Until now, Orthodox women have been appointed as spiritual leaders in Orthodox synagogues and in other communal positions of spiritual leadership, but always alongside a male rabbi.
Mirvis’ appointment therefore represents a significant landmark for Orthodoxy in Israel in which the role of women in positions of spiritual and halachic leadership has been advancing for many years but has stopped short of full communal leadership until now.
Mirvis will be graduating a five-year course at the Susi Bradfield Women’s Institute of Halakhic Leadership (WIHL) at Ohr Torah Stone’s Midreshet Lindenbaum in June which covers Jewish law pertaining to Shabbat, kashrut, family purity, mourning, marriage and divorce and certifies graduates as “spiritual leaders” and “Morot Hora’ah,” women authorized to provide direction in matters of Jewish law.
“I am deeply grateful to the Shirat Tamar community for giving me this opportunity which I see as a natural continuation of my role as a teacher and communal leader,” said Mirvis in a statement to the press.
“My sincere prayer is that Hashem will guide and strengthen me in this important role enabling me to spread the word of Torah.”
The Shirat Tamar Synagogue’s board of management announced the appointment stating that its decision “is a clear recognition of her remarkable accomplishments as a teacher and communal leaders,” and that “we are confident that she will continue to serve as a true role model.”
In recent years, Mirvis has become a sought-after teacher both within her community in Efrat and on the Internet, where she teaches a popular weekly Talmud vlog and also serves as a trusted adjudicator of halachic issues for people around the world
“The chance to witness Rabbanit Shira Mirvis take on this role represents an important moment as we recognize that the place of women in Jewish leadership can go fully hand in hand with halacha and our mesorah (tradition),” said Rabbi Kenneth Brander, president and Yeshiva head of Ohr Torah Stone.
“I am deeply hopeful and confident that we will look back on this moment as one which paved a new halachic direction for the rightful place of women spiritual leaders within the Orthodox community.”
WIHL Director Rabbanit Devorah Evron said Mirvis was “well positioned to lead this community with both knowledge and a wide open heart,” adding that “There is no doubt that this is a large step both for her, personally, but also for the place of female Torah leadership in Jewish communities in Israel and worldwide.”
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R' Brander says "that the place of women in Jewish leadership can go fully hand in hand with halacha and our mesorah (tradition)".
I find that to be a FASCINATING statement. A highly intelligent man with semicha and a doctorate says that a woman rabbi is "hand in hand" with tradition. "Tradition" is defined as "the transmission of customs or beliefs from generation to generation, or the fact of being passed on in this way". Is having a woman rabbi lead a community which has never been done before in the history of the world [by observant Jews - I obviously don't refer to reform and conservative who jettisoned tradition] part of our tradition???
So OODDDDDDD!!
Instead say "We are SO DELIGHTED that the values of this post modern age are being implemented. No longer will Judaism be a religion where men and women have different roles. We are now egalitarian!!! Next up: Women leading the tefillah and getting aliyos!!! Ahhh - we already have that? OK, GREAT!!! - Women judges and eidus in Beis Din. Women counting for a minyan. Women playing in the NFL. Women as Roshei Yeshiva! [I actually heard a woman rabbi say that she looks forward to the day when the Mir Yeshiva will be coed. Don't hold your breath...]. A woman giving the man a ring under the chuppah and saying "Harei atah mekudash li ki-das Moshe Vi-yisrael" - with the two female witnesses and happy officiating female rabbi looking on. The man removes the veil from in front of his eyes and blushes, extends his [manicured] finger, and she puts the ring on. After 7 women recite brachos under the chuppah, she then takes his hand and leads him to the yichud room as all the women dance in front of them. In the yichud room she laments the fact that biologically only she can have children and makes him promise that he will do 60 percent of the housework [to make up for the extra load she will carry in her stomach]. He promises to behave himself and she gives him a necklace as a present. He blushes.
She insists that he take her last name. He asks that if she is the man does that mean that she will also support him and he won't have to work? She gets VERY ANGRY and says that he will be a responsible husband, supporting the family while at the same time being a house husband so that she can advance her career."
EQUALITY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Fast forward 25 years: She has finished Shas with Daf Yomi 3 times. He never has time to learn - nor is he interested. He doesn't go to daily minyan - either does she. After years of marriage therapy - they remain married and miserable. Their kids are also messed up [as is often the case when the parents are miserable].
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My suggestion: LET'S KEEP DOING THINGS THE OLD WAY!!!! 馃榾馃槉 Let's make it clear that feminism is incompatible with Jewish tradition. Let us emphasize Tzniyus, Kedusha and Tahara. Let's remember that Judaism and Torah are not about advancing post modern agendas but about nullifying oneself to Hashem. Let's be mindful of the fact that this process that these [albeit well meaning] Efratians are going through is the same process that Reform and Conservative Judaism went through that got them to where they are today. Same rhetoric.
Bottom line: Don't try to change tradition. If you do - don't be disingenuous about it. "We are upholding tradition by appointing a female rabbi". That is not only baloney but unkosher baloney!!:-). Call a spade a spade. Say "We are innovators. We don't like the old way. It doesn't work for us. We are changing ancient practices to suit our emotional needs". That, at least, is honest....
We conclude with the letter that Rav Moshe ztz"l wrote to Rav Kelemer ztz"l:
讬"讞 讗诇讜诇 转砖诇"讝
诪注"讻 讬讚讬讚讬 讛专讛"讙 诪讜讛专"讬 拽注诇注诪注专 砖诇讬讟"讗 专讘 讘讘讗住讟讗谉 讘拽讛诇讛 讞砖讜讘讛
讛谞讛 讘讚讘专 讛谞砖讬诐 讛砖讗谞谞讜转 讜讛讞砖讜讘讜转 讗砖专 讘注谞讬谞讬 讛谞讛讙讜转 讛诪讚讬谞讜转 讘注讜诇诐 讛谉 讙诐 讻谉 诪讛诇讜讞诪讜转 讬讞讚 注诐 讛转谞讜注讛 讻讝讜 注诐 讛谞砖讬诐 讛诇讜讞诪讜转 讘讝讛 诪讻诇 讛注诪讬诐 砖讘注讜诇诐, 讗讘诇 谞砖讬诐 讗诇讜 砖讛谉 砖讜诪专讜转 转讜专讛 专讜爪讜转 诇讛讻谞讬住 诪诇讞诪转谉 讙诐 讘诪讛 砖谞讜讙注 诇讻诪讛 讚讬谞讬 讛转讜专讛 讜讬砖 诪讛谉 讗砖专 诪转驻诇诇讜转 讘讟诇讬转 讜讻讚讜诪讛 讘注讜讚 讚讘专讬诐, 讜专讜爪讛 砖讗讘讬注 讘讝讛 讚注转讬 讘注爪诐 讛讚讘专 讜讗讬讱 砖讬转谞讛讙 讻转专"讛.
讜讛谞讛 专讗砖讬转 爪专讬讱 诇讚注转 讻讬 诪注讬拽专讬 讛讗诪讜谞讛 讛讟讛讜专讛 砖诇谞讜 砖讻诇 讛转讜专讛 讘讬谉 砖讘讻转讘 讘讬谉 砖讘注诇 驻讛 谞讬转谞讛 诪讛拽讘"讛 讘注爪诪讜 讘讛专 住讬谞讬 注"讬 诪砖讛 专讘谞讜 注"讛 讜讗讬 讗驻砖专 诇砖谞讜转 讗驻讬诇讜 拽讜抓 讗讞讚 诇讗 诇讛拽诇 讜诇讗 诇讛讞诪讬专. 讗讱 谞爪讟讜讬谞讜 砖讻砖讬砖 爪讜专讱 诇住讬讙 讜诇讙讚专 讛讬讛 讞讬讜讘 注诇 讛住谞讛讚专讬谉 讜讞讻诪讬 讛转讜专讛 诇转拽谉 讗讬讝讛 转拽谞讜转 诇讗住讜专 讗讬讝讛 讚讘专讬诐 讜讻谉 诇讞讬讬讘 讗讬讝讛 讚讘专讬诐 讗讱 讘讛讜讚注讛 诪专讘谞谉 砖讛讜讗 诇转拽谞讛 讜诇住讬讙, 讜诪讝诪谉 砖谞转驻讝专谞讜 讘讻诇 讛讗专爪讜转 诇讬转 诇谞讜 讻讞 讝讛 讗诇讗 砖讬砖 诇讞讻诪讬诐 诇转拽谉 讻诇 诪拽讜诐 讜诪拽讜诐 讗讬讝讛 转拽谞讛 专拽 诇诪拽讜诪诐 讜专拽 诇讝诪谉 拽爪专. 讜诪诪讬诇讗 讝讛 砖讛转讜专讛 驻讟专讛 诪诪"注 =诪诪爪讜转 注砖讛= 砖讛讝诪谉 讙专诪讛 讛讜讗 诪谉 讛转讜专讛 讜讙诐 专讘谞谉 诇讗 讞讬讬讘讜诐 讻讬 诇讗 专讗讜 讘讝讛 砖讜诐 爪讜专讱 诇讞讬讬讘谉 讜讗讚专讘讛 诪砖诪注 砖讛爪讜专讱 讛讜讗 诇驻讜讟专谉 讚讜拽讗 诪讛讟注诪讬诐 砖驻讟专转谉 转讜专讛, 讜诇讘讚 讟注诪讬 讛转讜专讛 砖诇讗 讬讚讜注 诇住转诐 讗讬谞砖讬 讗祝 诇讗 诇转"讞 讙讚讜诇讬诐 讜讗谞讜 诪讞讜讬讬讘讬谉 诇讛讗诪讬谉 砖讗讬讻讗 讟注诪讬诐 讙讚讜诇讬诐 诇拽讘"讛 谞讜转谉 讛转讜专讛 讗讬讻讗 讙诐 讟注诪讬诐 讙诇讜讬诐 诇讻诇, 讻讬 住转诐 谞砖讬诐 讘注讜诇诐 讗讬谞诐 注砖讬专讜转 讜注诇讬讛谉 诪讜讟诇 讙讬讚讜诇 讛讬诇讚讬诐 讜讛讬诇讚讜转 砖讛讬讗 诪诇讗讻讛 讛讬讜转专 讞砖讜讘讛 诇讛砖讬"转 讜诇讛转讜专讛, 讜讻谉 讘专讗 讛砖讬"转 讘讟讘注 讻诇 诪讬谉 讜诪讬谉 讚诪讘注"讞 =讚诪讘注诇讬 讞讬讬诐= 砖讛谞拽讘讜转 讬讙讚诇讜 讗转 讛讜诇讚讜转 讜讗祝 讗转 诪讬谉 讛讗讚诐 诇讗 讛讜爪讬讗 诪谉 讛讻诇诇 讘讝讛 砖讙诐 讟讘注 讛谞砖讬诐 诪住讜讙诇 讬讜转专 诇讙讬讚讜诇 讛讬诇讚讬诐 砖诪爪讚 讝讛 讛拽诇 注诇讬讛谉 砖诇讗 诇讞讬讬讘谉 讘诇诪讜讚 讛转讜专讛, 讜讘诪"注 砖讛讝诪"讙 =讜讘诪爪讜转 注砖讛 砖讛讝诪谉 讙专诪讛=, 砖诇讻谉 讗祝 讗诐 讬砖转谞讛 住讚讜专 讛讞讬讬诐 讘注讜诇诐 讙诐 诇讻诇 讛谞砖讬诐 讜诇注砖讬专讜转 讘讻诇 讛讝诪谞讬诐 讜讗祝 讻砖讗驻砖专 诇诪住讜专 讛讙讬讚讜诇 诇讗讬讝讛 讗讬谞砖讬 讜谞砖讬 讻讘诪讚讬谞转谞讜 诇讗 谞砖转谞讛 讚讬谉 讛转讜专讛 讜讗祝 诇讗 讚讬谉 讚专讘谞谉, 讜诇讗 转讜注讬诇 砖讜诐 诪诇讞诪讛 讻讬 讗讬谉 砖讜诐 讻讞 诇砖谞讜转 讗驻讬诇讜 讘讛住讻诐 讻诇 讛注讜诇诐 讻讜诇讜 砖讜诐 讚讘专, 讜讛谞砖讬诐 砖诪转注拽砖讜转 讜专讜爪讜转 诇诇讞讜诐 讜诇砖谞讜转 讛谉 讘讞砖讬讘讜转 讻讜驻专讜转 讘转讜专讛, 注讬讬谉 讘专诪讘"诐 驻"讙 诪转砖讜讘讛 讛"讞 讚砖诇砖讛 讛谉 讛谞拽专讗讬谉 讻讜驻专讬谉 讘转讜专讛 讛讗讜诪专 讗祝 注诇 转讬讘讛 讗讞转 砖诪砖讛 讗诪专讜 诪驻讬 注爪诪讜, 讜讛讻讜驻专 讘驻讬专讜砖讛 砖讛讜讗 转讜专讛 砖讘注诇 驻讛, 讜讛讗讜诪专 砖讛讜讞诇祝 讚讘专 讗讞讚 讻诇 讗讞讚 诪砖诇砖讛 讗诇讜 讻讜驻专 讘转讜专讛 讜讚讬谞诐 砖讗讬谉 诇讛诐 讞诇拽 诇注讜讛"讘, 讜讗祝 砖诇砖讜谉 讛专诪讘"诐 讛讜讗 讛讗讜诪专 砖讛讘讜专讗 讛讞诇讬祝 诪爪讜讛 讝讜, 驻砖讜讟 砖讛讜讗 诇专讘讜转讗 讚讗祝 讚讗讜诪专 砖讛讘讜专讗 讛讞诇讬祝 诪爪讜讛 讝讜 讜讻"砖 讻砖讗讜诪专 砖讛专砖讜转 讘讬讚 讛讗讬谞砖讬 诇讛讞诇讬祝, 砖讙"讻 讛专讬 讗讜诪专 讘讝讛 砖讗讬谉 讛转讜专讛 谞爪讞讬转 讜讻诇 讛讟注诐 讛讜讗 砖讛专讬 诪讻讞讬砖 讻诪讛 讻转讜讘讬诐 讛诪讜专讬诐 砖讛转讜专讛 谞爪讞讬转 讻讚讻转讘 讛讻"诪.
讗讬讘专讗 讚讗讬讻讗 专砖讜转 诇讻诇 讗砖讛 诇拽讬讬诐 讗祝 讛诪爪讜转 砖诇讗 讞讬讬讘转谉 转讜专讛 讜讬砖 诇讛诐 诪爪讜讛 讜砖讻专 注诇 拽讬讜诐 诪爪讜转 讗诇讜 讜讙诐 诇砖讬讟转 讛转讜住' 专砖讗讜转 讙诐 诇讘专讱 注诇 讛诪爪讜转 讜讻诪谞讛讙谞讜 砖诪拽讬讬诪讜转 诪爪讜转 砖讜驻专 讜诇讜诇讘 讜讙诐 诪讘专讻讜转 砖讗"讻 讙诐 注诇 爪讬爪讬转 砖讬讬讱 诇讗砖讛 砖转专爪讛 诇诇讘讜砖 讘讙讚 砖讬讛讬讛 讘爪讜专讛 讗讞专转 诪讘讙讚讬 讗谞砖讬诐 讗讘诇 讬讛讬讛 讘讚' 讻谞驻讜转 讜诇讛讟讬诇 讘讜 爪讬爪讬转 讜诇拽讬讬诐 诪爪讜讛 讝讜. 讜专拽 诇讛谞讬讞 转驻讬诇讬谉 讻转讘讜 讛转讜住' 注讬专讜讘讬谉 讚祝 爪"讜 注"讗 讚"讛 诪讬讻诇 讚爪专讬讱 诇诪讞讜转 讘讬讚谉 诪砖讜诐 讚转驻讬诇讬谉 爪专讬讱 讝专讬讝讜转 诪专讜讘讛 讘讙讜祝 谞拽讬 讜讘讛讬住讞 讛讚注转 砖诪讟注诐 讝讜 讗祝 讗谞砖讬诐 砖诪讞讜讬讬讘讬谉 讘转驻讬诇讬谉 谞诪谞注讬谉 诪诇讛谞讬讞诐 讻诇 讛讬讜诐 讗诇讗 专拽 讝诪谉 讛诪讜注讟 讚转驻诇讛 讘砖讞专讬转, 讜讻谉 讗讬驻住拽 讘专诪"讗 讗讜"讞 住讬诪谉 诇"讞 住注讬' 讙', 讜讘转专讙讜诐 讬讜谞转谉 注诇 拽专讗 讚诇讗 讬讛讬讛 讻诇讬 讙讘专 注诇 讗砖讛 讗讬转讗 诇讗 讬讛讬 讙讜诇讬讬谉 讚爪讬爪讬转 讜转驻讬诇讬谉 讚讛讬谞讜谉 转讬拽讜谞讬 讙讘专 注诇 讗讬转讗 诇讗 住讘讬专讗 诇讛讜 诇转讜住' 讝讛, 讜驻砖讜讟 砖讛转讜住' 住讘专讬 砖讗讬谞讜 诪转专讙讜诐 讬讜谞转谉. 讗讘诇 驻砖讜讟 砖讛讜讗 专拽 讘讞砖拽讛 谞驻砖讛 诇拽讬讬诐 诪爪讜转 讗祝 讻砖诇讗 谞爪讟讜讜转讛, 讗讘诇 诪讻讬讜谉 砖讗讬谞讜 诇讻讜讜谞讛 讝讜 讗诇讗 诪爪讚 转专注诪讜转讛 注诇 讛砖讬"转 讜注诇 转讜专转讜 讗讬谉 讝讛 诪注砖讛 诪爪讜讛 讻诇诇 讗诇讗 讗讚专讘讛 诪注砖讛 讗讬住讜专 砖讛讗讬住讜专 讚讻驻讬专讛 砖讞讜砖讘转 讚砖讬讬讱 砖讬讛讬讛 讗讬讝讛 讞诇讜祝 讘讚讬谞讬 讛转讜专讛 讛讬讗 注讜砖讬转 讙诐 讘诪注砖讛 砖讞诪讬专.
讜砖谞讬转 爪专讬讱 诇讚注转 讻讬 讗讬谉 讝讛 讘砖讘讬诇 砖谞砖讬诐 驻讞讜转讜转 讘诪讚专讙转 讛拽讚讜砖讛 诪讗谞砖讬诐 讚诇注谞讬谉 讛拽讚讜砖讛 砖讜讜转 诇讗谞砖讬诐 诇注谞讬谉 砖讬讬讻讜转 讛讞讬讜讘 讘诪爪讜转 砖专拽 诪爪讚 讛拽讚讜砖讛 讚讗讬讻讗 讘讬砖专讗诇 讛讜讗 爪讬讜讬 讛诪爪讜转 讜讙诐 诇谞砖讬诐 谞讗诪专讜 讻诇 讛拽专讗讬 讚拽讚讜砖讛 讘讬谉 转讞诇转 转谞讗讬 拽讘诇转 讛转讜专讛 讜讛讬讬转诐 诇讬 住讙讜诇讛 讜讗转诐 转讛讬讜 诇讬 讙讜讬 拽讚讜砖 砖谞讗诪专 诇讘讬转 讬注拽讘 讗诇讜 讛谞砖讬诐 讜转讙讬讚 诇讘谞讬 讬砖专讗诇 讗诇讜 讛讗谞砖讬诐, 讜讘讬谉 讜讗谞砖讬 拽讚砖 转讛讬讜谉 诇讬 砖讘诪砖驻讟讬诐 讜讛讬讬转诐 拽讚砖讬诐 讚砖诪讬谞讬 讜拽讚砖讬诐 转讛讬讜 讜讛讬讬转诐 拽讚砖讬诐 砖讘驻' 拽讚砖讬诐 讜讻讬 注诐 拽讚讜砖 讗转讛 诇讛' 砖讘驻' 专讗讛 讜讘讻诇 诪拽讜诐 砖谞诪爪讗 注谞讬谉 拽讚讜砖讛 讚讬砖专讗诇 谞讗诪专 讙诐 诇谞砖讬诐, 讜诇讻谉 讙诐 讛谞砖讬诐 诪讘专讻讜转 讘诇砖讜谉 讗砖专 拽讚砖谞讜 讘诪爪讜转讬讜 讻诪讜 讛讗谞砖讬诐 讗祝 注诇 讛诪爪讜转 砖诇讗 讞讬讬讘转谉 转讜专讛, 讜专拽 砖讛讜讗 拽讜诇讗 诪讗讬讝讛 讟注诪讬 讛砖讬"转 砖专爪讛 诇讛拽诇 诇谞砖讬诐 讻讚诇注讬诇 讜诇讗 诪爪讚 讙专讬注讜转讗 讞"讜, 讜讘讛讞讬讜讘讬诐 讘讬谉 讗讬砖 诇讗砖转讜 讗讬转讗 讞讬讜讘 讛讻讘讜讚 注诇 讛讗讬砖 诇讗砖转讜 讜注诇 讛讗砖讛 诇讘注诇讛 讘诇讗 砖讜诐 讞诇讜拽, 讜讛专讘讛 诪讛谞砖讬诐 砖讛讬讜 谞讘讬讗讜转 讜讬砖 诇讛谉 讻诇 讚讬谞讬 谞讘讬讗 砖讘讗谞砖讬诐, 讜讘讛专讘讛 讚讘专讬诐 谞砖转讘讞讜 讘讬谉 讘拽专讗讬 讘讬谉 讘讚讘专讬 讞讝"诇 注讜讚 讬讜转专 诪诇讗谞砖讬诐, 讜诇讬讻讗 砖讜诐 讝诇讝讜诇 讘讻讘讜讚谉 讜讘讻诇 讚讘专 讘讝讛 砖谞驻讟专讜 诪诇诪讜讚 讛转讜专讛 讜诪诪爪讜转 砖讛讝诪"讙 讜诇讬讻讗 讻诇诇 砖讜诐 住讘讛 诇讛转专注诐 讻诇诇, 讜讝讛 讬砖 诇讻转专"讛 诇讛住讘讬专 讘讻诇 驻注诐 讜驻注诐 讜诇讛讬讜转 转拽讬祝 讜讞讝拽 讘讚注转讜 砖讛讜讗 讻讚讬谞讬 讛转讜专讛 诇诪讞讜转 讘讗诇讜 讛谞砖讬 砖讗讞专 讻诇 讝讛 讬注诪讚讜 讘讚注转谉 讛讗讜诇转 讜讛注拽讜砖讛 砖诇讗 诇砖谞讜转 砖讜诐 讚讘专 诪诪谞讛讙讬 讬砖专讗诇 讛拽讚讜砖讬诐.
讜讘讝讛 讗讙诪讜专 讘讘专讻讛 诇砖诇讜诐 讗诪转 讜讻讜讞"讟 诇讻转专"讛 讜诇讻诇 讗砖专 讗转讜 讜诇讻诇 讛拽讛诇 讛拽讚讜砖 讛讗谞砖讬诐 讜讛谞砖讬诐 讜讛讟祝. 讬讚讬讚讜 诪讜拽讬专讜, 诪砖讛 驻讬讬谞砖讟讬讬谉.
