In my weekly conversations with young people, the topic of the difference between men and women from a Torah perspective has been coming up frequently and repeatedly lately. While it's a complex subject that requires in-depth analysis (beyond the scope of a small publishing house), I believe it's worthwhile to at least explain the basis of this difference.
Las mujeres se quejan de que el judaísmo es machista porque propone una serie de preceptos que sólo deben observar los hombres, como Tefilín, Tzitzit, lectura de la Torá en la sinagoga, etc., mientras que a la mujer se la «recluye» en la casa para ser de «sirvienta», o sea, todo lo divertido lo hace el hombre, mientras que el trabajo sucio la mujer. ¡Qué religión machista!
However, when we look more deeply we will be able to see that the Torah proposes a specific role for women and one for men that are simply different, not one better than the other, and that, as emerges from several stories in the Talmud, women have a certain power that men do not have.
En general, la mujer es «El fundamento de la casa». De hecho, ella es quien transmite el judaísmo al nacimiento, ya que un hijo o hija de vientre judío es judío, mientras que el hombre transmite la pertenencia a un subconjunto del pueblo judío, como ser Cohen, Levi e Israel.
In other words, Judaism in its most essential and pure form, without limitations or particular characteristics, depends on the woman, while the form that Judaism takes, according to the spiritual level and the particular tribe, depends on the man. In practice, we see this in daily life, as the general conduct of the household depends on the woman, while the progress of the children in Torah study depends on the man. These two roles are complementary and both necessary.
In a child's most vulnerable days, from birth onward, there is a much deeper bond with the mother than with the father. This reflects the fact that it is the woman who has the capacity to care for and provide for the child's needs, not the man.
For this very reason, the Torah exempts women from a great many obligations, so they can have the free time to fully develop their abilities. Men, on the other hand, lacking the capacity to nurture children and therefore being the breadwinners, are forced to confront and cope with their environment, placing them in a much more vulnerable position. Men must go out into the world and society, where they encounter values contrary to the Torah, and they need additional protection to avoid straying. Therefore, the Torah places tzitzit upon them to remind them of the 613 commandments, commands them to pray three times a day, commands them to study whenever they have free time, and so on, in order to keep them within the proper environment despite being surrounded by undesirable things.
This does not mean that a woman should not leave the house because she lacks the necessary protection. Because of the nature God instilled in women, she does not need the additional protection of the Torah.
En adición a esto, nuestros sabios cuentan sobre una mujer que, por su mérito de ser recatada aún dentro de su casa (tzniut en hebreo) tuvo el mérito de tener hijos Cohaním Guedolím – Sumos Sacerdotes.
This story shows that a woman's influence on the family extends even to the children when they are grown, not just when they are babies. It is precisely the woman who, through her good behavior, gives her children (and her husband) the means to have peace in the home, health, and abundant sustenance.
Entonces, ¿el judaísmo es machista? ¡No! ¿Es feminista? ¡No!. Cada uno tiene un rol diferente, para lo que Di-s le da la capacidad necesaria para ejercer ese rol correctamente y, entre los dos, formar un edificio eterno en el pueblo judío y criar una «generación de [personas] rectas».
Dicho sea de paso, como preparación para la fiesta de Shavuot, la Entrega de la Torá, nuestros sabios cuentan que Di-s habló primero con las mujeres y luego con los hombres… nunca escuché ningún hombre que se queje al respecto…
May we receive the Torah with joy and internalize it for daily practice.