The accusation is thrown as a spear, “women in the religious Jewish community are treated like second-class citizens.” The claim is made by those outside of the community who have no understanding of the Jewish way of life.

A young woman once asked, “How can you tell such beautiful stories, yet accept the mistreatment of women?” The answer, on my part, was easy, Jewish law does not condone such behavior. Unfortunately, society sets the norms and standards, and they are many times in opposition to religious beliefs.

As an example, I reference a responsa (rabbinic legal decision) found in the Cairo Geniza (repository of Jewish documents) dated 1216, answering a petition of a woman to the rabbinic court:

“What is the legal opinion of our master and teacher Abraham ben Moshe ben Maimon, the paramount Rav, the leader of our generation, the light of the world – may his glory be enhanced – about this: a man has traveled to the land of India and remained there for about fifteen years. Before setting out on his journey he had appointed his wife as his legal representative. She maintains herself and her two daughters by the work of her hands.

Recently a Jewish man arrived from Aden and was questioned by another Jewish man who asked him about the man who had traveled to India. The Jew who had arrived from Aden said: we have heard that he traveled to Fansur (Sumatra) and died in Fansur and that the ruler of that country had taken his property.

Can the wife on the basis of this testimony marry again? How much of the property of her late husband is she permitted to take for herself?

According to the Torah and Jewish law, the daughters, not she, are the legal heirs. But since she has maintained herself and her children for fifteen years, which was the duty of the husband, she is clearly entitled to remuneration of the living costs for this long period.”

Reading this legal decision some questions come to mind:

• What rights did a Jewish woman have in medieval Egypt?

• Could a woman, in general, have standing before a court?

• What role did Jewish women play in business?

When read carefully one sees that Jewish women had many rights in the community that were not shared in other communities.

May all your tales end with Shalom (peace)

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Tell it to your children, and let your children tell it to their children, and their children to the next generation. (Joel 1:3)

Rachmiel Tobesman is a motivational speaker and Maggid (spiritual Storyteller). He is available for speaking engagements or storytelling, Click here to contact us

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