Perhaps this topic will inspire a lighter set of transactions than some of the other articles I've published on this blog. There's nothing that is particularly specific in this to Messianic Judaism, One Law, or anything else, but I was curious as to what people thought and particularly, what the MJ/BE view is on women as Rabbis.
Again, this is a complete departure from my journey of self-discovery, but I felt it important enough to pass along. Let me know what you think. Here's the link to the original story again: Regina Jonas: The First Female Rabbi.
14 comments:
I must admit, I'm a little disappointed that the normally vocal commentators in my blog haven't weighed in on this. It's an opportunity to discuss a significant person and Rabbi and an important issue (women in church and synagogue leadership) without necessarily having to "bash" on one another. Is peaceful discussion not attractive?
Every once in a while a blogger expresses dismay that some topics do not attract either readership or comments. Why is it surprising if you blog about something that is of interest to only a few? Boring posts attract boring commenter and comments, or just "atta boy" stuff (such as "I love this post!") Yeshua was very controversial, he said many things that rubbed many people the wrong way - he challenged people's status quo, he invigorated their stale thinking. (and he didn't talk about female rabbis:)
Besides, I've already conversed extensively on the topic of female rabbis on other blogs, so I am all blogged out on that topic. (BTW, just FYI - my view of female rabbis is that of a traditional /Orthodox Judaism - I think this says it all.)
Thanks Gene. I'll try to be less boring in the future.
I thought it was interesting that Derek Leman complained about the very same thing in today's post:
http://derek4messiah.wordpress.com/2010/07/09/unwanted-words-of-faith
My advise - just blog your mind, without complaining or guilting readers into feedback. If what you say is not controversial but resonates with readers and provokes them to thought, they may just read, digest, and move on without any commenting. Sometimes one has nothing to say.
Thanks again, Gene.
Interesting... :)
There you go, peaceful discussion! :P
LOL. Bless you.
I hate to sound sexist... but this is gonna sound sexist. I have a hard time hearing a message from a woman up at the pulpit. This could be as a result of being married, and the father of 3 great girls, but I don't think so.
About a year ago, I walked into a methodist church to check it out. When the woman preacher walked up to the front, I just sank thinking "oh great." I met her afterward, she seems like a wonderful G-d fearing woman. I don't know what it is, I just have a hard time with it. Even the wife thought it was a bit weird.
Mike
I understand your feelings. On the one hand, I tend to be very traditional in my expectations for the gender of a congregational leader, but on the other hand, I've known some extremely gifted female Bible teachers.
The first person who taught me a basic understanding of the Torah was a Jewish woman. Through her teachings, everyone in the Bible became alive to me, not just "stories" or "moral tales".
I'm also reminded that Rashi taught his daughters Torah at a time in history when that wasn't well regarded (and in some groups, it still isn't).
I wanted to share this and didn't know where else to put it:
Woman arrested at Kotel for Holding Torah Scroll.
Aren't women equal before the Torah? Didn't Paul say, "..neither male nor female?"
"Aren't women equal before the Torah? Didn't Paul say, "..neither male nor female?""
Paul said many things... He also said that women are not to teach (in Jewish context this means teaching adult men), or even to talk while being taught by others.
Equality before G-d almost never means uniformity in responsibilities, obligations, gifts or rewards - rather, the intrinsic equal WORTH of all persons to G-d (although a scriptural case can be made, from both Tanakh and NT, that G-d DOES love - or rather CHOOSES to - some more than others).
Wow. I am new to following your blog and just started to read some of your archived material. I am a woman pastor of a small homegroup who is gentile but celebrate all the feasts.
Since all of these comments are from men I thought I would offer a female perspective. In Genesis God gave dominion to man and woman. Women have led throughout the Bible including Deborah, Huldah, Miriam, Priscilla, and Pheobe. Men's uncomfortablilty comes from tradition that goes against scripture even though I am aware that there is a lot of extra-biblical jewish teachings that are very anti-woman. I thank G*d that He is not.
There are many excellent books on the topic that deal with those difficult scriptures and the original Greek Paul wrote in. I highly recommend WHY NOT WOMEN by 2 men, Loren Cunningham and David Joel Hamilton. Paul can not in one breath allow women to teach (Priscilla and Pheobe) and then say all women cannot. The orignal language refutes those interpretations.That particular scripture was in the singular referring to one specific woman.
Just because some are uncomfortable with women in the pulpit from their own traditional backgrounds does not mean it is not Biblical.
When the body of Christ leaves out a full one half of its members with this type of thinking it only hurts itself. This is like when the body ignores or denies its jewishness it misses out on so much. There is no Jew nor Greek, male nor female in Christ. Unfortunately the rest of the body has not caught up with Him.
Greetings, GODthinker.
Both in Christianity and in Judaism, the role of women in leadership has been debated and is expressed in different ways in different faith communities. Both in some churches and synagogues, woman are in leadership roles (for instance, our local Reform synagogue has both a male and female Rabbi).
Others will argue that God's intent was for the man to lead and to be the spiritual head of the family and the faith community, but that doesn't explain why some of the most gifted Bible teachers I've met are women.
As in all other things, we will continue to struggle with ourselves and our understanding of God's will and intent for women in teaching and worship leadership, probably never reaching an agreement until the return of the Messiah.
Thank you for your comments and I hope you'll continue to follow my blog as I progress through this journey.
As a side note, I notice you are a foster mother and an adoptive mother. I was a social worker in the child protective system for many years and have a great deal of admiration for anyone who has extended their lives and their homes to abused and neglected children.
Thank you for your kind words. I will certainly continue to follow and have learned much already from the little I have read.
I am aware that many different congregations "allow" women to lead. I think what frustrates me the most is that when women use the same G*d-given gifts that men use, we somehow are said to be wrong. As if G*d made a mistake in giving a woman that gift.
I am truly grateful for the men and women who look at the fruit of a person and not the gender.
Post a Comment