Jewish Woman in Jewish Law

by Moshe Meiselman

The role of women in traditional Judaism has been grossly misrepresented and misunderstood. The position of women is not nearly as lowly as many modern people think; in fact, the position of women in halakhah (Jewish Law) that dates back to the biblical period is in many ways better than the position of women under American civil law as recently as a century agoIn traditional Judaism, women are for the most part seen as separate but equal. Women's obligations and responsibilities are different from men's, but no less important (in fact, in some ways, women's responsibilities are considered more important, as we shall see).

218 pages, Paperback

First published February 1, 1978

Reviews

[Abigail · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book may not be for all because it doesn't tout the more modern view of feminism, and the wording was a bit course and dry. However it is a good book for finding the sources that helped shape Orthodox women's lives

[Marjorie · Rating 2 out of 5]

An apologetic work that presents Orthodox Judaism's stand on women at its worst. The "proof text" from Psalms, "The entire glory of the daughter of the king lies on the inside," is repeated with depressing regularity to justify keeping the status quo re women in Judaism.

In the chapter about women not being permitted to be witnesses, he states that this is due to a "technicality." A read through the chapter seemed to indicate that being a woman is the technicality.

In another chapter he whitewashes the issue of "community honor" denying women the right to read from the Torah. He also is happy with the ruling that women may not dance with the Torah on Simchat Torah because that's the way it's always been and you can't change it - never mind there's no law that says they can't do it.

Very depressing book.

[Elizabeth · Rating 1 out of 5]

written by an orthodox rabbi, explaining why women cant do all the things rabbis have always said women cant do.