Q&A: Priesthood for Women
Priesthood for Women
Question
Hello Rabbi,
I understood that you support changing Jewish law so that women would be eligible to testify in a religious court.
As the daughter of a priestly family, I’d be happy to know your opinion regarding the priesthood for women. When the Temple is rebuilt, would I be able to serve as a regular priestess, and perhaps even advance to the High Priesthood?
And one more question: why is the priesthood passed down by inheritance only within priestly families? Doesn’t the fact that ordinary Jews are not permitted to serve in the Temple constitute discrimination?
Thank you very much, and have a good week.
Answer
I raised the possibility of qualifying women for testimony, but that is not a firm position.
The same possibility will presumably come up regarding women’s service in the Temple as well. The advantage is that by then there will already be a Sanhedrin, and I assume they will be able to make up-to-date decisions.
As for the fact that ordinary Israelites cannot serve in the Temple, that can indeed be seen as discrimination. There is quite a bit of discrimination in Jewish law. I’ll just say that not every form of discrimination is illegitimate. If there are good reasons for it, then discrimination can be justified.
Fortunate is the one for whom what’s urgent is to wallow in the blood of animals and eat fatty meat and oil-soaked meal offerings all her days