Dabs OT: FYI: An Insider's Guide to Jewish Orthodoxy, Gentle discussion. See disclaimer in first post,please Options

[dabs1980]

Becky! I never knew you were here! Thanks for letting me know.

I'm glad you enjoy reading the thread.

Dabs

[bkylyn77]

Becky! I never knew you were here! Thanks for letting me know.

I'm glad you enjoy reading the thread.

Dabs

surprised? lol

i have always been a Biblical history buff so this has been awesome! and i love learning what makes people tick.

[Lantana]

Hi Dabs, thank you for all the effort you put into composing your posts. I appreciate your sharing with us. Thanks for starting the thread back up.
hugs,
lantana

[dabs1980]

Chopping wood, building fires, clearing away ash and refuse, washing basins, lighting lamps, preparing (grinding and mixing) spices, kneading dough and baking bread, weaving material, sewing garments, laundering garments, slaughtering and butchering animals......

This sounds like a list of chores for a 1709 housewife or even a slave. But it is not. This is a partial listing of tasks of the priests serving in the Holy Temple in Jerusalem. The tasks of the priests are seemingly mindless tasks of drudgery that any simpleton could do. How is it that highly educated, intelligent, grown men didn’t find these chores boring or beneath their dignity?

Simply, the priests understood the importance of their job. They not only offered the communal sacrifices and those brought by individuals, but also they maintained the smooth functioning of the Temple. (The word “temple” come to us from Middle English meaning “a place that has been separated or designated for a specific purpose.) In Hebrew the Temple is/was known as “The Bais HaMikdash” which translates as “The House of the Holy” or in short, “The Holy House.”

So the priests considered performing these tasks as a great privilege. In fact, lots were drawn each morning to see who would be assigned which task. The actions and activities of the priests are what turned the temple from merely a building into a “dwelling”, a “home” for the Holy One, Blessed Be He. Far from being boring or degrading, it was spiritually uplifting to be working in the service to G-d. (Interestingly, the Hebrew word used for “service” to G-d is the same work as “work”.)

As the priests were to the Bais HaMikdash, the woman is to her home. The focus of the Jewish home from the time of Abraham and Sara through Temple times, and even until today, is the service of G-d. Within the home Jewish men and women act out their G-d given roles, work to develop and refine their character , and to raise the next generation to follow in their footsteps. Because the home is dedicated to the service of G-d, it is seen as a miniature Bais HaMikdash, the heart and soul of Jewish service to G-d. Thus, a spiritually focused woman goes about her daily tasks caring for her home and her family, all the while being G-d-centered. She is creating a place and an atmosphere in which service to G-d is a priority. Figuratively and literally, getting her hands dirty isn't beneath her dignity. She views her work (no matter how great or small, no matter how seemingly dull, boring or repetitious) as holy acts in the service of G-d.


Dabs

[renatria]

I wanted to add a comment about the role of women in traditional Judaism.

I grew up in a conservative home, but my school was more traditional. I have attended both conservative and orthodox (and ultra-orthodox) services. I currently go to a conservative congregation, in part because the only other option where I currently live is Reform.

Anyway, I had a baby girl erev Shavuot (on the day before the Jewish holiday of Shavuot) and had a visit from a congregational member in the hospital, who mentioned that on one day of services, they hadn't made a minyan (the minimum number of Jews, in traditional congregations only the men count toward a minyan) and I felt guilty because in this congregation I would count. Certain prayers cannot be said without that minimum number. However, there was no way I could have come, I was only 24 hours post partum, still in the hospital, and had a newborn who wasn't being released from the hospital.

It came back to being a SHE. Its like FLYlady has talked about, this need so many of us have to give and give and give and give and give and give without taking the time to love ourselves as well. When Friday night comes, and I spend the day baking challah and making a beautiful dinner for my family, that is as much devotion as the prayer service we go to afterward (we have a late service, in more traditional communities the friday night service would be at sundown and you'd come home to a leisurely meal) Judaism allows women to pray, but does not require anything of us that is at a fixed time because of the other commitments we have. No one should have to choose between G-d and a crying baby, or any of the other things we already have to do every day.

[dabs1980]

Renatria,
Thanks for your comment and for effectively bumping this up.

I appreciate your comments, and also letting us know where you're coming from Jewishly, as it does make a difference.

You say, "Judaism allows women to pray,".

Judaism not only allows women to pray, but we are commanded to pray, our prayer schedule is just more flexible than a man's. And we are not commanded to pray within a group (minyan) and since we are not obligated in minyan, we can't count towards the 10 required for a minyan. A person who is not obligated cannot fulfill the responsibilities of some one who is obligated.

Dabs

[Mountain Mother]

Thank you again for the posts!

[Sasha K]

Dabs, I wanted to let you know that I am still reading and still pondering. I very much appreciate the time you put into these posts. Thank you for sharing with us.