Dear Friends,
Okay, who are more Jewishly observant, men or women?
What did you guess? E-mail me back and let me know your thoughts.
The Torah has a comment on this question, too, but first, a little anecdotal sociology.
Over the years, especially due to the successful feminist movement, and probably also somewhat due to the lesser-known men’s movement (read Herb Goldberg’s The New Male), we have seen an inversely proportionate increase in women’s involvement in synagogue life and a concomitant decrease in that of men. Once, the kitchen was the domain of the Jewish woman, and in synagogue, it was so. Now, the board room and the bima are fully woman’s realms, and in many congregations women dominate both positions of power. As well, in many synagogues, when one looks out from the bima, often one sees a greater number of women worshippers than male attendees.
Why? One might posit any number of sociological theories. Perhaps among our aging population, which dominates many congregations, there are more women than men. Perhaps, women are reclaiming that which Tradition had seemingly denied them in earlier days. Perhaps, women are intuitively more spiritual. Perhaps, women are more attuned to the nature of community.
And, there is the Torah’s thoughts, too. In this week’s parasha, we read the opening verse, “Moses assembled the entire Jewish community…” [Ex. 35:1] This, of course, implies all the Israelites, male and female. One commentary, recognizing the historic separation of the genders, indicates that the two sexes came, but separately, lest they fall into temptation [Zohar 3:196].
Yet, as one reads further into this week’s chapter, one sees this additional, interesting verse: “Men in addition to the women came…” An interesting interpretation, here, is that women were naturally inclined to come when called to Jewish service, but that in this instance, the men also heeded Moses’ charge, implying that women assembled before men.
I do not disagree with this reasoning. This is especially noticeable today, with the wonderful leadership of women clergy – not only in Judaism. We have witnessed far more than mere inclusion; we have seen a necessary and transcendent deepening of religious living and meaning. We have been challenged to reread our texts, to understand Judaism from a holistic perspective, and to recast historic practices, beyond Bar and Bat Mitzvah, brit and ceremonies for daughters - to serve, in the words of this week’s parasha our entire Jewish community.
So which is it, men or women?
Shabbat Shalom!
Rabbi Douglas Kohn
Okay, who are more Jewishly observant, men or women?
What did you guess? E-mail me back and let me know your thoughts.
The Torah has a comment on this question, too, but first, a little anecdotal sociology.
Over the years, especially due to the successful feminist movement, and probably also somewhat due to the lesser-known men’s movement (read Herb Goldberg’s The New Male), we have seen an inversely proportionate increase in women’s involvement in synagogue life and a concomitant decrease in that of men. Once, the kitchen was the domain of the Jewish woman, and in synagogue, it was so. Now, the board room and the bima are fully woman’s realms, and in many congregations women dominate both positions of power. As well, in many synagogues, when one looks out from the bima, often one sees a greater number of women worshippers than male attendees.
Why? One might posit any number of sociological theories. Perhaps among our aging population, which dominates many congregations, there are more women than men. Perhaps, women are reclaiming that which Tradition had seemingly denied them in earlier days. Perhaps, women are intuitively more spiritual. Perhaps, women are more attuned to the nature of community.
And, there is the Torah’s thoughts, too. In this week’s parasha, we read the opening verse, “Moses assembled the entire Jewish community…” [Ex. 35:1] This, of course, implies all the Israelites, male and female. One commentary, recognizing the historic separation of the genders, indicates that the two sexes came, but separately, lest they fall into temptation [Zohar 3:196].
Yet, as one reads further into this week’s chapter, one sees this additional, interesting verse: “Men in addition to the women came…” An interesting interpretation, here, is that women were naturally inclined to come when called to Jewish service, but that in this instance, the men also heeded Moses’ charge, implying that women assembled before men.
I do not disagree with this reasoning. This is especially noticeable today, with the wonderful leadership of women clergy – not only in Judaism. We have witnessed far more than mere inclusion; we have seen a necessary and transcendent deepening of religious living and meaning. We have been challenged to reread our texts, to understand Judaism from a holistic perspective, and to recast historic practices, beyond Bar and Bat Mitzvah, brit and ceremonies for daughters - to serve, in the words of this week’s parasha our entire Jewish community.
So which is it, men or women?
Shabbat Shalom!
Rabbi Douglas Kohn
