Voices of WRJ: Parashat Sh’lach L’cha

Tucked at the end of this week’s parsha, Sh’lach L’cha, we find two mitzvot and according to Halacha, women are commanded to perform the first and in many circles, women are forbidden from doing the other. These are the commandments of chalah and tzitzit. In Numbers 15:17-21 we are commanded to set aside one piece of dough from each batch we make, “…when you eat of the bread of the land you shall set aside a portion for God.” The concluding section of the parsha describes the tzitzit and how they are to be worn and their significance. In Numbers 15:39 we read, “And it shall be to you for a fringe, that you may look upon it and remember all the commandments of Adonai and do them…” There is so much to say about these passages and endless d’vrei Torah have been written about them, but I would like to emulate the great commentator Rashi and examine what seems wrong to me here. After reading through these sections of the parsha both in English and as best as I could in Hebrew, I could not find any gender designation for who was to perform or not perform either of these commandments. So what’s the big deal about a group of women praying with tallitot at the Kotel in Jerusalem? The concept of gender equality in the ultra-Orthodox community is quite alien and women must follow the designated path set for them by fathers, husbands, and Rabbis. The leadership of this community believes that since their way is the right way, they must control what happens at the Kotel and limit the religious freedom of others, especially women. As a Reform Jewish woman, I find this extremely problematic. Since its beginning, I have been a supporter of the Women of the Wall (WOW) and have proudly worn my own WOW tallit since meeting Anat Hoffman during a congregational trip to Israel in 2000. Women of Reform Judaism has also been a loyal supporter of religious equality in Israel, though YES Fund contributions to WOW and to the Israel Religious Action Center. While I was unable to be there, I was so proud of my WRJ sisters as they joined WOW at the Kotel on Rosh Chodesh Nissan. WRJ’s physical presence certainly gave even more value to our commitment to this important issue. Recent court rulings have brought long awaited changes and hopefully these will remain and lead to complete religious equality at the Kotel, but there is still much to be accomplished. As Norfrat Frankel, the first women arrested for wearing a tallit at the Kotel, wrote; “Jerusalem is the city of holiness and justice for all humankind. From Zion, the voice calling for equality should be heard, for boundless love, for better understanding between people.” Let us continue our efforts to make this hope a reality, where women and men can pray at the Kotel according to their customs, in peace and tranquility.