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| Ruth Colian -Photo credit: Jewish Press |
I’ve always
considered myself to be a feminist. I still feel that way, although I doubt an
organization like JOFA (Jewish Orthodox Feminist Alliance) would see me that
way. For me, feminism has always meant two things.
One is giving equal pay for
equal work and equal opportunity for men and for women in the workplace.
The
other is a question of dignity. Men and women ought to be given the same respect
in society. All things being equal, men
should be given no more respect than women. Nor should women be put on a pedestal.
Respect should be based on character. Not on gender.
As a feminist,
I have for example always fought for equal pay with men for female Hebrew teachers.
This is an inequity that still exists throughout all areas of Orthodox Jewish education
in all segments of Orthodoxy. It is unfair and I protest it strongly!
What I do
not agree with is pushing feminism where it does not belong. Which is in
certain areas of Judaism. I have written about this many times. I do not believe
that feminism, which is a rights based movement belongs in areas of Judaism that
are obligation based.
The ‘rules’
of Judaism are based on what God demands of us as His people. They are not
based on rights which we may demand. In Judaism men and women are given
specific roles. Each has their own area
of responsibility for fulfilling God’s will.
The problem
is that from a feminist perspective this is a clear inequality. Just
to give one example: Only men are counted for a Minyan. A minimum of 10 men are
required for any Davar She’BeKedusha (i.e. saying Borchu, Kaddish, Kedusha, etc.) 9 men and 100 women do not fulfill
that requirement. Not even if the 9 men are all ignoramuses and all 100 women are PhDs! But 10 ignorant men will do
just fine.
Feminism as defined today considers that to be
anti woman. They believe that there is
no difference between men and women and that both should be counted equally
toward a Minyan. If feminism is your ‘Torah’, then you’d be right. The
Conservative Movement has bought into this idea. But in Orthodoxy feminism
stops at Judaism’s door as far as ritual goes.
In my view
this is a real problem for Orthodox Jewish feminists like those belonging to
JOFA. As Orthodox Jews they would never violate Orthodox precepts. Which
precludes counting them for a Minayn. By
today’s feminist standards, therefore, they are not true feminists.
JOFA will
surely protest and say that they are. And they try mightily to push the boundaries
of Orthodoxy to allow as much of feminism as they can into it. This is why we
have such anomalies as Maharats, Women of the Wall, Women’s Teffilah Groups,
and in Rabbi Weiss’s Shul a Chazanit leading the services for Kabbalat Shabbat.
But try as they might, they realize that they will never be a man’s equal when
it comes to counting them for a Minyan. So in my view – as far as current
definitions of feminism go – there ought to be an asterisk next to the letter ‘F’
in JOFA.
But this
does not mean that feminism has no place in Orthodox Judaism. It most certainly
does. As I said, in the area of economics and dignity we should be completely
equal. Just because Judaism mandates different roles for men and women doesn’t
mean that either of us are second class citizens.
Which is why
I disagree with one of my favorite bloggers, Rabbi Eliyahu Fink. The Jewish Press
has published his post where he questions the very idea that Orthodoxy and
feminism are compatible. As a liberal thinker he admits having difficulty with
that. But at the same time he says that one cannot simultaneously be a feminist
and Orthodox. He wrote this in response to what Ruth Colian is doing. From the
Jewish Press:
(A) Haredi woman named Ruth Colian is asking that the Israeli government stop funding Haredi political parties because they discriminate against women. The Haredi parties will not place a woman on their ballots, yet they are receiving money from the government. Colian argues that the government is sponsoring gender discrimination by supporting the patriarchal system of Haredi Judaism in politics.
I think it
is safe to say that Charedim comprise the right wing of Orthodoxy. I assume
they refuse to allow women to serve based on issues of Serrara. Women are not
supposed to be involved in pubic leadership positions. One can argue whether
Serrara applies to a women serving as a legislator in the Knesset. But that is beside the point for purposes of this essay.
Eliyahu
makes the point that when a society as a whole believes that the quintessential
Jewish role for women is that of being an Akeres HaBayis – the anchor of the
home which includes being a wife, mother, and homemaker - then she has no claim
to being a feminist by choosing that role. Even as he lauds that choice - one
cannot be a feminist if
everyone else is doing it or expected to do it. One can choose
that role and be a feminist only if it is one of many options. Not if it is the only option.
That - he says - does not fit the accepted definition of the word. But then again neither
does JOFA’s limited feminism fully fit that definition.
Orthodox Judaism does however fit my definition of feminism. I believe
that even Charedim will at least in theory (if not in practice) agree with that. Or at least say that it is a valid position even if they do not for
example agree with equal pay for equal work (for practical reasons). There is
nothing incompatible with the Torah in the feminist ideals I espouse.
That Ruth
Colian is trying to break the Charedi ‘glass ceiling’ is both compatible
with Orthodoxy and feminism. I do not think it is impossible to break that ceiling even
in the Charedi world. If for example the government declares the Charedi prohibition
against women serving in the Knesset to be illegal, I am convinced that they will not
resign the Knesset over it and dissolve their political parties. They will not
give up the power that being a member of the Knesset gives them. If it were true that Ruth Colian’s feminism is
incompatible with Orthodoxy, they would resign!
I am rooting
for Ms. Colian. I hope the government sees it her way. That will show that
feminism is alive and well even in the most right wing segment of Orthodoxy.
