Full article Posted by Miriam Shaviv Orthodox Sisters are Stepping Up By Michael Freedland Women are leading prayers at traditional UK synagogues A revolution is not so quietly taking place in a religious grouping that makes a virtue out of continuing thousands of years of tradition: Orthodox Judaism. For the first time in Britain, groups of women are taking part in religious services in ways that are causing a number of rabbis to shake their heads. Provided, that is, that those heads are not already blowing out quantities of steam. The idea of women playing a part in Jewish services is not new. Reform and Liberal congregations have had female rabbis for years. But in Orthodox synagogues, women are traditionally consigned to the role of spectators — sitting in balconies or in specially provided segregated areas with barriers between the male and female sections. Prayer services are being held in halls and houses all over London — services that follow the strictest forms of worship without any alteration to the liturgy. The difference is that the prayers are led by both men and women — most of them through an originally American organisation called the Jewish Orthodox Feminist Alliance (Jofa). The head of Jofa in Britain, Dina Brawer, wife of an Orthodox rabbi, says the group is committed to expanding the role of women in Judaism within the parameters of Halacha [Jewish Law]. By refusing to compromise on either Orthodoxy or feminism, Jofa adds vibrancy to both. It is a view not officially backed by the British Orthodox establishment. While there is no secrecy about the “partnership” services, as they are called, none has been held on synagogue premises. Dr Jeffrey Cohen, the retired rabbi of the Stanmore Synagogue in London, who fought for women-only services to be permitted in his building, does not go along with the idea of their taking part in joint prayer meetings. “Women say they can do this. But at what cost? I would be sensitive to what they want, but it would cause dissension in modern Orthodoxy.” Another rabbi, Lionel Rosenfeld of the prestigious Marble Arch Synagogue, is doubtful, too — although his own daughter attends a “mixed” Orthodox synagogue in Jerusalem. Doubtful does not mean strictly opposed. “I would like to know more,” he says. “There is a saying that there are 70 ways to the Torah. This may be one of the ways.” The women believe they have found that way. Miriam Shaviv, London correspondent of The Times of Israel online newspaper, says: “I have attended three lively, inspiring partnership services — in Jerusalem, Toronto and now in London. The phenomenon is inevitable in a community where women are highly educated, work in the professional world and have seen advances in Jewish learning, but little growth in opportunities for spiritual expression. Those involved are committed to Jewish law and do not seek to undermine it, as some rabbis fear, but to become closer to God.” Not all Orthodox rabbis are against these women. They have some powerful guns in their defence. Not least, those of Rabbi Dr Daniel Sperber, British-born Professor of Talmud at BarIlan University, Tel Aviv. He has recently taken part in the induction of three women to “clergy” posts in the US, although they are not called rabbis. “Rabbi is a male word,” he says. The bearded rabbi is strictly Orthodox, has written several books on Halacha, as well as a recent essay, Women and Men in Communal Prayer. “Most Orthodox rabbis are wary of any kind of change,” he says. “I argue that Halacha is extremely adaptable.” Even to the idea of women being “called up” in synagogue to the reading of the weekly passage from the scrolls containing the first five books of the Bible. “There is a certain passage in the Torah that says that women and even children — or minors — can be called to the reading. But that is just advice, not obligatory. It is said that calling women to the Torah is an affront to the dignity of the community. That was at a time when women were uneducated. Now almost everyone is literate and that cannot possibly be right. I say that the dignity of the individual is much more important. It is an absolutely ludicrous situation that in Israel a woman can be a judge of the Supreme Court, but not allowed to take part in a completely Orthodox service. Halacha has to be reasonable. If you find it unreasonable, you have to look into it.” Rosalind Preston, Chairman of the Jewish Human Rights Coalition, finds support for the women’s cause from the past. “I remember more than 20 years ago Amélie [the late Lady Jakobovits, wife of former Chief Rabbi Immanuel Jakobovits] telling me how wonderful it was to read from the Torah, which she had done in America. That was then just for women. Now, it looks as if it will go a lot further.” All of which is applauded outside of Orthodoxy — which may or may not be considered helpful by the Jofa women. Baroness Neuberger, senior rabbi of the West London (Reform) Synagogue, says: “It’s wonderful that Orthodox women can find true fulfilment in their religious role in public.”
Posted on: Tue, 27 Aug 2013 11:36:10 +0000
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