Feminism and Modesty

Actor Neal McDonough will not appear in compromising scenes(Aish)

I have long been in favor of women studying Torah to their heart’s content. I welcome any contribution any human being makes to better understand our religion. The more we know and the more people that know it, the better off we will be.

I have also encouraged women to not only share their knowledge (for example by authoring Seforim) but to fill various voids in Judaism that they might be uniquely qualified to do better than men. This is why I whole-hardheartedly endorse Yoatzot. These mostly young women have diligently studied the laws of Niddah and are capable of advising young Jewish women about those laws about which they might otherwise be reluctant to consult a Rav.

As most people here know, I am opposed to women getting Semicha and becoming rabbis. Not because I have any personal problem with it. But because it may violate certain Halachos (Serarah); has with rare exception been rejected throughout Jewish history; and perhaps most importantly because it has been widely rejected by virtually all rabbinic leaders of major Orthodox organizations all over the world.  

Only a few outlier left wing organization support it. Whose rabbinic leaders are not accepted by any mainstream Orthodox organizations or rabbis as reliable Poskim. The rejection is so strong that the Centrist OU has forbidden any of its member synagogues from hiring a woman as a rabbi (regardless of what title she chooses). Those that have already hired women as rabbis have been given time to rectify it or face expulsion from the OU.

None of this is new. But in an article in the Jewish Herald-Voice, Aaron Howard  indirectly raises another issue. How far do we go in encouraging women to share their knowledge of Torah? Should a woman teach Torah to men? How far do we go with that? Is it appropriate for a woman to teach Gemarah to a class full adolescent males in a high school classroom?

On the surface one might answer that question with another one: Why not? If the knowledge is there and the teacher is sincere why not allow women to teach men Torah under any circumstance? 

This is where common sense should come into play.

First, the fact that certain tracts in the Gemarah have sexual content (referred to by the Gemarah as Tiflus which is why the sages tell us men should not teach Torah to women) would make it at best - awkward for a woman to each young adolescents.

Second, the image of a woman standing in a class in front of male high school students is not something that will not instill a sense of holiness in them. Nor is it an environment conducive to Torah study. It will instead probably induce licentious thoughts in some of them and reduce if not eliminate focus on the subject matter at hand.  

This isn’t rocket science. It is common sense that putting a woman in front of a group of hormonal adolescent males will undermine any noble purpose it might otherwise serve.

What about the idea that young people need to be taught how to behave even under those circumstances? And what better way to do that than putting them in a room together under those circumstances and monitor them?

That would be a terrible way to do that. Why throw young adolescent minds to the wolves? The ‘wolves’ being recently awakened sex drives? Even if there might be some merit to that argument (which I question) it would undermine the primary purpose of the class. Which is for these young men to learn Torah. I’m not saying that anyone suggested women be put on classrooms to teach young men Gemarah. But to the best of my knowledge neither has anyone said it ought not be done. Which is what I am saying.

On the other hand, I see no problem with a woman teaching other women in a classroom. In fact I think it is an even better idea that having male teacher doing it. If women are going to study Torah, it ought to be other women teaching it to them. If only for practical reasons.

There has been more than one instance – even in Charedi schools - of female crushes on a male teacher. Where that led to some inappropriate behavior on the part of some students. Which in turn  were in some cases inappropriately responded to by male teachers. And then you have male teachers that are actually sexual predators. As was the case a few hears ago with the head of a women’s post high school seminary in Israel.

Putting male teachers in front of young female students is never a good idea, in my view. It creates an unhealthy environment.  Not that all teachers would behave badly. Most probably wouldn’t. But some do. Probably a lot more than we are aware of.

There is a lot to be said about reasonable separation of the sexes. And I emphasize ‘reasonable’. This is why am opposed to for example separate seating at weddings. Or any kind of separation of the sexes in the public square. Like on buses or sidewalks as is the case in certain extreme environments. 

But I am opposed for example to coed high schools. 

And it is why there are Halachos of Yichud that forbid a man and woman who are not married (or not close family members) to be secluded in a room together. 

Yes, I know it’s 2019. But if 2018 has taught us anything, it is that better adherence to the laws of Yichud would have prevented at least some of the sexual misconduct that has been so rampant in our over-sexualized culture. How much better it would be for all of us if the standards of Neal McDonough, a non Jewish actor would be adopted by everyone. He refuses to act in a scene where he has to be in bed with a female actor. He even refuses to kiss any woman other than his wife.

The one thing we cannot do is what modern day feminism would like us to do, ignore our sex drives. Their idea being that sure we have them but we need to better control them. That might be a great idea in theory. But the reality is that it doesn’t always work. Under the ‘right circumstances’ some men will behave badly. And we ought to - as a rule - reduce those circumstances as much as we can. Instead of contributing to them. Whether it is in a classroom full of adolescent boys or by the extremely immodest clothing worn these days by many female celebrities.