The feminism I supported and had long considered myself a
part of was about equality in areas where gender didn’t make a difference. It
started as a movement to ensure equal pay for equal work, something worth
fighting for. And, truth be told, we’re not fully there yet. At least not entirely.
Additionally, it was about mutual respect between the sexes. The idea that men
are somehow superior intellectually, emotionally, or in temperament is a
stereotype that should have been put to rest long ago.
I am all for that kind of feminism. I always have been. But today, equality between the sexes has been replaced by a goal of self-fulfillment, regardless of where that might lead. When it comes to religious dogma and centuries old tradition, there is no place for feminism. Today’s feminism has nothing to do with denying someone the right to advance in an area traditionally occupied by men.
But it has everything to do with doing whatever one feels like if it makes them feel good about themselves. If the dogma or tradition does not allow it, it is to be discarded as an antiquated impediment to self-fulfillment. So, as it is defined today, feminism and religion are incompatible - especially if you're an Orthodox Jew. And yet, there are Orthodox Jews and organizations that consider themselves both Orthodox and feminist.
If you are an Orthodox Jew, this contradiction cannot be resolved unless you modify the definition of feminism—limiting it by religious dogma. Orthodox feminists concede this, which is why they haven’t discarded the Mechitza, the most obvious symbol of inequality between the sexes in traditional Orthodoxy. What they will say is, ‘Okay, we have to limit it, but let’s see how far we can push the envelope in other ways.’
This is where the far-left innovation of ordaining women comes in. While there are arguments to be made that today’s rabbinate has no real Halachic standing and therefore has nothing stopping it from being implemented, a woman nonetheless cannot fully comply with other duties often assumed by a rabbi. For example. a woman may not be a Chazan, read the Torah, or be called up for an Aliyah. She may not even be in the same room for prayer much less be counted as part of a Minyan.
Then there is the plain awkwardness of a woman taking a pulpit in a synagogue and sitting behind the Mechitza for the entire service, Is it possible? Sure. Does it make sense? No. Just because something may be permitted doesn’t mean it ought to be done.
It is a centuries-old tradition that women cannot be rabbis. The argument that tradition can and has been broken when the time or circumstance demanded it has been used to justify ordaining women in our day. And since there is no hard and fast law about ordaining women in its current form, some argue that it should be done. That the time is right. That the culture of our time in fact demands it?
But tradition should never be broken for the sake of personal self-fulfillment—and certainly not if the very idea of women becoming rabbis is generated by a movement that, by definition, overrides Halacha when the two conflict. Even if it doesn’t conflict in this particular case, surely overriding tradition should not be done to serve a purpose driven by that kind of movement.
How do I know that feminism is what motivates these women?
Because they actually say so. Whenever the subject comes up, one will
inevitably hear the term "breaking the glass ceiling" a lot more than
any other reason. Until you challenge them on it. Then they might say it is
about fulfilling themselves spiritually as Orthodox Jewish women.
Prior to the mid-20th century, I do not believe there was ever a woman who wanted to be a rabbi. The role of a rabbi was exclusively deemed to be a man's domain, not a woman's. As noted it was the advent of feminism (as it is understood today) that generated that desire.
That being said, there should be no objection if a woman wants to study Torah, including the material studied for the rabbinate. Jewish knowledge is always a good thing. But what is the point of becoming a rabbi, other than to achieve a sense of self-fulfillment? Is there no better way to do that - that wouldn't be so controversial? Getting the degree should not matter. Acquiring the knowledge is the only thing that should matter. The Chafetz Chaim was not an ordained rabbi for most of his life. Would anyone question his achievements in Torah? Does anyone think he did not feel a sense of self fulfilment?
Rabba Sara Hurwitz discusses the latest achievement in breaking the glass ceiling in her JTA article. When advocating for women in the Orthodox rabbinate she rarely discuss the spiritual value of that. It is almost always about advancing the cause of Orthodox feminism. She opens up her article praising the first woman to be installed as a senior rabbi in an Orthodox synagogue. She calls it a cause for celebration for Orthodox women everywhere. Note that she does not mention how this benefits Judaism or the Jewish people—only that it will make Orthodox women happy. At least those on the far-left who have made a religion out of feminism.
To make matters worse, she points to heterodox rabbis being far ahead of Orthodoxy in this department, saying it’s about time we catch up:
The journey of Orthodox female rabbis bears striking similarities to the trajectory of the first female rabbis in the Reform movement. While liberal denominations have since made significant strides in women’s representation in rabbinic roles, challenges persist across all streams of Judaism. Looking to other movements, we can better understand the obstacles faced by Orthodox women and the progress that remains to be made.
As though catching up with Reform and Conservative Judaism is a worthy goal. I do not believe it says anywhere in the Shulchan Aruch that we should catch up with heterodox movements that glorify feminism as though it were one of the 613 Mitzvos in the Torah.
I’m sorry, but as far as I’m concerned, this disqualifies
her as a bona fide spokesperson for Orthodox Judaism. Using the Reform or
Conservative movements as models for Orthodoxy shows that she has lost her way.
True, she is not advocating a violation of Halacha, but admiring these
movements in any way smacks of legitimizing them.
Despite the progress Rabba Hurwitz is so happy about, I do not believe this is the wave of the future in any segment of Orthodox Judaism. The vast majority of Orthodox Jews, both men and women, reject this kind of radical departure from the norm. So, even if it occasionally shows some movement in that direction - as it did here - the overwhelming sentiment of Orthodox Jewry, which consists mainly of Charedim and Centrists, will never be comfortable with it. To the extent that it grows at all, it will be infinitesimally small by comparison. When feminism becomes a religion that overrides religious dogma and tradition, the only place it can go is outside the pale of Orthodoxy into heterodoxy. And we all know where they are headed.
