[Avodah] Tznius and Gender Roles

[zeliglaw at aol.com]

May I suggest that the Torah?as understood?in many Aggadic passages?and by?such classical Mfarshim as Rashi?provides many example of gender roles that are based upon considerations?? The Avos and Imahos had clearly differentiated roles-Avraham and Sarah focused on the? respective spiritual progress of the ?men and women . Yitzchak, Yaakov, Rivkah, Rachel and Leah all followed in that role as? father , mother and spouse and the public and ?private guardians of the Bris Avos ,?

 . Moshe Rabbeinu, Aharon HaKohen and Miriam HaNeviah dealt with the public roles of dealing with Pharoah and impllementing Yeztias Mitzrayim while Miriam dealt with the home front and encouraged Jewish women to enable their?husbands to remain loyal spouses and?to?keep having childrren . After Yam Suf, Miriam led the women in a special women's only shirah. The women remained loyal in the episodes of? the Golden Calf, the Spies and the Korach revolt and reminded Moshe Rabbeinu of the halachos of inheritance?One looks in?vein for any complaint of inequality, etc. ??One can argue ?that gender roles have existed from the dawn of the Jewish People and that the rush to eradicate all gender based roles within Judaism is a classical example of rejecting a legacy as old as the Avos and Imahos and that women have long expressed and developed their own innate spirituality without the need to imitate men in their public role or the performance of mitzvos. . 

Steve Brizel
Zeliglaw at aol.com






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