What do you think?
Rate this book
The Men's Section: Orthodox Jewish Men in an Egalitarian World
In this illuminating book, Elana Maryles Sztokman investigates a fascinating new sociological Orthodox Jewish men who connect themselves to egalitarian or quasi-egalitarian religious enterprises. She examines the men who have enabled these transitions by constituting the requisite ten-man prayer quorum of Orthodoxy. By participating in "Partnership Minyanim," these men support the reconstruction of both male and female roles without leaving the Orthodox religious world. Sztokman interrogates the ideologies and motivations of more than fifty such men in the United States, Israel, and Australia. Beginning with the "Orthodox Man Box" of conventionally constructed male behavior, she explores their struggles to navigate individualism and conformity, tradition and change. Setting their experiences in the context of gender role construction in traditional and contemporary synagogues, she shows how, for example, changes in leadership in Partnership Minyanim facilitate a fresh approach to liturgical expression, offering the possibility of reforming how modern Orthodox Jews attend services and pray.
288 pages, Kindle Edition
Published November 8, 2011
3 people are currently reading
47 people want to read
About the author
Elana Maryles Sztokman
6 books32 followersDr. Elana Maryles Sztokman is a feminist thought-leader, anthropologist, and writer whose research and ideas help shape a vision for a compassionate society. Author of six books (so far!) on gender in society, and a two-time winner of the National Jewish Book Council award, Elana is the creator of the Jewish Feminist Academy (www.jewishfeminism.org), where she offers courses and content to help shape conversations about gender in Jewish life. She writes, speaks, and consults with groups and organizations around the world on gender issues and women's experiences in the world.
She also works to help women amplify their own voices and find their power through Lioness Books and Media. She coaches women through the writing process, edits and ghost-writes women's books, and publishes women's writing through Lioness.
Would you like to chat with Elana? Contact her at elana@jewfem.com
She also works to help women amplify their own voices and find their power through Lioness Books and Media. She coaches women through the writing process, edits and ghost-writes women's books, and publishes women's writing through Lioness.
Would you like to chat with Elana? Contact her at elana@jewfem.com
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews
December 15, 2014
Elana Maryles Sztokman once again does a terrific job producing a timely, clear, and fascinating book that answers 'big Jewish questions.' 'The Men's Section' answers the questions many of us won't ask or don't know how to: how does egalitarianism effect men? How do men feel about partnership minyans? Why do men go to partnership minyans? This is an important book for anyone who thinks about partnership minyans, is interested in egalitarianism in Orthodox Judaism, or gender in Judaism.
February 15, 2012
A clear-eyed and fearless analysis of what it means to be an Orthodox man in an increasingly egalitarian world.
The Men's Section begins with the lyrical description of services at a “partnership synagogue;” an Orthodox place of prayer where women participate in the services to the extent that Jewish law allows. Women lead prayers, they give speeches, they read from the Torah. This may not sound like a big deal to you, unless you know beforehand that in ordinary Orthodox synagogues, women don't participate at all, and that they are customarily separated from the praying men by a wall, or a curtain.
Independence is never given, it is taken. So Sztokman, an feminist scholar and journalist who also happens to be Orthodox, begins by investigating the kind of man who voluntarily gives up his patriarchal privileges to attend an egalitarian minyan.
She interviews a cross section of Ashkenazi men from diverse national backgrounds, (American, Israeli, Russian, British and Australian), and begins describing the "Be an Orthodox Man Box"--the qualities a Jewish Orthodox man is expected to have. These include being straight, being married, being punctual, having the right job, wearing a kippah, putting on tefillin, being good at reading from the Torah and leading the davening, supporting his family a certain way, being good at sports, suppressing his feelings—and if he lives in Israel, being a good soldier, as well. Outside the box are fearful social pressures; the man-on-man gaze that keeps him in the box, wielding weapons like exclusion and ridicule.
As she begins the book, Dr. Sztokman is under the assumption that these are evolved men who want to see women liberated from their traditional passive and submissive role. But that’s not the case, and reading about individual and personal histories that cause men to seek a kinder, more spiritual religious experience is fascinating.
In the end, most Orthodox men, though sensitive to women's feelings about exclusion, aren't quite ready for women's participation; it alters the men's club atmosphere, and means less fun stuff for them to do. And let's not forget, there is still the lingering question of who will get the kids ready for shul.
The Men's Section begins with the lyrical description of services at a “partnership synagogue;” an Orthodox place of prayer where women participate in the services to the extent that Jewish law allows. Women lead prayers, they give speeches, they read from the Torah. This may not sound like a big deal to you, unless you know beforehand that in ordinary Orthodox synagogues, women don't participate at all, and that they are customarily separated from the praying men by a wall, or a curtain.
Independence is never given, it is taken. So Sztokman, an feminist scholar and journalist who also happens to be Orthodox, begins by investigating the kind of man who voluntarily gives up his patriarchal privileges to attend an egalitarian minyan.
She interviews a cross section of Ashkenazi men from diverse national backgrounds, (American, Israeli, Russian, British and Australian), and begins describing the "Be an Orthodox Man Box"--the qualities a Jewish Orthodox man is expected to have. These include being straight, being married, being punctual, having the right job, wearing a kippah, putting on tefillin, being good at reading from the Torah and leading the davening, supporting his family a certain way, being good at sports, suppressing his feelings—and if he lives in Israel, being a good soldier, as well. Outside the box are fearful social pressures; the man-on-man gaze that keeps him in the box, wielding weapons like exclusion and ridicule.
As she begins the book, Dr. Sztokman is under the assumption that these are evolved men who want to see women liberated from their traditional passive and submissive role. But that’s not the case, and reading about individual and personal histories that cause men to seek a kinder, more spiritual religious experience is fascinating.
In the end, most Orthodox men, though sensitive to women's feelings about exclusion, aren't quite ready for women's participation; it alters the men's club atmosphere, and means less fun stuff for them to do. And let's not forget, there is still the lingering question of who will get the kids ready for shul.
February 11, 2014
This book makes me embarrassed to be an Orthodox feminist.
The author uses simplistic arguments and shoddy sociological research methods.
The author uses simplistic arguments and shoddy sociological research methods.
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews