On Succos, we're here because we want to be
Where is the Jewish woman on Succos?
You might find her squished in the corner seat under the overhang, leaving the kosher part of the succah for the menfolk. She may be sprinting from the kitchen with a steaming soup tureen, a bag of soup nuts and extra napkins dangling from her fingers. You probably won’t find her in shul with her daled minim, and certainly not dancing with the sefer Torah on Simchas Torah.
Woman’s role in Judaism is definitely on the front burner — my book on the topic, Circle, Arrow, Spiral: Exploring Gender in Judaism, just went into its fifth printing — and with the uptick of negative portrayals in the popular media, we sometimes begin to feel defensive. Indeed, where is the Jewish woman on Succos?
But don’t let the media hijack your mind! It’s so important to have clarity on this issue.
Men and women have different roles in Judaism for a reason. Clearly, Hashem was interested in having two different perspectives on the world, two different ways of being, two contrasting narratives. These two poles, male and female, ideally create a synthesis, granting access to a truth that would not have been accessible to either side on its own.
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