Why do Modern Orthodox Jews care about women's issues?
Women's issues garnered more interest with the advent of feminism. Many Modern Orthodox Jewish women and Modern Orthodox rabbis sought to provide greater and more advanced Jewish education for women.
How did women participate in the practice of Judaism?
One place that women participated in Jewish practices publicly was the synagogue. Women probably learned how to read the liturgy in Hebrew. According to John Bowker, traditionally, Jewish "men and women pray separately. This goes back to ancient times when women could go only as far as the second court of the Temple."
How did the Jews react to Greek influence in ancient Greece?
The Jews, however, viewed Greek influence as a major threat. Jewish youth flocked to the entertainments, at which athletes competed naked. Some Jews even attempted to undo their circumcisions surgically, which the Greeks encouraged because they considered circumcision a blemish on the supposedly perfect human body.
What were Jewish attitudes toward women in the Middle Ages?
In the Middle Ages, a Jewish woman's social well-being was considered important, but her life was strictly guided by Jewish law. A discussion of Jewish attitudes toward women in the Middle Ages is limited by the sources about women’s lives that survive. There are almost no extant books written by women or specifically for them.
How did Greek philosophy influence Judaism?
Philo provided Jewish religious doctrines with intellectual and cultural respectability by stating them in Greek philosophical terms. He also showed that much of Greek philosophy was consonant with Judaism as he conceived it and with the allegorical sense of biblical texts as he read them.
What is the traditional role of women in Judaism?
These included the provision of clothing, food, and sexual relations to their wives. Women also had a role in ritual life. Women (as well as men) were required to make a pilgrimage to the Temple in Jerusalem once a year (men each of the three main festivals if they could) and offer the Passover sacrifice.
When did the Greek rule over Israel?
333-63 B.C. Hellenistic (Greek) period. 333/331 B.C. Alexander the Great conquers the Land of Israel.
What is the concept of Niddah?
Niddah is a ritual around a married woman's menstrual cycle. While a married woman is menstruating she many not touch her husband, her husband may not touch her until the period is over and after seven “white days,” days that she does not spot.
Has Israel ever lost a war?
In the immediate aftermath of the Second Israel–Lebanon War, most ob- servers have concluded that Israel lost its war against Hezbollah.
Did the Greeks take over Israel?
For the next several centuries, the land of modern-day Israel was conquered and ruled by various groups, including the Persians, Greeks, Romans, Arabs, Fatimids, Seljuk Turks, Crusaders, Egyptians, Mamelukes, Islamists and others.
When did Greece destroy Jerusalem?
Siege of Jerusalem (70 CE)Date14 April – 8 September 70 CE (4 months, 3 weeks and 4 days)LocationJerusalem, Judea 31°46′41″N 35°14′9″EResultRoman victory Main rebel Judean forces subdued. City of Jerusalem and the Temple of Jerusalem destroyed. Further Roman expansion into the Levant1 more row
Can a woman go to temple during periods?
Women monks and devotees are also allowed to enter the temple even during menstruation. In many parts of India, menstruation is still considered to be impure in the Hindu faith. Women are prohibited from participating in normal life while menstruating.
What does the Torah say about menstruation?
Ritual purity aspect The Biblical regulations of Leviticus specify that a menstruating woman must "separate" for seven days (Leviticus 15:19). Any object she sits on or lies upon during this period is becomes a "carrier of tumah" (midras uncleanness).
What is a menstrual shed?
Menstruation is one part of a woman's cycle when the lining of the uterus (endometrium) is shed. This occurs throughout a woman's reproductive life. With each monthly cycle, the endometrium prepares itself to nourish a fetus. Increased levels of estrogen and progesterone help thicken its walls.
Is the Sefirot a Jewish concept?
It’s called the Sefirot, the Kabbalah’s 10 Emanations or Manifestations of God’s presence. And no, it wasn’t a Jewish concept that found its way into Christianity. On the contrary, it’s a Christian idea that found its way into the heart of normative Judaism.”.
Is there a resemblance between the Triune God of Christianity and the 10 Sefirot
Any resemblance between the triune God of Christianity and the 10 sefirot of the God of Kabbalah almost certainly derives from this influence rather than from the workings of Christianity on Judaism.
Why did Greek men divorce their wives?
Because concubines were common and a wife’s role was simply to bear legitimate children and to keep house, Greek men had little reason to divorce their wives, and their wives had no recourse against them. Because divorce was so rare, there was not even a legal procedure for it.
Why did Demosthenes say we have concubines?
Demosthenes wrote, “ We have courtesans for the sake of pleasure, we have concubines for the sake of daily cohabitation, and we have wives for the purpose of having children legitimately and being faithful guardians for our household affairs.
Why did women not want children?
Many women did not want to have children because it ruined their bodies, and feminism became common. Desiring to do everything men did, some women went into wrestling, sword fighting, and various other pursuits traditionally considered to be uniquely masculine. Some liked to run bare-breasted while hunting wild pigs.
Did women lord it over men?
Women began to lord it over men and increasingly took the initiative in getting a divorce. Reflecting on these three situations shows that in all situations women were treated terribly and men used their social privilege for their own advantage.
The Burden of Conscience and the Greeks
The Greeks also developed most advanced system of paganism in the world. Anyone who has ever read Greek mythology understands what happened. They took all of the bad habits of human beings and gave them to the gods. Instead of humans behaving like God, as the Torah demands ( Deuteronomy 28:9), they had the gods behaving like humans.
Greek Beauty
The Greeks exalted the human body, and in so doing removed all barriers to nudity and sexual behavior. They made aesthetics not just an art form but a form of worship. Anyone who has seen the ruins of the Parthenon gets a glimpse how magnificent Greek architecture was.
The Beauty and the Beast
For all these reasons, when the Greeks burst on the horizon the Jews were very receptive. And in that lay the great danger for the complete destruction of the edifice of the Judaism, the basic ideas and value systems, the observance of the commandments, the study of Torah, etc.
What is the Greek culture called?
Hellenism was a synthesis of Greek (Hellenic) culture with the native cultures of the Near East. It was a dynamic phenomenon, with the ever-evolving Hellenistic (“Greek‑like”) culture continually becoming the raw material for new syntheses with other native cultures not yet under its sway.
What was the result of the amalgamation of the Hellenistic with the native?
As Hellenism penetrated each new region, an amalgamation of the Hellenistic with the native took place, and this phenomenon resulted in the many different manifestations of Hellenistic culture observa ble in the Near East over many centuries.
When did the Hellenistic period begin?
The Hellenistic period begins formally with the arrival of Alexander the Great in the Near East in 334BCE, but this date is not the beginning of Greek influence in the region. The Near East as a whole, and Palestine and its Jewish residents more particularly, first came under Aegean influence in the fourteenth century BCE.
Who spread Greek culture to the Near East?
Indeed, it was not the Greeks themselves, but the Macedonians, whose civilization was derivative from that of the true Hellenes, who were mainly responsible for spreading Greek culture to the Near East. As Hellenism penetrated each new region, an amalgamation of the Hellenistic with the native took place, and this phenomenon resulted in the many different manifestations of Hellenistic culture observable in the Near East over many centuries.
What was the Greek city known as?
The Greek city, known as the polis, was the vehicle for the assimilation and Hellenization of the indigenous peoples of the Near East. Newly founded Greek cities, populated mostly by local people, were the cultural melting‑pots of the East. The institutions of the Greek way of life were opened to all who wished to participate. The Greek language was rapidly adopted as a sign of Hellenization.
What was the Greek vs Jewish conception of God?
Greek v. Jewish Conception of God The Greek gods were anything but moral. Perhaps the greatest innovation of Judaism was to make G-d holy, and to challenge his chosen people to be holy--"a kindgdom of priests and a holy nation.". Exodus 19:6.
What did the Rabbi say about Greek philosophy?
The Rabbi writes: "While there were many different, and often opposing, schools of thought in Greek philosophy, what they all had in common was their focus on the role of logic, inquiry and reason, and the supremacy of human intellect". Nothing can be added to that. Obviously we have gone backwards.
What was the impact of the Hanukkah story?
At the time of the Hanukkah story, the enlightening Hellenistic culture was spreading throughout civilization. It influenced a large percentage of the Jewish population, and led them to forsake their faith for rationalism, exchanging the supernatural for the natural and the spiritual for the physical.
What is the story of Hanukkah?
The story of Hanukkah is not only about a physical revolt of the Jews against the Greek oppressors; it is the story of the revolt of faith from the place it was assigned as the domain of the gullible and uneducated. It is about the triumph of the supernatural over the natural, and the spiritual over the physical.
What is the name of the Greek god who said there is one and unique entity?
He used the Greek name for "anointed one". On the other hand, the Ramban used the highest form of human logic (Greek logic) to prove that there is ONE and UNIQUE entity known as HaShem.
What did Plato teach about the Hellenistic period?
Plato taught that there had been destruction in the past, many (not quite universal) floods and “fire” endings and beginnings.
Who said the Jews are derived from the Indians?
More quotes from Aristotle & Clearchus Flavius Josephus (37 - 100 A.D.), wrote that the Greek philosopher Aristotle had said: "...These Jews are derived from the Indian philosophers; they are named by the Indians Calani.". (Book I:22.) Clearchus of Soli wrote, "The Jews descend from the philosophers of India.
What is the role of women in Judaism?
Although the Hebrew Bible and rabbinic literature mention various female role models, religious law treats women differently in various circumstances.
When did the Agudath Israel of America denounce the move to ordain women?
In the fall of 2015, the Agudath Israel of America denounced moves to ordain women, and went even further, declaring Yeshivat Maharat, Yeshivat Chovevei Torah, Open Orthodoxy, and other affiliated entities to be similar to other dissident movements throughout Jewish history in having rejected basic tenets of Judaism.
What were the topics discussed by Jewish sages of the Medieval world?
Moroccan Jewish women. Marriage, domestic violence and divorce are all topics discussed by Jewish sages of the Medieval world. Marriage is an important institution in Judaism (see Marriage in Judaism ). The sages of this period discussed this topic at length.
What were the religious developments during the medieval period?
Religious developments during the medieval period included relaxation on prohibitions against teaching women Torah, and the rise of women's prayer groups. One place that women participated in Jewish practices publicly was the synagogue. Women probably learned how to read the liturgy in Hebrew.
What did women do during the Passover?
Women also had a role in ritual life. Women (as well as men) were required to make a pilgrimage to the Temple in Jerusalem once a year (men each of the three main festivals if they could) and offer the Passover sacrifice.
How long do Orthodox women have to be in contact with their husbands?
In accordance with Jewish Law, Orthodox Jewish women refrain from bodily contact with their husbands while they are menstruating, and for a period of 7 clean days after menstruating , and after the birth of a child. The Israeli Rabbinate has recently approved women acting as yoatzot, halakhic advisers on sensitive personal matters such as family purity .
Do women have greater faith than men?
Women have greater faith than men. Women have greater powers of discernment. Women are especially tenderhearted. While few women are mentioned by name in rabbinic literature, and none are known to have authored a rabbinic work, those who are mentioned are portrayed as having a strong influence on their husbands.
Why did Roman women convert to Judaism?
So one reason that Roman women converted to Judaism appears to have been because Jewish women had a great deal of freedom in their lives, as well as being influential in business and in other ways. And this perspective put forward by Dr Williams contrasts, it seems to me, with the majority view that Jewish women were oppressed ...
Why did Rabbis believe it was shameful to teach daughters theology?
Some rabbis at this time even believed it shameful to teach daughters theology because women were not to be trusted. In court, the word of a woman could not be used...". Unfortunately, this approach to the status of women in Judaism is far from unusual and reinforces general stereotypes about contemporary Jewish women which do nothing ...
Who are the Jewish women in the show?
From Eve, Sarah, Rachel, Leah, Rebecca, Ruth (ancestress of the Messiah), Deborah (the judge) up to Queen Esther who appeared at the right time to save her people; no other religion has extolled the virtues of women as much as the tiny religion of Judaism.
Can a woman be her own witness?
From this, she is to be believed on the kashrut of her home and many other essential matters that contribute to Jewish life as it is lived on a daily basis. This Gemara expounds on the biblical phrase 'for herself'.
What rights did women have in Judaism?
Women had the right to buy, sell, and own property, and make their own contracts, rights which women in Western countries (including America) did not have until about 100 years ago.
What does the Talmud say about a wicked woman?
The Talmud says that when a pious man marries a wicked woman, the man becomes wicked, but when a wicked man marries a pious woman, the man becomes pious. The child of a Jewish woman and a gentile man is Jewish ...
What are the three mitzvots for women?
Women's Mitzvot: Nerot, Challah and Niddah. In Jewish tradition, there are three mitzvot (commandments) that are reserved for women: nerot (lighting candles), challah (separating a portion of dough), and niddah (sexual separation during a woman's menstrual period and ritual immersion afterwards).
Why are women not allowed to work on Rosh Chodesh?
A midrash teaches that each of the Rosh Chodeshim was originally intended to represent the one of the twelve tribes of Israel, just as the three major festivals ( Pesach, Sukkot and Shavu'ot) each represent one of the three patriarchs. However, because of the sin of the Golden Calf, the holiday was taken away from the men and given to women, as a reward for the women's refusal to participate in the construction of the Golden Calf.
What is the Jewish definition of "man" and "woman"?
Both man and woman were created in the image of G-d. According to most Jewish scholars, "man" was created in Gen. 1:27 with dual gender, and was later separated into male and female. According to traditional Judaism, women are endowed with a greater degree of "binah" (intuition, understanding, intelligence) than men.
Do women have to do mitzvot?
Women are exempted from all positive mitzvot ("thou shalts" as opposed to "thou shalt nots") that are time-related (that is, mitzvot that must be performed at a specific time of the day or year), because the woman's duties as wife and mother are so important that they cannot be postponed to fulfill a mitzvah.
Is the lighting of candles a mitzvah?
The lighting of candles officially marks the beginning of sacred time for the home; once candles are lit, any restrictions or observances of the holiday are in effect. The lighting of candles is a rabbinical mitzvah, rather than a mitzvah from the Torah. See Halakhah: Jewish Law for an explanation of the distinction.
What were Jewish attitudes towards women in the Middle Ages?
Medieval Jewish Attitudes Toward Women. In the Middle Ages, a Jewish woman's social well-being was considered important, but her life was strictly guided by Jewish law. A discussion of Jewish attitudes toward women in the Middle Ages is limited by the sources about women’s lives that survive. There are almost no extant books written by women ...
What does Maimonides say about Jewish women?
According to Maimonides, a Jewish woman has the right to leave the home, and he lists the places he considers appropriate for her to go: to celebrations, houses of mourning, her parents’ and relatives’ houses, and to do charitable works.
Why did the French rabbis not allow women to wear phylacteries?
In particular, they argued that women should not wear phylacteries, because they were not as able as men to maintain physical purity.
Why does Maimonides think men should discourage wives from leaving the house?
At the same time, he feels that men should discourage their wives from leaving the house too frequently, because it is a disreputable practice for women to go out constantly, an attitude reflective of the practice in the larger, non-Jewish society in which Maimonides lived.
Where did the Jewish community live in Egypt?
There is a great deal of information available about the Jewish community in Egypt from the 10th century on, which survived in the Cairo Geniza, a storeroom for papers that the members of the community used to dispose of religious texts and other documents written in Hebrew characters.
Who wrote the Sefer Hasidim?
One of their major works, Sefer Hasidim (written by Rabbi Judah the Hasid in 12th century France), speaks of the importance of marrying a woman who is hasidah, the feminine form of the term for an initiate, hasid.
Is the Torah feminine?
The Torah, in the abstract, also is viewed as a feminine offshoot of the divine, sent into exile in the physical world. However, the inclusion of the feminine in the divine realm did not extend to an inclusion of human women among those who interact with the divine. The.
The #1 Rule About Assimilation
Greek Philosophy
- Probably the most famous aspect of that culture is Greek philosophy. It is an oversimplification, but the purpose of philosophy is to try to explain life logically. As such, it is like sleeping in a bed with a blanket that is a little too short. Something is always sticking out. There has never been a philosophy that answers all the questions. In our time, the value of philosophy has declined. We …
The Burden of Conscience and The Greeks
- The Greeks also developed most advanced system of paganism in the world. Anyone who has ever read Greek mythology understands what happened. They took all of the bad habits of human beings and gave them to the gods. Instead of humans behaving like God, as the Torah demands (Deuteronomy 28:9), they had the gods behaving like humans. There was a meth...
Greek Beauty
- The Greeks exalted the human body, and in so doing removed all barriers to nudity and sexual behavior. They made aesthetics not just an art form but a form of worship. Anyone who has seen the ruins of the Parthenon gets a glimpse how magnificent Greek architecture was. Indeed, the Greeks developed mathematics because in their engineering for improved architecture they figu…
The Beauty and The Beast
- For all these reasons, when the Greeks burst on the horizon the Jews were very receptive. And in that lay the great danger for the complete destruction of the edifice of the Judaism, the basic ideas and value systems, the observance of the commandments, the study of Torah, etc. While many Jews would succumb to the influence others would withstand the test. They would come t…