I've heard others ask the same question. I've read the reasons you gave in your answer, in the past. A person can forget the reasons, when they keep having others question & complain about why women aren't allowed to do things the men do. I'm grateful for the reminder.
2. Anonymous
12/26/2018
I've heard others ask the same question. I've read the reasons you gave in your answer, in the past. A person can forget the reasons, when they keep having others question & complain about why women aren't allowed to do things the men do. I'm grateful for the reminder.
3. Dassie
7/31/2014
Great article, great comment, and additional comments This is a great article and I agree with the extra points added in Comment #1. In particular, Racheli, that egalitarianism strips us of our individuality and identity (regardless of gender) — so true! Also, your point about women following BAD male tendencies. It was never good for men to be promiscuous. It was never really okay. And now, not only are men very promiscuous, but women are, too. Because of women pushing for "equal status." A friend of mine who attended a city high school told me how it was embarrassing for a GIRL to admit she was still a virgin — at sixteen! People would look down on her. Appalling. (And that was in 1990; think of how things are now.) One thing that I've noted is that on my blessedly rare trips to America, I cannot stand how I am treated by secular men — Conservative and Reform included — (or newly BT men, who are more secular than frum at first). I never noticed before how misogynistic they are. But after I was years in the frum community in Israel, I got used to how frum yeshivish men behave. I didn't think of it as a gender issue for a long time because I just thought of the frum community in general as "nice." But when you're out of America for years and then you have to go back — ugh! The difference between yeshivish men and secular men was unexpected and VERY blunt. I think American women don't realize it because they are immersed in it.
4. Dassie
7/31/2014
This is a great article and I agree with the extra points added in Comment #1. In particular, Racheli, that egalitarianism strips us of our individuality and identity (regardless of gender) — so true! Also, your point about women following BAD male tendencies. It was never good for men to be promiscuous. It was never really okay. And now, not only are men very promiscuous, but women are, too. Because of women pushing for "equal status." A friend of mine who attended a city high school told me how it was embarrassing for a GIRL to admit she was still a virgin — at sixteen! People would look down on her. Appalling. (And that was in 1990; think of how things are now.) One thing that I've noted is that on my blessedly rare trips to America, I cannot stand how I am treated by secular men — Conservative and Reform included — (or newly BT men, who are more secular than frum at first). I never noticed before how misogynistic they are. But after I was years in the frum community in Israel, I got used to how frum yeshivish men behave. I didn't think of it as a gender issue for a long time because I just thought of the frum community in general as "nice." But when you're out of America for years and then you have to go back — ugh! The difference between yeshivish men and secular men was unexpected and VERY blunt. I think American women don't realize it because they are immersed in it.
5. YY
7/28/2014
some things to add A few things to add to this very nice response. 1) there are things we can easily change that have nothing do with changing halacha..for example, providing day care at shul so women can daven and listen to the drasha, 2) the fact that men are in charge of the formal davening service is necessary, because (as we've seen with non-Orthodox Jews and liberal non-Jewish religions) when men don't have their own special rituals only they can do, they lose interest and let the women take over. 3) There's nothing wrong with sharing household chores in Torah; in fact, many rabbis tell their male students to help their wives with chores and such. 4) If you really want a spiritual boost try hitbodedut and Jewish meditation while walking in nature — this works wonders, and there's no need to use talis or tefllin or other things associated with men.
6. Anonymous
7/28/2014
A few things to add to this very nice response. 1) there are things we can easily change that have nothing do with changing halacha..for example, providing day care at shul so women can daven and listen to the drasha, 2) the fact that men are in charge of the formal davening service is necessary, because (as we've seen with non-Orthodox Jews and liberal non-Jewish religions) when men don't have their own special rituals only they can do, they lose interest and let the women take over. 3) There's nothing wrong with sharing household chores in Torah; in fact, many rabbis tell their male students to help their wives with chores and such. 4) If you really want a spiritual boost try hitbodedut and Jewish meditation while walking in nature — this works wonders, and there's no need to use talis or tefllin or other things associated with men.
12/26/2018
Excellent Article
I've heard others ask the same question. I've read the reasons you gave in your answer, in the past. A person can forget the reasons, when they keep having others question & complain about why women aren't allowed to do things the men do. I'm grateful for the reminder.
12/26/2018
I've heard others ask the same question. I've read the reasons you gave in your answer, in the past. A person can forget the reasons, when they keep having others question & complain about why women aren't allowed to do things the men do. I'm grateful for the reminder.
7/31/2014
Great article, great comment, and additional comments This is a great article and I agree with the extra points added in Comment #1. In particular, Racheli, that egalitarianism strips us of our individuality and identity (regardless of gender) — so true! Also, your point about women following BAD male tendencies. It was never good for men to be promiscuous. It was never really okay. And now, not only are men very promiscuous, but women are, too. Because of women pushing for "equal status." A friend of mine who attended a city high school told me how it was embarrassing for a GIRL to admit she was still a virgin — at sixteen! People would look down on her. Appalling. (And that was in 1990; think of how things are now.) One thing that I've noted is that on my blessedly rare trips to America, I cannot stand how I am treated by secular men — Conservative and Reform included — (or newly BT men, who are more secular than frum at first). I never noticed before how misogynistic they are. But after I was years in the frum community in Israel, I got used to how frum yeshivish men behave. I didn't think of it as a gender issue for a long time because I just thought of the frum community in general as "nice." But when you're out of America for years and then you have to go back — ugh! The difference between yeshivish men and secular men was unexpected and VERY blunt. I think American women don't realize it because they are immersed in it.
7/31/2014
This is a great article and I agree with the extra points added in Comment #1. In particular, Racheli, that egalitarianism strips us of our individuality and identity (regardless of gender) — so true! Also, your point about women following BAD male tendencies. It was never good for men to be promiscuous. It was never really okay. And now, not only are men very promiscuous, but women are, too. Because of women pushing for "equal status." A friend of mine who attended a city high school told me how it was embarrassing for a GIRL to admit she was still a virgin — at sixteen! People would look down on her. Appalling. (And that was in 1990; think of how things are now.) One thing that I've noted is that on my blessedly rare trips to America, I cannot stand how I am treated by secular men — Conservative and Reform included — (or newly BT men, who are more secular than frum at first). I never noticed before how misogynistic they are. But after I was years in the frum community in Israel, I got used to how frum yeshivish men behave. I didn't think of it as a gender issue for a long time because I just thought of the frum community in general as "nice." But when you're out of America for years and then you have to go back — ugh! The difference between yeshivish men and secular men was unexpected and VERY blunt. I think American women don't realize it because they are immersed in it.
7/28/2014
some things to add A few things to add to this very nice response. 1) there are things we can easily change that have nothing do with changing halacha..for example, providing day care at shul so women can daven and listen to the drasha, 2) the fact that men are in charge of the formal davening service is necessary, because (as we've seen with non-Orthodox Jews and liberal non-Jewish religions) when men don't have their own special rituals only they can do, they lose interest and let the women take over. 3) There's nothing wrong with sharing household chores in Torah; in fact, many rabbis tell their male students to help their wives with chores and such. 4) If you really want a spiritual boost try hitbodedut and Jewish meditation while walking in nature — this works wonders, and there's no need to use talis or tefllin or other things associated with men.
7/28/2014
A few things to add to this very nice response. 1) there are things we can easily change that have nothing do with changing halacha..for example, providing day care at shul so women can daven and listen to the drasha, 2) the fact that men are in charge of the formal davening service is necessary, because (as we've seen with non-Orthodox Jews and liberal non-Jewish religions) when men don't have their own special rituals only they can do, they lose interest and let the women take over. 3) There's nothing wrong with sharing household chores in Torah; in fact, many rabbis tell their male students to help their wives with chores and such. 4) If you really want a spiritual boost try hitbodedut and Jewish meditation while walking in nature — this works wonders, and there's no need to use talis or tefllin or other things associated with men.