Something positive about chassidish women

Roots

Mon, May 28 2012, 7:02 am

I actually find this article a very nice answer to the non religious/jewish population.
it was a little harsh for the frum population... (when I make bedikot in the shiva niki'im I never do that for enjoyment purposes etc...)
but she isnt writing it for us she is writing it for the people who bad mouth orthodox judaism, and for them, this is what they need to hear in a language they understand.

haleyaskins

Tue, May 29 2012, 7:13 pm

Yikes. People really seemed to take issue with my labeling Deborah Feldman's article as a "fair critique" of Chaya's. For anyone who were careful in reading what I wrote, they'd know that I was in no way agreeing with Deborah's conclusions regarding whether women are oppressed or not in modern orthodox communities (though we'd be naive to say that there are NO women who feel this way). I was simply arguing that her general critique, (much like Rabbi Fink's) was fair in stating that it is unreasonable to make generalizations on behalf of an entire community.

Put simply, Deborah is quick to state that her conclusions are SUBJECTIVE, whereas Chaya is trying hard to prove that hers are OBJECTIVE.

I am quite happy for Chaya that she is so pleased with her life, and agree with many of you who see the value in such a positive article being exposed. However, that does not take away from the fact that sadly, many women do not feel the same way as Chaya. And in that sense, she does not represent all frum women. Though, I am happy if you can say that you fit her description.

(Perhaps this can be a topic for a different time, but we need not limit "oppression" to women from extremely chassidish communities as Deborah Feldman pointed out. I know of plenty of women in the modern orthodox community who feel trapped religiously. As Rabbi Fink pointed out, we can say we play a different role all we want, but the bottom line is, from a halakhic standpoint, women are second class citizens. And though that may not bother you, it bothers someone else.)

ILOVELIFE

Tue, May 29 2012, 7:20 pm

ra_mom wrote:

1Life2Live wrote:

I didn't mind the article, but I don't like that she calls herself chassidish. To me Lubavitch (although a sect of Chassidus) is NOT AT ALL like the other sects. It's completely different and I don't know why she thinks she can compare the two. If she grew up Satmer she would probably not have gone to the same college and would not be working in the field she's in. A little out of touch with chassidus if you ask me.

Do you know what Chassidus means?
Lubavitch is true Chassidus.
Maybe you're mixing up the externals of your Chassidus and can't see how Lubavitch can be Chassidish.

RA Mom you've just made the most awesome comment since the start of imamother. Seriously. It sickens me that women just don't know what chassidus is. I used to teach it and every year the girls were shocked.oy.

ally

Wed, May 30 2012, 5:07 am

ILOVELIFE wrote:

ra_mom wrote:

1Life2Live wrote:

Do you know what Chassidus means?
Lubavitch is true Chassidus.
Maybe you're mixing up the externals of your Chassidus and can't see how Lubavitch can be Chassidish.

These articles aren't about learning Chassidus. They are about the culture of Chassidic life. And with the possible exception of some more extreme Chabad communities in Israel, the lifestlyle and philosophies of Chabad chassidim are completely different to that of other Chassidim.

1Life2Live

Wed, May 30 2012, 9:24 am

ally wrote:

ILOVELIFE wrote:

ra_mom wrote:

1Life2Live wrote:

Do you know what Chassidus means?
Lubavitch is true Chassidus.
Maybe you're mixing up the externals of your Chassidus and can't see how Lubavitch can be Chassidish.

I didn't mean to say that Lubavitch is not chassidus, because it is and I'm not fighting that. What I didn't like was that she is comparing her life within Lubavitch to those of other sects of Chassidus. And I don't think you can compare the two.

ally

Wed, May 30 2012, 12:28 pm

1Life2Live wrote:

ally wrote:

ILOVELIFE wrote:

ra_mom wrote:

1Life2Live wrote:

Do you know what Chassidus means?
Lubavitch is true Chassidus.
Maybe you're mixing up the externals of your Chassidus and can't see how Lubavitch can be Chassidish.

I agree with you.