8 Responses to “Sometimes Humorous, Mostly Upsetting Post on Women as Orthodox Rabbis”

1. Hesh, on July 24th, 2008 at 9:14 am Said:

   You know I was going to make it a serious thought provoking post- but for some reason I just couldn’t help it. You may notice that if you take out the humor portion I myself have nothing against and would like to see more orthodox women becoming Rabbis, poseks and people who are trusted, write seforim and make decrees- but that may be a little extreme for my audience- they wouldn’t know how to take something like that- so I had to throw in some humor.

2. Rebecca Honig Friedman, on July 24th, 2008 at 9:53 am Said:

   Hesh -

   I did notice. Hence the “(enlightened?)”

   I’m really glad you raised the issue, but wish more people like you, who “would like to see more Orthodox women becoming Rabbis, etc” would stand up to people like the obnoxious commenters who clearly have no respect for women, and no ability to think outside of the box.

3. Hesh, on July 24th, 2008 at 9:11 pm Said:

   I have three posts for you I recently wrote about women’s issues I think you may enjoy. These were all serious, and the comments were a bit different.

   http://www.frumsatire.net/2008/06/12/can-a-women-read-the-megillah-for-a-man/

   http://www.frumsatire.net/2008/05/29/why-women-dont-learn-gemara/

   http://www.frumsatire.net/2008/05/27/philosophizing-about-orthodox-women-who-wear-pants/

4. Rebecca Honig Friedman, on July 25th, 2008 at 6:40 am Said:

   Thanks for sharing them, I’ll take a look.

5. anna, on July 25th, 2008 at 2:59 pm Said:

   Here is my personal answer to the questions asked:

   Would the rabbi be called a rabbi still or is she a rabbnit or rabbanis?

   I would go with rabbi as the most direct and understandable term. Rabbnit or rabbanis might make people think she is the rabbi’s mother or wife rather than a rabbi herself. Besides which having a special designation for women’s jobs (such as sculptress rather than sculptor) is not much done anymore. Rabbi means “teacher” not “father” and could apply to either sex.

   What would all those men who daven in the women’s section of shuls when women aren’t there do?

   A female rabbi could set aside a special time for the men to daven while she is out getting other things done, then come back later. Rabbis are not at shul 24 hours a day, after all.

   Who would make kiddush?

   The female rabbi would make kiddush. Being a rabbi gives her the authority to do so, I would say. She can substitute “ladies and gentlemen” where “gentlemen” appears.

   Who would lead hoshanos- surely all that butt bumping and lulav poking is untznius?

   The female rabbi can lead hoshanos, as being a rabbi gives her the authority to do, and make sure nothing improper occurs.

   Who would sing and lead hakafos?

   The female rabbi can, in my view. I know “kol isha”
   but surely that does not apply to a religious ceremony, rather to the sort of singing one hears on the radio, designed to provoke.

   Who would shake peoples hands for random yasher koachs?

   No need for the female rabbi to shake hands, she can just say “yasher koach!” Shaking hands is not required but simply custom.

   What do we call the husband? Rebetz?

   Rebetz sounds like a good term to me, being the masculine version of rebbetzin.

   What side of the mechitza would the rabbi speak from?

   The women’s side would be most proper, I think. Surely no one can object to a woman being on the women’s side.

   What would happen in those shuls without women’s sections?

   The female rabbi can stand at the bima in that case; that is the most proper place for a rabbi, and surely no one can object if they do not have a special section for women.

   How would the Rabbi speak in shuls where the women sit in a balcony?

   She would speak from the bima; being a rabbi gives her the authority to do so in my view, and ensures she will be modestly dressed in rabbi’s clothes and therefore her appearance will not be provoking.

   What do you think of my answers?

6. anna, on July 29th, 2008 at 4:20 pm Said:

   I would add that butt bumping and lulav poking is hardly a required part of hoshanos, and the ceremony may be done with modesty and dignity. As for singing and leading hakafos, some Modern Orthodox shuls allow female congregational interns to preach, which they say does not violate kol isha because it is religious in nature. So I would say a female rabbi singing and leading hakafos would be considered not to violate kol isha as well for the same reason.

7. anna, on July 29th, 2008 at 4:34 pm Said:

   Hoshanos with a female rabbi might be done by having the rabbi walk around the bima however many times is required first, then having the rest of the congregation follow after so they don’t bump into her. There is no requirement that the congregation walk directly behind the rabbi, after all.

8. Rebecca Honig Friedman, on July 29th, 2008 at 10:21 pm Said:

   Of course these technical issues (excuses) could be gotten over.
   But no butt bumping during Hoshanos?

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