at the time Judaism was founded involved sexual activity and orgies, and the separation prevents or at least discourages this. Interestingly, although men should not be able to see women during prayer, women are permitted to see men during prayer. This seems to reflect the opinion that women are better able to concentrate on prayer with an attractive member of the opposite sex visible. On the other hand, in the Reform branch of Judaism, the most liberal, me and some are allowed to worship together, and girls from the ages of 12-18 are allowed to become "daughters of the commandment" during their Bat Mitzvah (coming of age ceremony).
http://www.jewfaq.org/women.htm
http://www.jewfaq.org/women.htm