Combining careers,kids,&Jewish observance(Forward)
Aurora Mendelsohn has some interesting thoughts on the subject (and, on her linked blog, complains--quite rightly--about the missing-the-point subtitle that the Forward gave her article).
The Hillel version (standing on one foot):
"The door to the bimah and the synagogue boardroom is not fully open to women until men also charge (or are led through) the doors that are the sites of so many other mitzvot — the doors to the nursery, kitchen, the Kiddush or youth programming committees, the retirement home volunteers, the parent-teacher associations and junior congregations."
Related: Seeking a Judaism that's good for men*&*women*&*kids
The Hillel version (standing on one foot):
"The door to the bimah and the synagogue boardroom is not fully open to women until men also charge (or are led through) the doors that are the sites of so many other mitzvot — the doors to the nursery, kitchen, the Kiddush or youth programming committees, the retirement home volunteers, the parent-teacher associations and junior congregations."
Related: Seeking a Judaism that's good for men*&*women*&*kids
posted by Shira Salamone at 5:11 PM
7 Comments:
Well here's a contrary thought: on a good team, people each play their roles in a way that ensures everyone performs optimally. If the goalie decides he wants to play defense, then things don't work as well.
Last time I saw a hockey or soccer game, the goalie did play defense. That's her job.
Dads and Moms are both parents, and children benefit mightily from them sharing all those responsibilities.
There are no "mom" jobs or "dad" jobs when it comes to parenting.
And I speak as the married father of two daughters.
Garnel, I'm with Anon on this--I, too, don't think that there are set roles dependent on gender (other than pregancy and nursing)when it comes to parenting. My husband was just as good at changing diapers as I was, and a lot better than I was at using his hand to take our son's temperature when we didn't have access to a thermometer.
this assumes an egalitarian community. In Orthodoxy -- even modern orthodoxy -- men are obligated to daven, women aren't. So when men are in shul, they are supposed to be "in shul" and not running childcare groups. No amount of saying "oh, everyone can fill these roles" will change that.
And that, JDub, is precisely the problem. Next week, I hope to have some time to write a post about the language of halachah regarding this issue.
My post, as promised: A problem with the language of chiyuv (obligation).
This is the Orthodox twist on the matter. This isn't where the problem ends, it is where it begins. The argument of the male-dominated boards of education and synagogue associations have an argument that, for whatever reason, has gained quite a lot of ground. It is called the 'slippery slope' argument; if one were to let a woman take a secondary board position, whats to stop her from moving higher? And if she moves to a higher board or exeutive/directorship, whats to stop her from becoming the Rabbi?
Keep up the great work, guys and girls.
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