Recently, Sara Hurwitz has decided to capitalize on the current political stirrings taking place in Beit Shemesh. Her most recent article, found here, deserves a treatment from some more educated sources. Obviously, having a sephardic rabbi of a previous generation make a passing statement about the concept is far from an adequate treatment of this issue. Ms. Hurwitz's literary tactics do well to persuade many of the uneducated masses. All I can see to be authentic about this work is a unabashed use of manipulative pathos - a poor replacement for the denied support from a single mainstream Torah authority.Here are two important halachic articles that give a fuller treatment of the issues at hand:
Women Rabbis? by Rav Hershel Schechter Orthodox Women Rabbis? By M. Broyde and S. Brody
~2nd is more liberal~
After overcoming ingraned feminist outrage, I have to agree with your point, albeit from a different perspective. The Sages consider public embarrassment as tantamount to murder. People in position of authority are often subjected to public criticism and embarrassment. In this regard taking a public office would be equivalent to going to war where one is constantly risking his life. By assuming leadership men subject themselves to public scrutiny and criticism, shielding the women.
ReplyDeleteStill, what about Devorah? Was she an exception or did she have to step up due to lack of good men?