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A New Problem
On The Horizon

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RABBI ABRAHAM B. HECHT SPECIAL TO THE JEWISH NEWS

new problem has arisen in
the Orthodox Jewish com-
munity which is threaten-
rig the sholom. bayit
(peaceful religious co-existence) of
male and female members of the
Jewish nation. I am referring to
the revolutionary, and until now
untried, approach by Orthodox
women to conduct their own
prayer services, complete with
reading of the Torah and its ac-
companying customs.
Already in Queens, N.Y., and
elsewhere, groups of women have
organized their own minyanim
complete with a female cantor and

Rabbi Abraham B. Hecht is
president of the Igud
Horabbonim /Rabbinical
Alliance of America.

reader of the Torah. It will soon
surely follow that they will also
have a female rabbi/rebbetzin de-
liver the weekly Torah sermon.
This phenomenon is actually
the tip of the religious iceberg
which is now convulsing the com-
munity. Rabbinic prohibitions
against these feminine activities
are beginning to proliferate. One
gets the impression that some Or-
thodox rabbis may be concerned
about competition. These radical
actions challenge the traditional
make-up of Orthodox synagogues
and place the vaulted position of
the rabbi in danger.
It can mean eventual econom-
ic ruin for the male spiritual leader
and presents an unfair contest,
since when it comes to attracting
women to the male-dominated re-

ligious services, the females will
surely win. Without the moral,
physical and financial support of
women, the congregations will not
be able to function effectively.
Eventually, feminists will also con-
trol the choice of rabbi and cantor
in the synagogue and will seek to
take over the entire operation of
the synagogue, its daily activities,
educational programs and social
services.
It seems almost unreal that this
new phenomenon can be hap-
pening at this time, when in the
Orthodox community voices are
being raised seeking to validate
the institution ofpilegesh (taking
a concubine) for Jewish men.
Thank God this preposterous il-
legal notion was shot down by the
leading rabbinic authorities. This
ridiculous proposition was strong-
ly opposed by the Rabbinical Al-
liance and its demise was helped
to be brought about through the
input of the Igud's Beth Din.
Now, in the face of such threat-
ening inroads into the sacred con-
fines of holy matrimony, it seems
absurd and even suicidal to advo-

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cate new and dangerous revolu-
tionary concepts for Orthodox
Jewish women. If women really
want to be "freed" and "un-
chained" from the religious and
moral restrictions which tradi-
tional Judaism has halachically
imposed upon them from time im-
memorial, they must realistically
recognize the effect this will have
upon modern Orthodox men, who
will consequently become even
more brazen, demanding still
greater liberties in their social
lives.
So I ask, why exaggerate the
need for more feminine freedom
in the Jewish religion?
Undoubtedly, the originators
of this movement are intelligent,
Jewishly educated women, who
believe that this new religious
equality will attract more femi-
nine involvement in Judaism and
will encourage women to remain
loyal to the tenets of our faith.
But they are overlooking the dan-
gers lurking in the future, in the
immediate course of time, when
new leaders will emerge who
may not be as religiously or edu-

cationally equipped to guide this
movement.
Compromises of all sort will be
made to satisfy everyone, thus
causing a diminishing in the ob-
servance of traditional Judaism.
In addition, this practice Will split
the tightly-knit Jewish:family,
when husbands and wives, sons
and daughters will each go to sep-
arate services and come home
with oft-times conflicting Torah
messages imparted by the reli-
gious leaders of these two sec-
tions. Where until now the family
worshipped together, there will
instead be a contest to see which
group attracts more members.
Although there are definitely
undefined areas in Halachah
where some of the ideas being
propounded by the "founding
mothers" of this movement have
merit, the massive number of rea-
sons for not continuing this pro-
ject are overbearing and
conclusive.
Let Lis inCrea4e.our support for
the local;_ congregations, attend-
ing services regularly and bring-
ing more women to shu.

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