מה עיריית תל-אביב עושה כששמים לב לעניינים אחרים / Look at What Tel-Aviv was Doing While You Were Paying Attention Elsewhere

ד׳ לחודש השישי תשפ״ה

English follows the Hebrew.

YNET: הדרישה של עיריית תל אביב מבתי הכנסת בעיר - והסערה
עיריית תל אביב פנתה לאחרונה לעשרות בתי כנסת בשטחה, בדרישה לחתום כי יספקו שירותי דת "ללא הבדלי מין או אמונה". מי שסירבו ‑ נתבעו לפנות את הקרקע, השייכת לעירייה. בבתי הכנסת חוששים כי לא יוכלו להישאר אורתודוקסיים. עיריית תל אביב: "מדובר בהסכמי חכירה חדשים, שנועדו לוודא שאין אפליה או הדרה"
נטעאל בנדל | 24.08.25

עשר אגורות (2¢):
האם עלו למועצת עיריית תל אביב המוסרים הצבועים והכפולים שלה בנוגע לאירועי תפילה ציבוריים בין יהודים למוסלמים?

אירועי תפילה מוסלמיים במרחבים ציבוריים מותרים ובאותו זמן יש פעילות של ענישה נגד אירועי תפילה יהודית.

הכתבה הזו לא עונה על השאלה הזו.

האם העובדה שישראל היא לכאורה מדינה יהודית [עם מיעוטים בעלי דתות אחרות] ומאפשרת לישראלים מתנגדי תורה להשיג את מטרותם לגבי בתי כנסת, ובאותו זמן להמנע מלהסדיר את האסלאם, הנצרות, ודתות?

מהשיחות המגוחכות המוזכרות בהמשך הכתבה גישה כזו נראת מסובכת ומתוחכמת מדי עבורם.

למה הם לא מצהירים שהם נגד התורה, וזהו נגמר?

סביר להניח שרבים מהם לא מבינים עד כמה הם מתנגדים לתורה. אנחנו יכולים להודות למערכת החינוך הממלכתית על כך.

שר התקשורת שלמה קרעי קורא ליהודים אלה ״רשעים ארורים, דור ההמשך של אנטיוכוס והמתייוונים״. (YNET) מתייוונים? כן. רשעים? אולי מנהיגי היוזמה. אבל רובם בכלל לא יודעים את מה שהם עושים. ואז כנראה יש לרובם דין של תינוק שנשבה.

השר קרעי: "רשעים ארורים, דור ההמשך של אנטיוכוס והמתייוונים" שר המורשת [עמיחי] אליהו: "בתי כנסת מרגישים כמיעוט נרדף". השר אליהו גם צודק. אבל אנו צריכים להודות כיצד אנו הגעתו למצב הזה ואיך אנו נוכל לצאת מזה ולמנוע מזה מלקרות שוב.

ולגבי האשמת מערכת החינוך הממלכתית בכך שמורה את ילדינו לקבל השקפות מעוות של התורה, יש יהודים חסרי הרבה חינוך תורני בגלל המערכת הזו ללא ספק ייכנעו, מתוך אמונה שיש קרבות חשובים יותר להשקיע בהם מהקרבות על בתי הכנסת בעיר.

עו"ד שוב השיב: "היום באורתודוקסיה יש הרבה גבולות". הוא התכוון לכך שישנם בתי כנסת מעורבים מגדרית, שנשים משמשות בהם חזניות ועולות לתורה ואף על פי כן, מגדירים עצמם אורתודוקסיים. שוב הוסיף: "אתם מחייבים את בית הכנסת להתאים את עצמו לכל אדם שייכנס אליו".

שוב נכנע, ומנסה להשתמש בהיגיון שמאלני נגד השמאלנים. אני מאחל לו ״בהצלחה״. הוא לא עושה כלום, אלא נותן תעודת כשרות להיגיון שלהם.

שחלק מהקהילות האלה עדיין מגדירות את עצמן כדתיות, לא אומר שהן באמת דתיות. וגם שמשהו מותר לא אומר שראוי לעודד ולקיים, מבלי לקחת בחשבון את ההקשר של ההצעה, כגון המניעה של התומכים בו.

לא יכול להיות צירוף מקרים שמשא ומתן על חוזים אלה -- או איך שלא יקראו לו -- מתקיים ממש באמצע - וללא לעורר תשומת לב - של מחאות על עזה ועל גיוס חרדים.

לסיום, יש להדגיש כי המאבק הזה למערביות/התיוונות אינו מקומי רק לתל אביב. ראו את מודעת הדרושים להלן.

Job Opp.: Yeshiva High School Head
*according to law, the announcement is directed to both men and women

YNET: Equal access requirements spark legal drama in Tel Aviv’s battle over synagogue control
Tel Aviv is pressing synagogues to sign new contracts requiring equal access 'without distinctions of gender or faith' or face eviction; Dozens of congregations fear the move erodes Orthodox practice, triggering court battles that pit the city’s secular ethos against its religious heritage
Netael Bandel | 08.24.25

Esser Agaroth (2¢):
Has the Tel-Aviv city council been confronted over its hypocritical, double standards with regard to Jews vs. Muslim public prayer events?

Muslims have been allowed gender-segregated events; whereas there has been a crackdown on public, Jewish prayer events.

This particular report does not answer this question.

Does the fact that Israel is supposedly a Jewish State [with religious minorities] is backfiring, allowing anti-Torah Israelis to get their way, and excuse themselves from regulating Islam, Christianity, and other non-Jewish observances?

Sounds a bit too convoluted, as well as too sophisticated of a strategy for those involved. This is apparent from the ridiculous back and forth mentioned in the continuation of the report.

Why don't they just come out with it, and say that they are against the Torah, and be done with it?

More likely than not, many of them do not realize just how anti-Torah they are. We can thank the State run, Israeli educational system for that.

The Hebrew version quotes Communications Minister Shlomo Kar'i, calls these Jews the continued generation of the Hellenized Jews of Antiochus. (YNET) Well, this time, he's not wrong. Heritage Minister Amichai Eliyahu says that synagogues feel like an oppressed minority. He is also right. But we must ask ourselves, "How did we get here?" and "How will we be able to prevent this from happening again?"

And speaking of blaming the Israeli educational system for leading our children to have a grossly distorted view of Torah, some uneducated Jews who came out of this system will undoubtedly capitulate, believing that there are more important battles to invest in.

[Attorney David] Shub ended with a broader warning. “Even within Orthodoxy today there are many boundaries. Some synagogues allow women to lead prayers or read from the Torah and still define themselves as Orthodox. You’re forcing synagogues to adjust to whoever walks in,” he said.

Shub caves, and attempts to use leftist logic against leftists. Good luck with that. He does nothing, but legitimize their logic.

Just because some communities still define themselves as "Orthodox," does not mean that they are. Just because something maybe technically permissible, does not mean that it is something appropriate to encourage and implement, without taking under consideration the context of the proposal, as well as the motivation of those behind it.

It cannot be a coincidence that these contract negotiations, or whatever they are calling them, are taking place right in the middle -- and under the radar -- of protests over Gaza and Haredi conscription.

In a final note, it must be emphasized that this battle for Westernization/Hellenization is not just local to Tel-Aviv. See the job ad above.

תלמידות סמינר שרות באוטובוס ציבורי / Sem Girls Singing on the Bus

י"ב לחדש התשעי תשע"ט

English follows the Hebrew.

מישהו יכול להסביר לי למה תלמידות סמינר אמריקאות שרות פסוקי תנ"ך עם טעמי המקרא באוטובוס?

הן אמרו לי שלומדות למבחן למחר. ולכן היו צריכות לתרגל? או היו צריכות ללמוד? זה לא כל-כך ברור לי.

איזה מבחן? המבחן על טעמי המקרא?

או אולי, הם לומדות להשתמש טעמי המקרא כמו טכניקה כדי לזכור קטעים באופן יעיל יותר? לדעתי זו האפשרות היחידה שיכולה להיות הגיונית. ברור שמותר לנשים לקרוא פומבית מגילת אסתר עבור נשים אחרות. אבל הן בהחלט לא תרגלו את טעמי המקרא של מגילת אסתר.

האם נשים לומדות את טעמי המקרא כדי ללמד חומש לבנים? אם כן, איזה דבר מאכזב מאוד! ולא רק בגלל הפמיניזם הנסתר בדבר כאן. אלא גם בגלל חוסר הגברים המוכנים ללמד הילדים בכיתה א' ו-ב'. ולכן הנה עוד סיבה למה יש הדתיים הלאומים שולחים את בניהם ללמוד בתלמודי תורה חרדים.

שאלתי את אחת הבחורות אם היא חושבת שהנוסעים האחרים באוטובוס רוצים לשמוע אותן לשיר. ואכן, שאלתי אותה כי הן שרו בקול רם חזק מדי, ולא בגלל האיסור של קול אישה. אוטובוס ציבורי במדינה "דמוקרטית ופלורליסטית" נכון? ( עיניי מתגלגלות)

היא ענתה שאם אני רוצה שהיא תפסיק, אני פשוט צריך לבקש ממנה. אמרתי לה שאני לא אעשה דבר כזה. אנחנו נוסעים באוטובוס ציבורי, והיא יכולה לעשות את מה שהיא רוצה לעשות. אבל, אולי היא תרצה להתחשב על הנוסעים האחרים בסביבתה, ואז להחליט מה לעשות לבד.

האם ככה אני הייתי תוקפני-פסיבי? מה אתם חושבים? (קריצה)

Would someone please 'splain to me why American "sem girls" are singing holy texts with ta'amei hamiqra (trope, Torah musical notation) on the bus?

According to one of these young women, they had an "exam" the next day.  And they had to practice? Or they had to study? That was not so clear to me.

An exam? In ta'amei hamiqra?

Or perhaps, they were taught to use ta'amei hamiqra as a technique to memorize passages more efficiently? This is the only possibility which would make sense to me. It is, or course, permissible for women to read publicly Megillath Esther FOR OTHER WOMEN. However, they were definitely not practicing the ta'amei hamiqra for Megillath Esther. 

Do women learn ta'amei hamiqra in order to teach Humash (Torah) to boys? That would, indeed, be very disappointing, and not just the thinly disguised feminism, but also the lack of men willing to teach first and second grade boys. This is yet another reason why Religious Zionists are sending their boys to learn in Haredi Talmud Torah.

But, I digress...

I asked the young woman closer to me if she thought that maybe people on the bus wanted to hear them singing. And, actually, I was asking her because they were too loud, and not because of qol isha (the prohibition related to women's singing). After all it was public bus, and we live in a "pluralistic democracy." (eyes rolling)

She responded that if I wanted her to stop, then I should just ask her. I told her that I wasn't going to do that. It was a public bus, and she could do what she wants. But, that maybe she may want to consider those other passengers around them, and then decide what to do.

I don't know. Was that passive-aggressive?  (wink)

Rebbetzin

ערב שבת קודש פר׳ וילך/שבת שובה תשע"ו

From Dictionary.com...

reb·betz·in

[reb-i-tsin]

noun Yiddish.

the wife of a rabbi.

Also, reb·bitz·in.

Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2013.

And as cliché as including a Wikipedia entry may seem, it makes sense to do so here, especially as it includes a contribution by those who have been mis-educated to misuse this title,...English-speaking "sem" (religious women's school) students. (I have added the red highlighting.)

From Wikipedia...

Rebbitzin (Yiddish: רביצין) or Rabbanit (Hebrew: רַבָּנִית)
The Yiddish word has a trilingual etymology: Hebrew rebbə "master", plus the Slavic feminine suffix -itsa and the German feminine suffix -in.

In many Chassidic courts, Rebbetzins are considered to be spiritual counselors, and give blessings. In circles such as the Chassidic dynasty of Belz, the girls schools are run by the rebbetzin. There are also several recorded instances of female rebbes, who while technically rebbetzins, were full-fledged rebbes in their own right. One such famous case is the Maiden of Ludmir.

The rabbi's wife plays an important community role, especially in small communities. In many ways, she is called on to be as knowledgeable as the rabbi in the realm of woman's observances: in this manner, for something that does not require a psak (ruling), she can be approached when a woman does not feel comfortable approaching the rabbi, or where the rabbi maybe should not be approached. For instance, the rebbetzin may often be the "mikvah lady" and help with more mundane questions regarding the laws of niddah. Part of it, certainly, is that she always has the rabbi's ear, and that she would know if the question needs to be asked, in order to get a psak.

When a rabbi is a "pulpit rabbi," (versus a teacher or a "lay rabbi") his wife becomes something of a first lady of the community and performs social tasks and "outreach" roles, freeing her husband to attend to rabbinical duties.

With the growth of independent scholarship among Orthodox women, some women have informally received the title on their own merit, irrespective of their husbands.

Reviewing the history of the page, I find that the category of "rabbis" was removed in April 2008.

(delete sentence that fails to clarify how this issue relates to the use of the English word rabbi (as against rav)) (undo)

added chassidic rebbitzens- rebbes wifes, July, 2007
 Same day as dreation
(Category:Judaism and women is better)
Created December, 2005 

Esser Agaroth (2¢):
The misapplication of the term "rebbetzin," mostly by English speakers, is a relatively recent phenomenon.

The movement of so-called "modern orthodoxy" in this direction is no surprise.

However, within many English-speaking, Litvak communities, these "rebbetzins" being treated more and more as defacto rabbis, in this is nothing less than the result of feminism and other galuth (exilic) influences, sneaking into these quasi-Haredi communities.

The instruction of men in achieving shalom bayis (peace in the home), directly or indirectly, by "giving his wife whatever she wants," and "told to stick his nose back in a sefer where it belongs" is a major contributing factor to this completely Western and anti-Torah attitude toward women.

Furthermore, simply placating ones wife in this manner, instead of discussing issues of her concern with her, is not in the least bit respectful.

At least in the liberal modern orthodox world, they are straightforward about their Western, "do what they want" attitude about Torah. Find an obscure, if not completely irrelevant, source to support your views, then you're good to go!

Wait a minute. Isn't that the "Conservative" movement?

But, I digress...

I do not blame whoever added this statement of revisionist history to the Wikipedia page. I blame those who educated them, allowing them to believe the feminist notion that "rebbetzin" means defacto female rabbi, instead of "wife of a rabbi."

A "rebbetzin," in addition to being a term of respect and endearment, signifies a women who is not only married to a rabbi, but one who makes it possible for her husband to be involved with Torah, as much as possible.

There are plenty of women who I would and do call "Rebbetzin," and they are all women who do not allow themselves to be called "Rebbetzin" in public.

All of these so-called rebbetzins need to take a lesson in anavah (humility) from these other women.

I do not care how much of their physical bodies are covered up, some of these women also need a serious lesson in tz'ni'uth (modesty), the more important mitzvah (Torah commandment) a woman has.

The Toldos Aharon Rebbetzin is a rebbetzin.

The Belzer Rebbetzin is a rebbetzin.

Shaina Hayah (nee Levine) Eliashiv ztz"l was a rebbetzin.

Brakha Qapah ztz"l, the late widow of Rabbi Yosef Qapah ztz"l, the Yemenite Gadol HaDor was a rabbanith.

A teacher as a "sem" is to be compared to these women?? I have no doubt that their are some righteous and wise women at some of these institutions. But, why are their students being led down this path?

Many of the women who have had this misnomer of a title thrust upon them need to make more of an effort to dissuade their students followers from applying this word inappropriately.

Avi Weiss

Who needs "female rabbi-maker" Avi Weiss, and his egalitarian crap, when this weed's seed was sown ages ago, deep within Western/assimilationist galuth (exile)? 

"some women have informally received the title on their own merit, irrespective of their husbands"

Seriously??

(eyes rolling)

When you think about it, the only difference between some of these so-called "rebbetzins" and the Women of the Wall or Kolech or other such organizations, is that the latter groups of women are open about their feminism.

We should all take this to heart, during these 10 Days of Teshuvah. 

It's Broken Record Time: Western Values and Sensibilities do not Equal Jewish Values and Sensibilities

כ"ג לחודש השנים עשר ב' תשע"ד

A respondant to a string on Facebook warning of the dangers of assimilation, particularly outside of Israel:

The solution lays in adjusting halacha (Jewish Law) to make it more attractive for the people, less oppressive towards woman, less misogynistic, ethnocentric and sexist. We can deny all we want, but why would anyone want to be a part of a religion that makes them feel bad? Assimilation happens as a result of something, maybe instead of locking up the girls of Israel, make them apart of the leadership, halachic bodies and allow them to take an active roll in who they can be in this religion. Marriage is the point where woman clearly have a disadvantage, look at the get situation among many woman who actively choose to remain religious. Arabs aren't the issue and neither are the "none-Jews" it's close minded Jews who want to stay in the Galut/holocaust mentality that drive assimilation.

Esser Agaroth (2¢) Response:
We are not here on this earth do whatever we want (ie. adjust halakhah), nor are we here on this earth to do whatever we want, and delude ourselves into thinking that it is, in fact, what HaShem wants, too.

We are here on this earth to do what HaShem wants. How do we know what that is? His Holy Torah, which includes the Oral Torah.

When we attempt to "adjust" halakhah, based on nothing but how we feel and what we want, then we are doing nothing less than disregarding it, if not cancelling its proper place in our lives.

I would like to suggest that you (and many others) arrived at this idea as a result of 1,700 to 2,000 years in galuth (exile). Such an experience can, and has, most certainly distort the authenticity of a people's traditions, not to mention their beliefs.

That being said, I am just as critical of all of the humroth (stringencies) which also came out of galuth, as I am of those with perspectives such as yours. These humroth may have had their purpose in galuth, to keep us together, whole, and on track. However, I do not see that they have much purpose here in Eretz Yisra'el. 

In support of you, I believe that you are right about people not being attracted to Judaism, but I disagree with your solution. The solution, I believe, is two-fold:

1. Seek out the learning of authentic halakhah. One possible resource for this is Machon Shilo and its companion YouTube Channel, which is updated weekly.


2. Learn to differentiate between Western values and sensibilities (eg. feminism, egalitarianism, state-ism, Christianity, haskalah) and Jewish values and sensibilities. In time, we can all learn which is the wisdom of the goyim (non-Jews) that we may embrace, and which is the failed attempts of "Torah" by the goyim, that which we must discard, if not speak out against them.

Here is an example: When Passover Became a Holiday Again.

Most Jews forget that Passover is a holiday, a happy time, but rather see, and inaccurately so, as a time of suffering, if not during Passover itself, then certainly beforehand, scrub brush in hand.

Who wants to spend six to eight hours in schul on Rosh HaShannah? I sure don't! Although there are some out there who find this meaningful and gratifying, I, personally, am not one of them. And I challenge anyone to show me how this is the halakhah.

I am happy to report that every year, I spend 3:20 hours in a minyan on Rosh HaShannah morning. That's right only 3:20 hours, and I can even set my watch by it.

But this is not about "less" being "more." Otherwise, the so-called Jewish "movements" would be the bearers of the solution, which they most certainly are not.

This is about stepping up to challenge of accepting an authentic Jewish identity, and investigating what that means, and perhaps more importantly, what that doesn't mean.

Religious Feminism?

ט' לחודש השנים עשר תשע"ד

YNET: Religious feminism within rabbis' home
Never has Orthodox Rabbinate felt so threatened. Feminism is pulling the rug out from under the rabbis' authority and they are indistinctively rejecting anything which even slightly smells of freedom and human rights. Abandonment makes them irrational and irreligious

Dr. Ruchama Weiss, February 9, 2014

It would not be an exaggeration to argue that the feminist revolution is among the most decisive events in human civilization. This revolution changes the life of the individual, the family and the community of all people in a fundamental way.

Prior to the feminist revolution, one half of humanity ruled over the other half. Every place through which the path of the revolution passes, the female half of humanity is liberated, and the male half is liberated from the tormenting chains on their conscience of oppressing others. (cont.)

Esser Agaroth (2¢):
There's no such thing, only confusion between Western "progressive," assimilationist principles and authentic Torah principles.

They are not one and the same, and are often in conflict.

Unfortunately, galuth (exile) has brainwashed us into thinking otherwise.

These women are lost. But, their men are even worse off. At least these women are searching, just in the wrong places. When they have a valid question, the men often do not have an answer. If they do, then they will not know how to express it.

Ruchama Weiss makes this argument for me, as her piece does not include anything even remotely related to Torah-based reasoning, rather based on the very Western assumptions which I point to feminists for not only possessing, but cherishing and elevating.

In other words, they appear to cherish and elevate a galuth mentality, in other words a non-Torah mentality.

Shulamit Aloni Is Dead

כ"ז לחודש האחד עשר תשע"ד

Months, or maybe even years, ago, I had the perfect video clip all ready to commemorate Shulamit Eloni's death.

Please take note that I did NOT use the word "celebrate." Of course, we are not allow to think of such a thing (perish the thought!), for fear of becoming a target of the Israeli Thought Police.

But, then when I heard she had finally left this world, it was not as easy as I thought it would be to "commemorate" her passing.

PM Netanyahu

YNET: Former Minister Shulamit Aloni dies at the age of 85
Israel Prize winner for lifetime achievement was pioneer of civil rights helping expedite legislation of Basic Laws. Netanyahu: I appreciated her contribution, determination

Yaron Druckman, January 24, 2014

Former Education Minister and Meretz Chairwoman Shulamit Aloni, known for her fight for civil rights, passed away Friday at the age of 85.

A statement released by Meretz party reads that she "passed away Friday morning beside her family and lived to a ripe old age."

President Peres

Aloni will be laid to rest on Sunday at the Kfar Shmaryahu Cemetery...

...President Shimon Peres also eulogized Aloni: "She was a fighter for peace and civil rights, and she left a mark in the struggle for women, minorities and those weakened in the society. She was a bold democratic and social fighter. She had a rare combination of sharp intellect, power, individual opinion and social sensitivity...."

...In the eighth Knesset elections she retired from the Labor party and established the Ratz movement, which won three mandates. She served as minister without portfolio in the Yitzhak Rabin administration. In October 1974 she quit following the joining of the National Religious Party into the coalition.

Her fierce statements against her haredi partners in the government infuriated many. Following an ultimatum given by Shas , Aloni was forced to resign from her seat and was moved to serve as minister in charge of the Communications Ministry and the Science and Arts Ministry.

During this period, disputes among Meretz leadership brought Aloni to retire from politics in 1996 after Yossi Sarid announced he intended to run against her for the leadership of the party.

Aloni was one of the first to deal with and promote the subject of civil rights in Israel. During her political life, Aloni helped construct shelters for battered women, worked against religious coercion and created marriage contracts for couples who could not or did not want to be married by an Orthodox rabbi, and was among the founders of the International Center for Peace in the Middle East.

Israel Prize winner
In 2000 she was given the Israel Prize for lifetime achievement, a choice that had a great deal of opposition, mainly in the religious circles. She published several books and articles and was a columnist for Yedioth Ahronoth and the weekly magazine La' Isha (For Women).

After retiring from politics, Aloni continued to lecture in the academic world on matter of civil rights and political-legislative ties. She was also a known activist against the Israeli control of the West Bank and advocated a territorial compromise.

(Tip: The Torah Revolution)

Esser Agaroth (2¢):
It seems that Prime Minister Netanyahu has been the most honest about his feelings for Aloni, without being "disrespectful."

President Peres made a very interesting eulogy, filled to the brim with code phrases:

"left a mark in the struggle for women" - radical feminism

"minorities" - Arabs and other non-Jews who really never had any business being here

 "those weakened in the society" - society according to what Aloni alone believed it should be

"bold democratic and social fighter" - loyal Hellenist and Western assimilationist.

"social sensitivity...." - to those who agreed with her. True pluralism was the farthest thing from her agenda

Most leftists have expressed feeling "OK" about sitting in a government with the National Religious (Jewish Home) Party,...knowing full well how they are mostly just State lackeys with kippoth. Odd that this was not good enough for Aloni. Yet, the next quote about her reveals why.

She "worked against religious coercion and created marriage contracts for couples who could not or did not want to be married by an Orthodox rabbi." In other words, she was in a constant battle against the Torah.

Is there really anymore to be said about Shulamit Aloni?

Well, actually, yes, there is.

Rabbi Shai Piron
Minister of RE-Education
Expressing his loyalty to the State???

YNET: Minister Piron: Aloni was ground-breaking, courageous leader
Moran Azulay, Shachar Chai, January 24, 2014

Israel News Education Minister Shai Piron announced he "regrets the death of Israel Prize laureate and former education minister Shulamit Aloni, who worked with courage, honesty and integrity which are a model for a ground-breaking leader, a woman of principle and action with firm ideology. Her legacy will continue to accompany us for years to come."

Esser Agaroth (2¢):
What's worse, Shulamit Aloni being completely forthcoming regarding her venomous hatred toward everything Jewish, which she was unable to manipulate to her own advantage?

Or a "rabbi" praising her for it?

Anyway, during my deep thoughts as to how to approach Shulamit Aloni's death, I was halted by a conundrum.

Could it be that Shulamit Aloni was simply k'tinoq shenishba, albeit under the most lenient opinion, and knew not the damage to Am Yisra'el and Eretz Yisr'ael she was doing?

And because of this, when she arrives before the Heavenly Court, will she be held culpable for her acts of evil?

And, I know that you are all asking, even if she was a  rash'ah (evil woman), who am I to judge?

Shulamit Aloni
former Minister of
Western Assimilation

Then, during my contemplation over Shulamit Aloni's passing, the resolution came to me. Let us suppose for a moment,...only for a moment, that Aloni was not culpable for her sinister plots to assimilate the Jewish People completely into Western, progress "culture," and to erase the Torah from the earth, albeit that would be impossible.

Then who is to blame for the consequences of all of Aloni's perpetration of acts against the Torah, if not herself? 

You are.

All those of you mamalakhtim (undying State-loyalists) who got upset at the intolerance and judging against the likes of Shulamit Aloni, those of you rebuked those of us who dared to stand up and declare her acts for what they were: evil!

"But she could always do teshuvah (repent)!" you cried.

But, what did you actually do to assist her in doing teshuvah? Did you give her a hug, and tell her how much you loved her as a sister? She would not even have sat in a government with most of you!

You did nothing! Worse yet

True. Shulamit Aloni will be judged as she will be judged, and there is nothing I suppose we can do about it one way or another, except perhaps pray.

However, what IS in your power, is to do your own heshbon nefesh (inventory), and ask yourself how you not only stood idly by, but made excuses for it, while Shulamit Aloni was raging war against Torah values and sensibilities before your very eyes.

Not about that video clip...

While I was taking the time to ponder Shulamit Aloni's death, Paula Stern sort of beat me to the punch. Even though I had been thinking of how apropos presenting the video clip below would be, ages ago. I suppose that many others thought of it already, as well.

As to whether it is appropriate or not to present such a clip to commemorate the death of Shulamit Aloni, who may or may not, be culpable for the grave damage to the heart and soul of Israel she was behind, I say, "What the hell?!"

I'll embed it here nevertheless.

It is, after all, a classic! (listen closely at time marker 2:00)

I Am A Feminist!

ערב שבת קודש פר' פנחש תשע"ג

XX Power!

I am a feminist. You are a strong and independent woman, and I would not want to offend your strength and independence by offering my seat to you on the bus. By keeping my seat, I am demonstrating my utmost respect for your womanhood.

Excuse me? Aren't you going to open the door for me? You are obviously a self-hating women, suffering from years of oppression by the hierarchical patriarchy. If you open the door for a man, you will simultaneously be opening the door to your own, new found freedom.

By belching or passing gas in front of you, I am treating you just as I would treat one of my best buds, like an equal. I show you respect in this way, because I am a feminist.

Of course, I am staring at the beautiful process, of the exercising of your "right" to breast feed in public, without covering up your bare breast-giver-of-sustenance to your infant. The oppressive patriarchy forcing you to cover up, acts out of its own jealousy. By staring at your bare breast, I am supporting your "right" to do as you please with your body, whenever, and wherever you like, regardless of how it affects other people around you, including other marginalized women with their voice silenced.

From katekatharina.com

I am not entirely certain as to how you fell into the trap of trusting that there would be a reliable man out there to help you carry home your year supply of feminine hygiene products (in a see through bag), because they happened to be on sale. As a feminist man, I am the first to admit how completely unreliable we men are. By allowing you to carry your products home by yourself, I am refusing to collaborate with the hierarchical patriarchy in keeping you oppressed, convincing you that you are not the strong and independent woman you are, perfectly capable of find a creative way to bring her own feminine hygiene products home.

Using the lady's restroom I find urinals offensive, because they fly in the face of our equality. Thus, I prefer to use the lady's room, where I do not have to see such offensive constructions, reminding us that our physiologies are different.

But, no, of course, I will not put the toilet seat back down. I would not want to insult the strength of your womanhood, suggesting that you are incapable of putting it down by yourself.

Shidduch date: I want to stay home and pop bon-bons. Besides that way, I can provide more direct instruction to our sons, if we are so curse to have male children, in being ashamed of being male and how to hate their penises properly, and how to prepare them to feed their testicles to their wives upon marriage.

No, I will not give you sex tonight,...nor ever. I am a born-again feminist, and I refuse to participate in your oppressive sexual enslavement. I have become enlightened to the sacred knowledge that all heterosexual sex is oppressive,...if not rape. However, I will be happy to give you a foot massage, and worship you.

Jewish Feminism

י"א לחודש העשירי תשע"ג

Yet another set of clever aphorisms was making its way around facebook.  I just had to comment on one of them.

"Feminist until you get married..."

-The Hypocrite Diaries

A vast number of feminists are hypocrites, not all of them, but a vast number.

One of those non-hypocrites suggested the following:

"Lesbianism is the highest form of feminism. Anyone who claims otherwise is a fake.

'Political lesbians' are fakes.

Any 'feminist' who tells you that any form of heterosexual sex is 'oppressive,' tell her that she's wrong. It's rape."

My friend's sarcasm here was to emphasize the existence of hypocrisy amongst feminists.

So called "Modern Orthodox" feminists, both women, and, yes MEN, are simply doing what they want, and calling it Judaism.

You shout about how mutar (permissible) this is, or that is. It's irrelevant.

You do not seem to care about the big picture, just about what you want to do, and how best to force it down everyone's throats.

You are blind to your own gaivah (pride), and the men who surround you, who are unable to differentiate between Western values and sensibilities and Jewish ones, are your enablers.

I say "shout," of course, because, after all...

"Women are allowed to overcompensate for the aggression they have incurred over the millennia from the 'oppressive, patriarchal hierarchy.' Thus, a man who calmly and respectfully expresses his disagreement with a woman is, in fact, attempting to marginalize her and silence her,...or worse. He could be condescending to her. Whereas, a woman who appears to be shouting at a man in order to express herself is not actually being aggressive. Rather, she is asserting herself." 

This is the mentality of the feminist: Justifiable double standards.

Additional, classic examples include...

"HaZa"L* OBVIOUSLY edited out, if not destroyed, most of the women's voices from our Oral Tradition, in order to maintain the status quo of women's bondage.  A woman having to cover her hair after she is married, or to cover her body in the manner which men dictate to her are additional ways men keep woman down at a level lower than them.  Men proclaiming that women are on a higher spiritual level than they are, is just a clever strategy to keep them Torah-illiterate and ignorant."

Yes, Iam beign sarcastic again.  But, yes, I have also actually heard statements made just like these.  Assuming such statements are made by knowledgeable, Jewish women, they are nothing less than apikourusth (severe distortions of the Torah), if not kefirath Torah sheb'al Peh, a denial of the sanctity and authority of the Oral Torah, and its bearers.

We have many problems within the Jewish world, and in [what people think is] Judaism itself, men bearing much of the responsibility.  But, on the woman's side, her insistence on asserting Western "rights" to do everything that a man does, anything that she wants, is the antithesis of the humility of a Bath-Yisra'el.

Whether she can or cannot do this or that, is hardly the point.  When she gets all of her obligatory misswoth down, only THEN let her worry misswoth for which she is not obligated, such as Torah study, even more so, .

I was once overheard critizing the use of the word "seminary" to call women's religious schools.  I was asked, "Well, then what should we call them?"

My response?

"Kitchens."

When the horror in the faces of those observing this discussion eventually faded, I explained that the kitchen was where girls and young women learned all of the Torah and misswoth they needed to learn: Kashruth, Shabbath, how to relate to fellow Jews, or to non-Jews, and upon getting married, Taharath HaMishpahah (Family Purity).

Of course, I realize the "reality on the ground."  We must meet the danger of assimilation, and the challenge of bringing our brothers and sister back to Torah, head on.  And that includes the establishment of educational institutions which Jews growing up in the West are used to.  That includes providing men AND women with the understanding behind the misswoth which the Torah obligates us.  And, yes, that may necessitate in depth study of texts with commentators, such as RaSh"I,...I suppose.  I get that.  But, let us not fool ourselves into believing that such strategies are the end goals, and not simply the means to an end.

The oxymoron of a "women's minyan," the incredibly overused term "Rebbetzin," which has been taken hostage, and transformed into a new incarnation of a title by the Modern Orthodox, and even [English-speaking] Litvish communities, and the various, non-Jewish concepts being taught in the so-called "sems" are only a few examples of the part women have taken in preventing the progress of Ge'ulah (final redemption).

But when confronted with that old cliche, "Modernity and influences from Western culture are our reality," my response is always the same:

"We are here on this earth to do what HaShem wants, not what we want.  We are here to make Torah our reality, and "not simply accept whatever is thrown at us as the necessary reality of the world."

If the adjective "Jewish" is equated with "based in Torah," as I do, and as it should be, then there isn't anything in the least bit Jewish about feminism.

Thus, Jewish feminists do not really exist.

*********

*HaZa"L = Our Sages, May Their Memories be for Blessings

Rebellious "Women Of The Wall" Are At It Again

ב' לחודש השישי תשע"ב

IsraelNN.com: 'Women of the Wall' Arrested for Provocation 

Police arrested three “women of the Wall’ after they violated High Court limitations and wore prayer shawls in a “Rosh Chodesh” protest.

Tzvi Ben Gedalyahu, August 19, 2012

Police arrested three “women of the Wall’ after they violated High Court limitations and wore prayer shawls in a protest marking the beginning of the Hebrew month of Elul. Police warned the women before arresting them.

The protest movement, led mostly by Reform and Conservative Jews, has campaigned against Jewish law and centuries-old customs. (cont.)

It's one thing for women to wear tallith and tefillin in private, the modest way in which RaSh"i's daughters wore tefillin to enhance their kewanna (intent).  They knew it was immodest (in more than one way) to have done so in public.

Women who do so in public, mostly do not know any better, and must be educated.

Those who do know better are rebellious women, ba'aloth gaiwah (prideful), and not at all behaving like B'noth Yisrael.  Rather they behave (...and think, and feel) like Westerners, are concerned with Western (ie. non-authentically Jewish) values and sensibilities, and possess a Western/progressive, "do what I want" attitude.

Feminism, egalitarianism, pluralism (save for perhaps minhaggim, music, and such), and even turning major decisions over to the masses to determine the will of the people by a "vote" are NOT Jewish concepts, not in the least.

"Conservative?"  "Reform?"  Translation: possibly includes those who underwent sham conversions, or whose mothers did.  In other words, this begs the question, just exactly how many of them are even Jewish?

Furthermore, these women see it as their duty and purpose to battle HaZa"L (Our Sages z"l), otherwise known to them as the "oppressive hierarchical patriarchy," who "infantilize women" and "silence the woman's voice."

Those who do not overtly spit on the words of HaZa"L, work overtime to distort them, bending them to serve their agendas.

Kol HaKavod to Tzvi for including this important, last paragraph.

Orthodox women's groups have asserted in the past that the real "Women of the Wall" are the masses of devoutly Orthodox women who pray there fervently night and day, every day - not just on Rosh Chodesh - and that they have the right to have their traditional form of prayer observed without having to deal with provocations.

Of course, the so-called "Women Of The Wall" believe that they know better than their "oppressed" sisters.

For women who claim to be righteous, they certainly are quite selfish, to say the least.