Nadene Goldfoot
We're made differently. We have different expectations according to our sex. Not only are our bodies a bit different, but we have different hormones that are set up for different functions. There's a reason for having 2 sexes so that we will produce children. Let's look at women first.
Arguments have come up about our women's rights, obligations and then there's our limitations, if any today. Women can take part in synagogue prayer, but there are obligations that only men are expected to fulfill. We can do them, but we don't have to. It's isn't required of us.
In 70 CE our 2nd Temple was burned down in Jerusalem by the Romans and our religion was no longer in the hands of the Cohens of the Temple as Jews became either captives of the Romans or were fleeing for their lives seeking other refuge for themselves and their families. Some were able to hide out in other places of Judah and perhaps even in Israel in the north. Would the religion come to an end? Facts taught to them in the Temple remained and men took responsibility to maintain the Law of Moses. Cohens continued in their role of maintaining the religion while the Levites, those of the tribe of Cohens who were to be teachers, continued in their role as teaching about the religion while the concept of synagogues came into being. What we do in the synagogue has its roots from the 1st and 2nd Temples of Solomon, our 3rd king of Israel.
Legally in Judaism, women were exempted from practically all positive, time- bound mitzvot because the rabbis recognized their obligation to their families. Now, Christianity and Islam have both come along trying to say that Judaism is old fashioned and passe and that they have replaced us, but our religion has continued. It has not come to a standstill, and has been able to keep up with a changing environment and situation from Temple to Synagogue, from psalms to modern music but that we see what is either right or wrong has really not changed at all. Our 10 Commandments that Moses gave us are still applicable today in order to have a healthy population and a happy people whether they be communists, socialists or capitalists.
Women married early in life, and many still do today. Woman had many children, and in some quarters, they still do. Others might think that 2 are a lot. Women used to spend most of their lives rearing small children. It was common for married women to have children every 2 years as biologically this suited both the mother and the nursing child that did so for at least one year without baby bottles.
Women did not have time to attend the synagogue and fulfill the ritual functions that developed in it such as praying in a minyan. A minyan is considered as a group of 10 men. This comes from the Biblical passage in Numbers 14:27, where the term eidah which means a congregation or a community is used. The reference is of 10 scouts who brought back to Moses the pessimistic report of their expedition into the land of Canaan. That any number less than 10 is not regarded as a community is alluded to in the Torah in other places, too. Certain things are not done unless there is a minyan, such as saying kaddish. It is, according to the Orthodox Law, that only men are religiously obligated to join in public worship, and a minyan is just that, public worship in the synagogue or at another place. Females and male children under 13 are exempt as well as non-Jews. These people are able to join in the minyan once it is established.
So we find that women are not bound to the formal prayer service nor to the set times designated for the 3 daily services held in the morning, afternoon and evening. They area not required, as are the men, to join in public congregational worship. The established principle that women are generally exempt from these positive ritual observances that need to be done at a set time takes into consideration of a woman's primary responsibility as a wife and mother. A mother nursing a child was not expected to drop everything in order to attend set prayer schedules. The man is expected to arrange his schedule and his work to conform to religious requirements. Though not all women have these same responsibilities all their lives, the law cannot distinguish between those who do and those who don't, so the leniency with regard to some observances is extended to all. Oh, the law could have been written with rules and sub rules and clauses and such, but was written to be easily understood. In other words, women are let off the hook in this case. They can attend if they wish because they are older and no longer bound by household duties, and so if they choose to, they may, but it's not a rule, a law, an expectation of duty. They're already done their duty in many ways. We are women. Embrace it!
Women are required to pray, but can do so at any time convenient for them and can do so privately without attending a public service. While it is praiseworthy of them to make every effort to attend the synagogue on Sabbaths (Friday night and Saturday morning services) and festivals, and observant Jewish women usually do so, their attendance is not a religious statutory requirement.
In Orthodox synagogues, women and children in Israel have their own section upstairs in a balcony and can look down on the men. That is to not detract the men with any necessary talking they may need to do or the noise of their children. Often little boys remain with their fathers downstairs. A man wears a prayer shawl, and in Israel it is much much larger than the American styles found in conservative synagogues. They put it over their heads like a personal tent that helps them to meditate when praying. It is a beautiful sight from the balconies to look down and see a sea of tents during special parts of the service.
As Jews have 613 Laws that Moses wrote down for us, we also have a certain formality that has been followed since synagogues were created that is followed. It varies from Orthodox to Conservative to Reform synagogues. Tradition is a big thing with us Jews. We have a long history of it. Whatever formal prayers represent or symbolize, one thing must be borne in mind: prayer, or tefilah, involves talking to G-d. It doesn't mean to watch a service performed, it doesn't even mean to just sit while others pray. It means to involve oneself in an experience where one tries to address the Almighty Himself.
"Every Jew is required to recite the Biblical passage known as the Shema (Hear O Israel) twice a day, morning and evening, in fulfillment of the precept: ...And you shall talk of them....When you lie down and when you rise up." So just think our ancestors, at least many of them for many generations did this, though you may not be doing it yourself today, or your parents, or even your grandparents may not have learned to do this...But it's so nice...
Hear, O Israel, the Lord is our G- d, the Lord is One, Blessed be the name of his glorious Majesty forever and ever. Love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your means. And these words which I command you today shall be upon your heart. Teach them diligently to your children, and talk of them when you sit in your house, when you walk on the road, when you lie down and when you rise up. bind them for a sign upon your hand and for frontlets between your eyes. Write them upon the doorposts of your house and upon your gates." If I took a survey, I'd probably find that only the Orthodox still fulfill this expectation. Notice it is not sex divided. Every Jew is mentioned.
This brings us to blessing our home with a mezuzah, which is mentioned in the Shemah. This is usually an ornate little box filled with Hebrew writing with Deuteronomy 6: 4-9 and 11: 13-21 lettered on the front, and the word Shaddai (Almighty) lettered on the back. Usually the container has a hole through which the word Shaddai (Shin, raish, yud) can be seen. which is a sign, like a reminder to us, of G-d's presence, and of his commandments to us and of our duties to him-like to remember the commandments an to do them. Like prayer, it's called service of the heart, and we have the ritual of kissing it with our hand to reflect our love and reverence for G-d. Male and female do this. The custom of a mezuzah goes back to the time when we were slaves in Egypt. It is known that the Egyptians used to place a sacred document at the entrance to their houses. The word mezuzah means "doorpost" and refers to the sentence in Deuteronomy 6: 9, 11:20.
Women usually light the candles on Friday night and may do so along with their daughters. If a man lives alone he may do it himself. We light 2 candles at least which symbolize the unity underlying all apparent duality, such as man and woman, body and soul, speech and silence creation and revelation. Lighting the candles reminds us of the line-"And G-d blessed the 7th day: " What did he bless it with? Light. We say a blessing with this lighting and also a prayer of safety for the family, the world, etc., our own prayer for the week.
Because women today are freer to do more in the synagogue should not be forcing men out of their role. 10 men should not be replaced by 10 women in a minyan. Judaism is not to be a religion taken over by women. Men included women since day 1. We need to let men keep their role in our religion, or do we want them to drop out completely? Whatever job the man has in this world, from garbage-man to doctor, he is king at home and in the synagogue. This is one place he is needed and is important and has a role to fulfill.
As our ancestors went through life in Europe, the women bore the children and often ran the business, freeing their husbands to study Torah. They remembered us every Friday night with the prayer book's special prayer for the wife, which praises her highly of all she does for the family. We haven't been forgotten or unappreciated.
Resource: TO BE A JEW by Rabbi Hayim Halevy Donin
THE JEWISH CATALOG, a do-it yourself kit by Richard Siegel Michael Strassfeld, Sharon Strassfeld.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QRbdB3jNDzQ,
We're made differently. We have different expectations according to our sex. Not only are our bodies a bit different, but we have different hormones that are set up for different functions. There's a reason for having 2 sexes so that we will produce children. Let's look at women first.
Arguments have come up about our women's rights, obligations and then there's our limitations, if any today. Women can take part in synagogue prayer, but there are obligations that only men are expected to fulfill. We can do them, but we don't have to. It's isn't required of us.
 |
| Synagogue in Tunisia; probably is Mizrachi service- Usually wherever we go we can follow the service, not matter the country's language as Hebrew will be used. |
In 70 CE our 2nd Temple was burned down in Jerusalem by the Romans and our religion was no longer in the hands of the Cohens of the Temple as Jews became either captives of the Romans or were fleeing for their lives seeking other refuge for themselves and their families. Some were able to hide out in other places of Judah and perhaps even in Israel in the north. Would the religion come to an end? Facts taught to them in the Temple remained and men took responsibility to maintain the Law of Moses. Cohens continued in their role of maintaining the religion while the Levites, those of the tribe of Cohens who were to be teachers, continued in their role as teaching about the religion while the concept of synagogues came into being. What we do in the synagogue has its roots from the 1st and 2nd Temples of Solomon, our 3rd king of Israel.
 |
| Saturday (Shabbat) morning and reading from Torah, Cohens read first, then Levites, then Israelites (all other men). |
 |
| This man is wearing his prayer shawl around his shoulders and over his head, and is reading from the scroll that is all in Hebrew. Boys are bar-mitzvahed at 13 and have received the education to do this, leading the people in prayer. Any man from 13 on is expected to be able to do this. Girls are confirmed at age 12. |
Legally in Judaism, women were exempted from practically all positive, time- bound mitzvot because the rabbis recognized their obligation to their families. Now, Christianity and Islam have both come along trying to say that Judaism is old fashioned and passe and that they have replaced us, but our religion has continued. It has not come to a standstill, and has been able to keep up with a changing environment and situation from Temple to Synagogue, from psalms to modern music but that we see what is either right or wrong has really not changed at all. Our 10 Commandments that Moses gave us are still applicable today in order to have a healthy population and a happy people whether they be communists, socialists or capitalists.
 |
| A woman praying as men do with Tefillin at Kotel in Israel This is her choice, not a Jewish tradition for women There is a woman's section and a man's section at the wall, used to be called the Wailing Wall. Today's women's movements of equality causing a Jewish women's desire to have equal rights-not understanding that it is an obligation for life-wanting to be as good as men. My answer is that when men start having the children then we should worry about this equality stuff. Then are we trading lives and becoming men? This woman is going all out with the tefillin ,the objects men use in prayer. There has been a history of RASHI's daughters wearing tefillin, though it is our tradition that men use them. There are days to wear them and days not to wear them. There are 2 items worn; one is a strap on the arm and the other is a box on the head used with a special blessing and each with its own special meaning. |
Women married early in life, and many still do today. Woman had many children, and in some quarters, they still do. Others might think that 2 are a lot. Women used to spend most of their lives rearing small children. It was common for married women to have children every 2 years as biologically this suited both the mother and the nursing child that did so for at least one year without baby bottles.
 |
| Small children need attending by someone, usually the mother if possible; today more likely a pre-school |
Women did not have time to attend the synagogue and fulfill the ritual functions that developed in it such as praying in a minyan. A minyan is considered as a group of 10 men. This comes from the Biblical passage in Numbers 14:27, where the term eidah which means a congregation or a community is used. The reference is of 10 scouts who brought back to Moses the pessimistic report of their expedition into the land of Canaan. That any number less than 10 is not regarded as a community is alluded to in the Torah in other places, too. Certain things are not done unless there is a minyan, such as saying kaddish. It is, according to the Orthodox Law, that only men are religiously obligated to join in public worship, and a minyan is just that, public worship in the synagogue or at another place. Females and male children under 13 are exempt as well as non-Jews. These people are able to join in the minyan once it is established.
 |
| Immigrants entering Israel with children |
So we find that women are not bound to the formal prayer service nor to the set times designated for the 3 daily services held in the morning, afternoon and evening. They area not required, as are the men, to join in public congregational worship. The established principle that women are generally exempt from these positive ritual observances that need to be done at a set time takes into consideration of a woman's primary responsibility as a wife and mother. A mother nursing a child was not expected to drop everything in order to attend set prayer schedules. The man is expected to arrange his schedule and his work to conform to religious requirements. Though not all women have these same responsibilities all their lives, the law cannot distinguish between those who do and those who don't, so the leniency with regard to some observances is extended to all. Oh, the law could have been written with rules and sub rules and clauses and such, but was written to be easily understood. In other words, women are let off the hook in this case. They can attend if they wish because they are older and no longer bound by household duties, and so if they choose to, they may, but it's not a rule, a law, an expectation of duty. They're already done their duty in many ways. We are women. Embrace it!
 |
| So far, I've only seen a man blow the shofer, something that takes a lot of practice. |
Women are required to pray, but can do so at any time convenient for them and can do so privately without attending a public service. While it is praiseworthy of them to make every effort to attend the synagogue on Sabbaths (Friday night and Saturday morning services) and festivals, and observant Jewish women usually do so, their attendance is not a religious statutory requirement.
In Orthodox synagogues, women and children in Israel have their own section upstairs in a balcony and can look down on the men. That is to not detract the men with any necessary talking they may need to do or the noise of their children. Often little boys remain with their fathers downstairs. A man wears a prayer shawl, and in Israel it is much much larger than the American styles found in conservative synagogues. They put it over their heads like a personal tent that helps them to meditate when praying. It is a beautiful sight from the balconies to look down and see a sea of tents during special parts of the service.
 |
| My favorite picture of an IDF friend praying, a man wearing teffilin. |
As Jews have 613 Laws that Moses wrote down for us, we also have a certain formality that has been followed since synagogues were created that is followed. It varies from Orthodox to Conservative to Reform synagogues. Tradition is a big thing with us Jews. We have a long history of it. Whatever formal prayers represent or symbolize, one thing must be borne in mind: prayer, or tefilah, involves talking to G-d. It doesn't mean to watch a service performed, it doesn't even mean to just sit while others pray. It means to involve oneself in an experience where one tries to address the Almighty Himself.
 |
| Women serve in the IDF Today's world has changed for women even more than for men |
"Every Jew is required to recite the Biblical passage known as the Shema (Hear O Israel) twice a day, morning and evening, in fulfillment of the precept: ...And you shall talk of them....When you lie down and when you rise up." So just think our ancestors, at least many of them for many generations did this, though you may not be doing it yourself today, or your parents, or even your grandparents may not have learned to do this...But it's so nice...
Hear, O Israel, the Lord is our G- d, the Lord is One, Blessed be the name of his glorious Majesty forever and ever. Love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your means. And these words which I command you today shall be upon your heart. Teach them diligently to your children, and talk of them when you sit in your house, when you walk on the road, when you lie down and when you rise up. bind them for a sign upon your hand and for frontlets between your eyes. Write them upon the doorposts of your house and upon your gates." If I took a survey, I'd probably find that only the Orthodox still fulfill this expectation. Notice it is not sex divided. Every Jew is mentioned.
This brings us to blessing our home with a mezuzah, which is mentioned in the Shemah. This is usually an ornate little box filled with Hebrew writing with Deuteronomy 6: 4-9 and 11: 13-21 lettered on the front, and the word Shaddai (Almighty) lettered on the back. Usually the container has a hole through which the word Shaddai (Shin, raish, yud) can be seen. which is a sign, like a reminder to us, of G-d's presence, and of his commandments to us and of our duties to him-like to remember the commandments an to do them. Like prayer, it's called service of the heart, and we have the ritual of kissing it with our hand to reflect our love and reverence for G-d. Male and female do this. The custom of a mezuzah goes back to the time when we were slaves in Egypt. It is known that the Egyptians used to place a sacred document at the entrance to their houses. The word mezuzah means "doorpost" and refers to the sentence in Deuteronomy 6: 9, 11:20.
Women usually light the candles on Friday night and may do so along with their daughters. If a man lives alone he may do it himself. We light 2 candles at least which symbolize the unity underlying all apparent duality, such as man and woman, body and soul, speech and silence creation and revelation. Lighting the candles reminds us of the line-"And G-d blessed the 7th day: " What did he bless it with? Light. We say a blessing with this lighting and also a prayer of safety for the family, the world, etc., our own prayer for the week.
 |
| All men in this synagogue in Israel with women probably upstairs. |
Because women today are freer to do more in the synagogue should not be forcing men out of their role. 10 men should not be replaced by 10 women in a minyan. Judaism is not to be a religion taken over by women. Men included women since day 1. We need to let men keep their role in our religion, or do we want them to drop out completely? Whatever job the man has in this world, from garbage-man to doctor, he is king at home and in the synagogue. This is one place he is needed and is important and has a role to fulfill.
As our ancestors went through life in Europe, the women bore the children and often ran the business, freeing their husbands to study Torah. They remembered us every Friday night with the prayer book's special prayer for the wife, which praises her highly of all she does for the family. We haven't been forgotten or unappreciated.
Resource: TO BE A JEW by Rabbi Hayim Halevy Donin
THE JEWISH CATALOG, a do-it yourself kit by Richard Siegel Michael Strassfeld, Sharon Strassfeld.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QRbdB3jNDzQ,
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