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| Efrat's new spiritual leader, Dr. Jennie Rosenfeld |
Rabbi Riskin has many other accomplishments – including being
in the forefront of the movement to free soviet Jewry in the 60s and 70s. An
ardent Religious Zionist, he made Aliya in 1982 and settled in the city of
Efrat where he serves with distinction as Chief Rabbi to this day. He prides himself as a student of Rav Joseph
Dov Solovietchik who gave him Semicha.
But he is not without controversy. One of his innovations was the creation of a Women’s
Teffila Group at LSS. This is a women’s only prayer group that has taken on
some of the modalities of a men’s Minyan. Modalities like Kriyas HaTorah and
giving women Aliyos. Even though Rav Soloveitchik was strongly opposed to such
innovations, he nevertheless gave Rabbi Riskin guidance on how to set it up
Halachicly – realizing that they were going to do it anyway with or without Rabbis
Riskin and Soloveitchik.
But now Rabbi Riskin is involved in a new controversy. And I’m
not sure what to make of it. He has appointed a woman as a spiritual leader in
Efrat. He is not calling her a Rabbi. But he has clearly given her the duties
of one in the area of deciding Jewish law. He said her purpose will primarily
be to answer Shailos (Halachic questions) that women might have with respect to
family purity. These laws are often embarrassing for a woman to present to a
male rabbi. Women might be a lot more comfortable presenting them to a woman.
That is why the Yoetzet was created. A Yoatzet is someone
that has studied those laws well and is equipped to answer commonly asked
questions. For the more difficult ones they consult with experienced Poskim
that will guide them. This is an
innovation I have always supported. That’s because it is a sorely needed niche
that will improve Taharas HaMishpacha in many families heretofore too embarrassed to
ask Shailos.
It is not about being a rabbi. It is about being a Halachic adviser to women in specific
situations. Much like the Rebbetzins of old
who were able to answer many Shailos presented to them because of their
relationship with their husbands who were asked many such Shailos. The only difference
is that unlike a Rebbetzin, a Yoeztet is specially trained for it. Making the appointment of a Yoetzet an overall communal improvement in observing
Halacha.
But Rabbi Riskin’s selection of Dr. Jennie Rosenfeld seems
to have crossed the line. Dr. Rosenfeld is far more than a Yoetzet. She is being
billed as a spiritual leader. For all
intents and purposes she is a rabbi – even though he does not call her that.
If this is the case, he has broken with tradition and his
mentor, Rav Soloveitchik. I don’t know if this is his intent. But I don’t see
any other way to characterize it.
So I am disappointed. Here is a man who has done so much for
his people. A man of principle that will not compromise. A man that I admired…
and still do. And yet, he seems to have crossed a line. Same as another
principled individual, Rabbi Avi Weiss who ordained Rabba Sara Hurwitz, the first
female rabbi - and founded a Yeshiva for that purpose that Rabba Hurwitz heads.
Had Rabbi Riskin just appointed her Efrat’s Yoetzet, it would have been
fine. But by calling her a spiritual leader he has gained nothing other than
giving Jewish feminists a boost. Which will surely increase controversy in
Israel. And I cannot celebrate that.
