DBK Writings: Chabad.org Post -- Mama!

DBK Writings: Chabad.org Post -- Mama!
A posting and my response regarding an article by Sarah Weisberg on Chabad.org drawing a comparison to a child's many endearing terms for "Mother" and the feminine concept of the Divind Presence, "Schechina."


Date Posted: Aug 21, 2005
Not too long ago, I attended a lecture at the local Chabad, and the speaker gave out a tract written by Mark Twain, 'Considering the Jews'. Mr. Clemens (his real name) raised the question: What is the secret of Jewish immortality? The speaker then asked our opinion. I ventured that it was the Jewish mother, and in particular that the Jewish birthright is decided matrilineally. I then pointed out that history has shown that ever other society, all of whom were patriarchs, have come and gone, and primarily because they all succumb eventually to the worst of male traits: Violence and sexual licentiousness, which are more prevalent amongst those who have the majority of the testosterone. In order for the yetzer hara not to reign over the yetzer hatov, the chochma has to be subverted at some point to the binah. But Sarah, at Chabad, should those with the binah not be allowed to bimah to make aliyah to Torah; are the other Jewish 'branches' so amiss for allowing thus?
Posted By Thomas Karp


Date Posted: Aug 21, 2005
Thomas, I appreciate your challenge! But do not forget that these other branches have only been around for 200 years -- Judaism has survived more than 3,000. It seems only fair to aknowledge the possibility that it was the ancient social construct that allows you to make your point about matralinial decent, and the powerful role of the Jewish mother.

Another important thing to consider is the lense through which you are looking at the "prohibition."

On an individual level, it's important to see that it is a commandment that speaks directly to women. It is not a "performative" commandment to men, that they should keep women from making aliya. This proves that in the eyes of Torah law, you are correct - a woman is more than worthy of making aliyah to Torah.

But on a social, more systematic level, we can see how this "prohibition" makes it absolutely incumbant on men to fulfil this act.
Posted by David Kopp
posted by BlogJammer at 4:37 PM

1 Comments:
Jewish Mom said...
You may want to link the article so all can view it:
Judaism on God's femenine side