Rabbi Chaim Brovender Addresses YC Students on Feminism and Orthodoxy

After a brief introduction by Rabbi Yosef Blau, Rabbi Chaim Brovender delivered a presentation entitled "Feminism and Orthodoxy" to an audience of some fifty YC students on the evening of Monday April 27.

Rabbi Brovender began by endeavoring to define Orthodox Judaism. He decried the misconception that there are in fact different types of Orthodoxy. According to Rabbi Brovender, the term "Modern Orthodoxy" implies that there is also a "retarded" type of Orthodoxy. He explained the fallacy of a "modern" type of Orthodoxy by challenging those present to try and pick out individuals in Jewish history who were "Modern."

Rabbi Brovender explained that although some individuals during the course of Jewish history have done things that "in the strictest sense of the word, weren't Talmud Torah," this perceived modernity was in reality accidental. "The modernity is kind of accidental...the real essence of all these people is their tie to Judaism," he explained. Even those who had a measure of dedication to Science, such as the Chazon Ish, had a dedication to Torah that was incomparably greater.

Rabbi Brovender then described the type of individual that one should look to for halakhic leadership. "As a general rule...go to people who practice Talmud Torah the best...those who are the Roshei Yeshiva, the Rabbonim," those who are well known as special, and learn "all the time."

About half way through his remarks, Rabbi Brovender finally breached the topic of Feminism. Women are obligated to fulfill less mitzvot than men, he explained, citing Rav Moshe Feinstein, as a result of a Halacha L'Moshe MeSinai which we do not understand. Rabbi Brovender cited a passage from the Rambam that put men and women on different levels in regards to the mitzva of Talmud Torah as a result of a man's obligation. He said that the Rambam "doesn't seem to mean that the best woman is under (obtains less reward than) the biggest jerk in the Yeshiva."

Rabbi Brovender's explanation of the Rambam was not readily accepted, and after it came under fire from a couple of students, he admitted that it was only a possible explanation. Rabbi Brovender then explained that women have demonstrated a spiritual strength by accepting mitzvot upon themselves that they were formerly not obligated in, such as Shofar and Sukkah. Rabbinic authorities seem willing to accept these additional obligations.

In summation, Rabbi Brovender said, "Once the gates of Torah are open to women, I don't believe that one can argue that there is a spiritual lacking...passed on to them from their great grandmothers." He explained that the perceived hierarchical system of Judaism is simply a categorization with no implied restrictions within the study of Torah itself. Rabbinic authorities, he explained, have limited objection to women learning.

Rabbi Brovender ended with a short discussion of women's prayer groups. He mentioned that it is important to note that the Gedolim are against such institutions. However, he also mentioned that it would be a shame for women to battle against the rabbinic authorities regarding this matter. The essence of prayer is intent, he explained, and there should not be such battles over, "what seems to me to be quite incidental."

Rabbi Brovender's talk was met with mixed reaction. Most seemed to feel that Rabbi Brovender spoke well, but there were certain complaints. Shlomo Hubscher, a YC Sophomore, believed that Rabbi Brovender, "spoke very well on Orthodoxy, but he seemed to avoid the issue that most YU guys came to hear."

"I didn't know what to expect," said YC Sophomore and devoted feminist Chaim Woolf, "but I wasn't shocked by anything Rabbi Brovender said." Whether, Rabbi Brovender was slightly evasive or slightly bland, the general consensus of the YU students present was that Rabbi Brovender's viewpoint was well presented.