[Avodah] Women Reading theKetubah

[Joseph Kaplan]

RMB argued: "RHS is arguing it's a "necessary evil" -- someone has to  
violate personal
tzeni'us for the community's greater good. People should hope it's not
them."

I've been a member of the O community for more than a few decades and  
have davened in all types of different O minyanim and been to  
hundreds of O weddings running from LWO to the most yeshivish or  
Chassidish.  And it's my perception that almost no one believes that  
being a shli'ach tzibur or, indeed, reading the ketubah at a wedding,  
is a "necessary evil."  Not rabbis, not laypeople, not anyone.  It  
seems to me that if we truly believed this, then a shul without a  
permanent chazan would have only one or two people who sacrifice  
themselves to lead the davening so as to save the others from this  
supposed "necessary evil."  And that at weddings, there would be  
someone from the caterer or the band to read the ketubah so as to  
save the rabbanim and RYs from this supposed "necessary evil." But my  
perception is that we believe that these are kibuddim -- that is,  
honors -- and we -- laypeople and religious leaders alike -- feel  
good about being so honored.  That people who live by halacha and  
interpret halacha are telling us, by their actions, that "necessary  
evil" is not a factor. Thus, the only conclusion that I can reach is  
that Micha's understanding of RHS is wrong or, if correct, then, with  
respect, RHS's analysis of this issue is not correct.

If my perceptions are wrong then my conclusion would also probably be  
wrong. Thus, I wonder if anyone has had a different experience; that  
is, have they seen actions which demonstrate that we truly believe  
this "necessary evil" idea.  But please note that I'm speaking about  
reality, not what's discussed in an ivory tower, beit medresh or  
email list.  I'm looking for proof of what the members and the  
leaders of our O community REALLY think about this issue and, and  
perhaps more importantly, how they act upon that belief.  How they  
think and how they act is, I believe, an important factor in  
determining what our haskafa -- and the halacha -- truly is.

Joseph Kaplan