Israelis Facing a Seismic Rift Over Role of Women
Peeking through a tear in a curtain separating the men and women at an ultra-Orthodox wedding in Jerusalem. Secular Israelis oppose such segregation
By ETHAN BRONNER and ISABEL KERSHNER
NYT
JERUSALEM — In the three months since the Israeli Health Ministry awarded a prize to a pediatrics professor for her book on hereditary diseases common to Jews, her experience at the awards ceremony has become a rallying cry.
The professor, Channa Maayan, knew that the acting health minister, who is ultra-Orthodox, and other religious people would be in attendance. So she wore a long-sleeve top and a long skirt. But that was hardly enough.
Not only did Dr. Maayan and her husband have to sit separately, as men and women were segregated at the event, but she was instructed that a male colleague would have to accept the award for her because women were not permitted on stage.
Though shocked that this was happening at a government ceremony, Dr. Maayan bit her tongue. But others have not, and her story is entering the pantheon of secular anger building as a battle rages in Israel for control of the public space between the strictly religious and everyone else.
(More here.)
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Last week,I wrote a piece on the MN Political Roundtable, asking the question : Would Israel or Bangladesh offer a better hope for women as Congresswoman Betty McCollum has visited both countries ... while Bangladesh has a woman prime minister who promotes woman's rights, the Israeli Prime Minister acts as the Health Minister which was responsible for a Puah Institute conference in Jerusalem – “Innovations in Gynecology/Obstetrics and Halacha [Jewish law]” ... which is the conference that the author did not identify by name, in the article. Although their were qualified women to speak, they were not permitted as ultra-Orthodox Jewish leaders permitted only males to address the audience as the two sexes are not allowed to mix at its events. At least two male Israeli doctors had withdrawn from making presentations at the Puah event once they were made aware of the exclusion of women (or at least once public outrage over the exclusion became apparent.) Puah receives considerable funding from the Health Ministry (while Congress increased the amount of American taxdollars are being provided to Israel.)
Why is it that some Americans fear Sharia law, yet there is not the concern with Halacha ? Traditionally, it has been rabbis who have clarified murky points of law, but women often hesitate to bring these personal matters to a male rabbi. Laws of family ritual purity, taharat hamishpacha, based on biblical verses and expounded upon by rabbinic authorities. But, like all matters related to Halacha, the details of the parameters can lead to volumes of regulations.
While there would be outrage if a Governor cited Sharia law for the basis of a decision, did you hear any comment when Governor Haley Barbour explained his reason for granting pardons which seemed to be based on his religious doctrine : "most people in Mississippi are Christians or profess to be Christians, and we believe in forgiveness and we believe in second chances" ?
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