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| (Orthodox Rabbi Moshe Feinstein) |
Wikipedia defines rabbi
as "a teacher of Torah" and further explains that "all types of Judaism except for Orthodox Judaism and some conservative strains ordain women…"
Orthodox Judaism does not ordain women as rabbis due to "the ruling of the Talmud" (a key text of rabbinical Judaism).
Although women are permitted to study halakhah
(Jewish law), they are not permitted to "serve in positions of authority over a community, such as judges and kings."
Because rabbis traditionally
hold such authority, Orthodox women are not allowed to be rabbis.
Nevertheless, the modern American "liberal fringe of Orthodox Judaism" has created a new clerical position for women called maharat ("female spiritual leader").
Michelle Boorstein of The Washington Post
reports that "several prominent but controversial rabbis" have begun the Yeshivat Maharat, a school that prepares Orthodox women for this groundbreaking role.
Many within Orthodox Judaism are feeling that the maharat role is so close to a rabbi's role that it violates "the spirit, if not the law, of Judaism…" Others in favor of this new position are saying that it is merely the formalization of a role that Jewish women have been playing since ancient times.
Resources
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rabbi
http://wwrn.org/articles/40173/?place=united-states
Copyright July 20, 2013 by Linda Van Slyke All Rights Reserved
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