Q&A: The Status of Women in Religious Society
The Status of Women in Religious Society
Question
Hello Rabbi Michi!
Not from a feminist angle—what is the role of a woman in religious society?
When you hear lectures by women, they’re only about modesty and how important it is, and that’s where it ends. It just feels like nonsense to me. It can’t be that a woman is nothing but modesty and folding laundry. I don’t necessarily mean Haredi society specifically (after all, there are well-known statements by rabbis like Rabbi Yitzhak Yosef with his explanation for why women are exempt from positive time-bound commandments, and Berland, etc.), but religious society in general. If you’ve written a column about this before, I’d be happy if you could point me to it. If it’s too general, feel free to say so. Thanks for your time.
Enjoy the view of Kikar HaKadurot!
Answer
I don’t know how to answer questions about someone’s “role.” Each person chooses their own role. The fact that there are all kinds of creatures who inform a woman that she exists only to be modest, give birth, and take care of children—and nothing more—that’s their problem. I’d suggest looking for classes from other people. These are not really recommended. In any case, only you get to decide what your role is.