h. In fact in the video, Rabbi Stanley Wagner didn?t have much to say about why women aren?t considered equal in the orthodox branch. What he did say though is that Orthodox men do not accept women and if a woman is unmarried or does not have children, she is in violation of the Jewish law. I find that aspect, of the role of women, somewhat outdated (to put it nicely!). A different aspect is my mother. Earlier in the summer my daughter and I went to Russia with my mother. We went there for the opening of the orphanage my mother created for homeless Jewish children. It is in the heart of Moscow and her partner is the chief Rabbi of Moscow, Rabbi Pinkus Goldschmidt. He over sees the center and together they bring Jewish children off the streets into a home environment. It?s the most wonderful of creations and my mother, a Jewish woman, is the one who created it. While we were there for the opening, I watched as my mother endured a lot of criticism from certain Jewish and Russian people. I felt so angry because what she did was so exceptional, yet several Jewish men wouldn?t even attend the opening because she was a woman. I understand now, why that was. Women are supposed to be at home, taking care of the family, not out doing a man?s work. Jewish men are the one?s who are supposed to be out making a difference through prayer and worship of the Torah. I understand the strong belief system of Jew?s, but I am also thankful to women like my mother who are making a difference for other Jewish women. After reading about Esther in the Bible and what she did to save the Jew?s from Haman and creating the holiday Purim, I felt the same sense of pride as with my mom. As for my daughter, I want her to grow up making choices for herself, whether she wants to be a Jewish homemaker or a Jewish doctor, she will still be a Jewish woman and I will be very proud. I believe that Jewish women are just as important as Jewish men are.The am...
