You know that the first ultrasound in the world was done by Rivka at Shem's seminary, which also gave her the exact diagnosis. You have twins. One – may God protect you, and the other – may God protect you.
Surely you knew. But perhaps you forgot that even today we are in the same place and in our bodies twins nest. One wants to go out when he passes by the seminaries because his soul goes out to the Holy Torah and the other, well, what, is only looking for entertainment, looking to break free and escape from everything that is holy. "Here I am going to die and why is this my firstborn?".
There he was quite accurate in his observation, and we too need to know how to make the right choice: to choose the path of an innocent man who dwells in tents and not the path of the salt-tither, the liar who hunted with his mouth. Only in this way will we be worthy of blessings. Those blessings that accompany us as daughters of our father Jacob, peace be upon him. And God will give you of the dew of heaven and of the fat of the earth, and plenty of grain and an inheritance: peoples will serve you, and nations will bow down to you.
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Rabbis against Torah study
- "Hello, Miri?""
- Yes. With whom do I have the honor?
- "Shula from Tehila Newspaper" (the name of the newspaper and the journalist is kept confidential).
- And how can I help you?
- "We are doing a special project in the women's magazine Tehila. It's a protest tent project. And we are reaching out to four leading Haredi women.".
- Well.
- "Would you agree to write to us about what your protest would be, if you could set up a protest tent?""
- With pleasure. How many words do you need and by when?
- "Oh. And also write how the protest will take place, who you would involve in the protest and how we will know it was successful.".
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For your reference, here is what I wrote and sent to Shula from Tehila newspaper.
Protests against:
I thought of a positive protest. A protest that would allow women to study Torah extensively. That would leave us time amidst the sea of occupations and affairs that have fallen upon us since the women's liberation movement arose. That we would stop running and stop chasing our own tails.
In the protest tent I was thinking of, assessments will be conducted so that each person will know exactly how to fulfill her mission here in this world, in a way that will leave her rewarded and satisfied.
Those who are suited to look after and raise children will be able to assist cooperatively with the one who wants to sit and study Torah. And those who want to bake and cook will do so with love and willingness for their sisters who prefer to teach. Each will be valued and loved for her talents and will know that everything she contributes and does for the group fulfills the mission assigned to her by the Supreme Providence.
I would call this protest tent – the women's Torah tent.
From France to protest:
I would gather Torah-observant, God-fearing women from all walks of life, with all kinds of head coverings and clothing, and from all denominations and sects, whose common denominator is the love and fear of God.
And so it was erased:
We will set up tents or houses where women can sit and comfortably study the Peshat and Hardash, the inner workings of the Torah, and especially the nuances of the laws and explanations of the customs that are so essential to running a Jewish home. And of course, we will not neglect the study of midrashim and stories, and even melodies, drums, and dances.
Protest results:
Why melodies, drums, and dances? Because the ultimate goal of this protest is for us all to be ready and prepared to go out to welcome our righteous Messiah. That we will know what to do and how to behave when the Savior comes.
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Shula got back to me very quickly after I sent her the article via email. "Thank you Miri, a beautiful and moving protest!""
A few minutes later, another email landed in my inbox. This time, Shula wrote me the following words: "Miri, you intend to bring the Messiah through your protest. I think he needs to come for it to be carried out...:)".
For a moment I thought she simply hadn't learned enough about the Messiah and redemption, so I wrote her a return email: "Dear, you... according to the events in the country and the world, we are already in the generation of the Messiah, and as it is written, thanks to righteous women, etc.... I don't know of any other way except to study Torah a lot and do mitzvot, and... of course, pray.".
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I completely forgot about the protest and the article until 48 hours later, Shula's number appeared on my phone screen.
""Look," she began in an apologetic voice, enlisting all the words of apology in the dictionary. "I'm sorry, Miri, but your protest, with the whole thing about women studying Torah, didn't pass the reviewer. Could you prepare us some new protest?""
For a moment I was shocked. Actually, I'm shocked right now too.
Why would a spiritual rabbinical committee have a problem with women who want to learn, understand, and become educated, not in academia, but in studying laws, chapters of the patriarchs, morality, or Hasidism, or even Torah and legend stories?!
I couldn't find an answer to this question.
Maybe you can find it.
Part of the column is based on the talks of the Lubavitcher Rebbe • The writer is the owner of "My Choice", an event host, lecturer and radio broadcaster: [email protected]
