tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20257999.post1713484756401792542..comments2024-03-29T06:05:20.562+03:00Comments on Life in Israel: Women Of the Wall Monthly Fight Now Revolves Around Whether Wearing Mens Or Womens TallitRafi G.http://www.blogger.com/profile/00699851287106903971noreply@blogger.comBlogger12125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20257999.post-78588612810351468132012-06-26T15:07:20.064+03:002012-06-26T15:07:20.064+03:00Menachem and Baruch - thanks for the encouragement...Menachem and Baruch - thanks for the encouragement. <br /><br />Well, maybe it's time folks like ourselves put our heads together and try to move this from "blog comment" mode to something more tachlis-oriented? How about this - if you're interested, send me an email at davidmeir80 at gmail.com, and we'll go from there. (Other similarly motivated readers can feel free to do the same!)David Meirnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20257999.post-46418960968812718372012-06-26T13:10:08.550+03:002012-06-26T13:10:08.550+03:00I second Menachem's comment.I second Menachem's comment.Baruch Gitlinnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20257999.post-80710783827923612802012-06-26T10:26:48.815+03:002012-06-26T10:26:48.815+03:00Well said David.Well said David.Michael Lipkinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11501487897038161582noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20257999.post-43926430129844128032012-06-26T09:36:03.523+03:002012-06-26T09:36:03.523+03:00The reason the rule about what tallitot are "...The reason the rule about what tallitot are "legal" for women to wear sounds confusing, is that it is so transparently a <i>red herring</i>. The issue here is not about a "tallis" - it is about the battle to keep proponents of freedom and civil liberty from breaking the Orthodox monopoly over religious affairs in Israel. <br /><br />The Women of the Wall do not "want a fight", but they will fight the fight because it's a fight for freedom. And when it causes a "stir", that's not altogether a bad thing either, because this brings attention to their cause.<br /><br />I say "their cause", but as Orthodox Jews we might pause for a moment to consider whether in fact it's also "our cause" to champion freedom and democracy in Israel. While we wait for "Atid Lavo" and whatever that brings, would we prefer an Israel which concentrates religious authority in the hands of Orthodox rabbanim/askanim, who demand exclusive power over religious affairs, or one which protects people's freedom to embrace Judaism in the way they so desire, makes space (including at the Kotel) for pluralistic streams of Judaism, and does not "force" Orthodox norms on anyone? Do we want to live in a free society or not? That's the question.<br /><br />If the answer is "yes", then rather than sit idly by while groups like WoW do all the heavy lifting for us, we should stand up and <i>join the cause</i>. And if we remain silent because we don't want to align ourselves with "them", then we'll have to live with the consequences of our own inaction.David Meirnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20257999.post-79897932665743914292012-06-26T08:58:52.547+03:002012-06-26T08:58:52.547+03:00Oh sure.. NOW you support R. Lipman's suggesti...Oh sure.. NOW you support R. Lipman's suggestion :)Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20257999.post-70739844328767444762012-06-25T19:51:32.432+03:002012-06-25T19:51:32.432+03:00Menachem: So, if they wore taleisim wrapped around...Menachem: So, if they wore taleisim wrapped around their shoulders and arms in the classic sefaradi style they would run afoul of the law, but if they wore their taleisim around their necks am-ha'aretz style, they would be ok? Agreed that this is all inane.<br /><br />The Way: For better or for worse, WoW being at the main kotel has always been a disaster. Their presence at the southwestern corner was never an issue. Surely, restricting them to that area is not the biggest injustice in Israel, or even that neighborhood today. (ie- Elli Fischer's writings comparing WoW to the Temple Mount Faithful.)shmildanoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20257999.post-26508420296488466802012-06-25T18:15:40.819+03:002012-06-25T18:15:40.819+03:00Rafi - Titbayesh that you let these people lead an...Rafi - Titbayesh that you let these people lead and guide you. They don't deserve you. You are better then them.The Wayhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02450690035446068510noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20257999.post-73537386346787653462012-06-25T18:12:20.075+03:002012-06-25T18:12:20.075+03:00I dont care what they do. It doesnt bother me. I a...I dont care what they do. It doesnt bother me. I am saying from their perspective instead of fighting it, they'd probably be better off welcoming itRafi G.https://www.blogger.com/profile/00699851287106903971noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20257999.post-38740344889263019802012-06-25T18:12:08.962+03:002012-06-25T18:12:08.962+03:00Not sure about color, but I've read that the l...Not sure about color, but I've read that the law was written as to how the Talit is worn. It's "illegal" if it's worn the way orthodox men generally wear it. It's ok if worn more as conservative and reform wear it. Should be relatively easy for a seasoned blogger to find out. :)<br /><br />Whatever the case, any such law is inane.Michael Lipkinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11501487897038161582noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20257999.post-9372505880322634842012-06-25T18:09:17.520+03:002012-06-25T18:09:17.520+03:00Why would you want their group to shrink? Dont you...Why would you want their group to shrink? Dont you want active and proud and connected Jews in general? And specifically, don't you want jews to live and visit Israel and the Kotel and make all streams of Judaism stronger?<br /><br />Also, the women wearing a talit at the kotel came before the law. The law was a haredi reaction to women at the kotel wearing a talit. So this is not some 5 year old tantrum reaction to get a rise out of harediim... Jewish women were expressing themselves at the Kotel by dressing modestly, praying, and wearing a religious prayer shawl to enhance their religious experience. I am dumbfounded by the idea that this activity has been banned and I am disgusted by the implication that these women are the ones reacting petulantly. When they were there before the law and their group was growing, not shrinking. <br /><br />The kotel is a Jewish cultural heritage site and a Jewish religious monument, the idea that all jews don't have access to the most unifying symbol of worldwide Jewry, and is instead ruled by an extreme form of Judaism is just plain yuck. How can they be right? How can people follow and believe in such mean-spirited people. I guess this is what they meant when they talked of Sinat Chinam destroying the Beit Hamikdash. titbayesh!The Wayhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02450690035446068510noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20257999.post-66837894986993980032012-06-25T16:56:28.580+03:002012-06-25T16:56:28.580+03:00Good point , however I'm afraid some people on...Good point , however I'm afraid some people only thrive when there's scandal.<br /><br />Harmony and acceptance are boring.Pragmaticianhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08724757238921859366noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20257999.post-11226871161070106002012-06-25T16:17:26.562+03:002012-06-25T16:17:26.562+03:00This is ludicrous. I know they do and once I used ...This is ludicrous. I know they do and once I used to care as well, but serious why should anyone care what talit she's wearing?Rafi (S)https://www.blogger.com/profile/18103892755392538611noreply@blogger.com