This is a rehashment of a previously mentioned topic. Please see: http://heresyandgoodfortune.blogspot.com/2011/02/i-must-remark-here-that-there-is-new.html
This is the comment I wrote on this article of my blog:
have reconsidered my idea that the non orthodox variety of ladies who CALL themselves RABBIs are not human beings that we can be fond of or befriend. They are benevolent people. Just not orthodox in their outlook. I must say that I am beginning to see the leadership in the idea of a "rabba" or a Maharat as it is now being called by the fellow in the following article from Matzav.com.
Please direct your browser to:
http://matzav.com/rabbi-who-ordained-rabba-to-be-admitted-into-rca
This is a good idea I am beginning to think. We must consider that our orthodox values must be preserved and at the same time, we must recognize that others in our faith, namely many women especially those who are not in the 'orthodox' circles are not feelling that their needs are served, no matter what our beliefs as orthodox jews may be.
That said, if Orthodox Judaism leads the way and confers the title of Rabba to a woman, perhaps those ladies who wish to be referred to as rabbis in the styles that are not considered orthodox judaism will follow suit.
I may say that to call a woman a rabbi, I feel that a part of my faith is forfeited. But that said, I have to say that it is a good day that we have a distinction for the persons with a yearning for a Jewish woman's role to be as optimal as possible in the world of Jewish leadership and prayer. Thanks.
3 comments:
I wish to add to this excitement that I do not personally know if I could employ the word "rabba" to refer to a woman as it too closely resembles the word Rabbi. This is almost like a mocking permutation of a holy word and I do not regard that the idea of a "rabba" is in any sense a way that we should indeed refer to a woman who may have a higher level of Jewish learning, leadership aspirations and understanding of our entire way of life and Torah insights perhaps.
I must say that the term Maharat does not seem to irk me in any such way and I must say that this is a possibility if we do wish to consider that our women may have a need to express their spirituality in a more relevant sense to themselves and our orthodox community.
So that said, lets consider that perhaps the hand of our Creator is indeed involved in this process and be willing to accept discussion and perhaps even application in the future of this new concept in religious Jewry.
Today I wish to add to this conversation that I have decided upon some advanced open minded thinking that I now feel that women can indeed serve as a Rabbi and I would not have any distance between myself and a woman who calls herself a Rabbi. I do now believe that the orthodox circles are broken and bent on keeping a system unchanged for the duration of humanity. This is not consistent with many Jewish believers today. That said, I respect the concerns of the orthodox as they really are interested in serving our Creator exactly the way our Creator wishes them to serve. But that said, I no longer can agree that they always have it correct and on this issue I am now going to refine my judgement and ask that our friends and community do indeed trust that our Creator has a purpose for all that has changed in this world. Perhaps the only issue I can not agree upon is the ways that people disregard Torah Commandments and very assuredly I do not agree that it is orthodox to have a Jewish prayer service without a mechitza (the separation between men and women). That said, this will surely be an issue with much contention and although I will admit that I was smoking something when I came to this decision, I admit it was a Cain Cigar that was a really nice experience and I am sure that I am God willing on the derech and doing my best to be a True Servant to our Creator. On this issue, I reserve the right to change my viewpoint in the future as I have not completely worked out the actual way that a woman can indeed serve as a rabbi. Perhaps I am indeed incorrect. We must have a separation between the men and women in prayer services and I suppose that a woman is going to present problems for many in these real Orthodox prayer activities. But that said, I will not have a problem calling my friends who have chosen to get a rabbinic degree "rabbi" and I think that is how this doctor must indeed consider his conduct and judicial decisions in the future.
I have indeed in the last few minutes reconsidered the above post but I will leave it up for honesty and integrity. I just can not see how a woman can perform all rabbinical duties. She surely can not be a part of a minyan.. I do not have the best smile on my face when I see my young friends who are ladies that have become rabbis in their minds. To say that they are a rabbi would be a professional activity for me since I am a doctor and my job is to heal their health. For me to attack their status as a Jewish Physician would be against medical ethics and it would maybe even be a Torah Violation as I would be aggrieving my fellow jew without being a full authority. I am not and do not anticipate that I will be a True Rabbi. Perhaps to myself, I will have to refer to these seemingly amiable ladies as "semi-rabbis", but for sake of being orthodox as a Jew and a doctor, I am required to address them as rabbi. That is my policy today.
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