Why I Oppose the Safety Respect Equity Coalition

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I can think of few issues as important these days as fighting sexual abuse, harassment and bias against women. It needs to be eradicated. It is not arguable that it still exists. Even now after the #MeToo movement is in full bloom - where so many women have had the courage to tell their stories. While sexual abuse is by far the larger issue, sexual harassment is alive and well too and must be fought. And so too is the bias against women in the workplace.

While there might be exceptions - women doing the same work as men and getting paid substantially less is the rule. Not the exception. Nowhere is this more true than in Jewish education. It is no secret that women in Jewish education make far less than men do.

So when an organization is created in order to forward these goals, I would normally support it. But I do not support The Safety Respect Equity Coalition (SRE).  Not because of those goals – which they are clearly working to achieve. But because of part of their mission statement: 

The SafetyRespectEquity Coalition (SRE Coalition) today announced it will provide $1 million in grants to further its mission of promoting women’s leadership and addressing sexual harassment and gender discrimination in Jewish spaces.  

By promoting women’s leadership in Jewish spaces - I can only assume they mean all Jewish spaces. Including synagogues. And that would be trampling on my religious rights. This is not to say that gender bias doesn’t exist in many ‘Jewish spaces’. Of course it does. The problem is that some ‘Jewish spaces’ cannot be subject to equity for religious reasons.

It is unconscionable that women that teach the same amount of hours that men do – receive less pay. That needs to be changed. But SRE doesn’t limit it to that. Here is what they say in their announcement: 

Ultimately, the SRE Coalition aims to achieve organizational change and culture shift by galvanizing Jewish leaders to make these issues a priority in their institutions...

Currently composed of more than 100 organizations, funders, individuals, and experts, the Coalition serves as both catalyst and resource: to support, coordinate, and amplify change in Jewish organizations, as well as to accelerate a broader cultural shift. 

Apparently, this includes the synagogue. So that if a woman wants to be a rabbi in a Shul with the same rights and privileges as a male rabbi, SRE might say they should have that right and fight for it – right along with fighting sexual abuse, harassment, and bias.

This is where I part company with them. When a Jewish organization advocates gender equity in the religious sphere, they are by definition treading on religious rights. Which in my mind shows a complete disregard for the sanctity of synagogue by placing equity above Halacha (Jewish law).

Judaism is not about equity or egalitarianism. It is about obligations demanded of us by God through His law as outlined in the Torah and explained by the sages throughout Jewish history. Which sometimes means that men and women have different roles and obligations to fulfill. Although men and women are equal  the eyes of God, they are not always equal in what God requires of each sex. Judaism has a role for men and a role for women. True, there is a lot of overlap in our obligations. But they are not identical.

For example (for reasons beyond the scope of this discussion) women may not be counted for a Minyan - the quorum of ten individuals required for public prayer. A woman may not be even present in a synagogue during public prayer unless she is separated from the men by a Mechtiza. Without a Mechitza she invalidates the Minyan. No Orthodox man or woman knowledgeable in Halacha – not even those on the far left of Orthodoxy - would disagree with that. There is no way to equalize it. But if equity is the goal – changing this will part of it.

What about woman as rabbis? That issue has been settled by the most knowledgeable rabbis of our time and is not acceptable (again - for reasons beyond the scope of this discussion). Which is why a mainstream Orthodox organizations like the OU opposes it. Is SRE going to sue the OU in order to make them discard their religious values in favor of more socially equitable ones? Obviously this is something I could not and would not support. I instead would vigorously oppose as it.

Now one might forgive the over 100 member organizations that have joined SRE. I do not believe that any of them claim to be Orthodox - and have long ago placed equity above Halacha. 

Except for Yeshivat Maharat. They are part of those over 100 organizations. I understand that they believe that women can be rabbis. That is what they are all about. They ordain woman to the rabbinate. But how can they then support the kind of equity SRE does that might violate Halacha? Are they prepared do join in advocacy that will for example insist on allowing women to be counted towards a Minyan?

I reject SRE in its entirety, despite the fact that I support their fight against sexual abuse, harassment, bias - and their quest for equity in the workplace and in the public square.

But for me as an Orthodox Jew - crossing into the realm of religious law delegitimizes them. Which is too bad. Because except for that, they would indeed be a worthy organization that I would enthusiastically support.