Friday, January 1, 2021

Women and authority

 Igros Moshe (Y.D. 02:044):Can the widow of a mashgiach be a mashgiah in her husband’s place? From the aspects of trustworthiness there is absolutely no concern and she could be relied upon. However there is a concern based on the Rambam (Melachim 1:5) who stated that all appointments to positions of authority have to be men, even though I don’t’ know the justification for his position. The Sifre cited by the Kesef Mishne, Radvaz and Migdal Oz only says king but not queen but not a general rule that applies to all positions of authority. It would appear that this is simply the Rambam’s personal thought and is not that of the Sifre. It appears from Kiddushin (76) that it is proper since a comparable position of supervising weights is permitted.It seems that even though the Rambam is opposed to appointing women but others appear to disagree, For example the Chinuch does say a king but not queen but doesn’t say that all other positions of authority are limited to men and also Tosfos(Sotah 41) as well as Rashi and Ran in Kiddushin (76) as I mentioned before. Therefore in a situation of great need one can rely on those who disagree with the Rambam and appoint her to replace her late husband.


8 comments :

  1. “Women and authority” May I talk of miracle women? In the midrash Serah the daughter of Asher told Jacob that Joseph was alive and she also told Moses where Joseph’s bones were buried A true miracle woman.
    “Gad’s sons: Ziphion, Haggi, Shuni, Ezbon, Eri, Arodi, and Areli. Asher’s sons: Imnah, Ishvah, Ishvi, and Beriah, and their sister Serah. Beriah’s sons: Heber and Malchiel. These were the descendants of Zilpah, whom Laban had given to his daughter Leah. These she bore to Jacob—16 persons.” (Genesis 46:16-18).
    Descendants of Zipah number 16. How?: Gad and 7 sons + Asher and 4 sons and 1 daughter and 2 grandsons = 16. Beautiful. Descendants of Zilpah in Numbers 26 Gad 40,500 Asher 53,400. Wow a miracle.
    “The name of the daughter of Asher was Serah.—” (Numbers 26:46).
    במדבר פרשת פינחס פרק כו פסוק מו
    וְשֵׁם בַּת אָשֵׁר שָׂרַח:
    מדרש אגדה (בובר) במדבר פרשת פינחס פרק כו פסוק מו
    ושם בת אשר שרח. ומפני מה חשבו לשרח ולא חשבו לדינה, לפי שעדיין היתה בחיים, לכך לא חשבה לדינה מפני שכבר מתה: וחשב לשרח כי [לא] לקחה חלק בארץ אלא בנות צלופחד בלבד, שלא הניח אביהם בן זכר, ולמה הקדים בירידתן שרח לחבר ומלכיאל (בראשית מו יז), וכאן (פסוק מה) הקדים לחבר ומלכיאל לשרח, לפי שבני בריעה נטלו חלק בארץ כאשר עשו דודיהן, לכך חשבם עמהם, אבל שרח לא נטלה חלק בארץ, על כן חשבה בסוף, אבל בירידתן למצרים חשבה תחלה, לפי ששרח גדולה היתה על שנים על חבר ומלכיאל, לכך חשבה תחלה:
    בראשית פרשת ויגש פרק מו פסוק יז
    וּבְנֵי אָשֵׁר יִמְנָה וְיִשְׁוָה וְיִשְׁוִי וּבְרִיעָה וְשֶׂרַח אֲחֹתָם וּבְנֵי בְרִיעָה חֶבֶר וּמַלְכִּיאֵל:
    העמק דבר בראשית פרשת ויגש פרק מו פסוק יז
    ושרח אחתם. לא כתיב בתו, כי לא היתה בת אשר אלא בת אשת אשר כמש"כ בספר במדבר כ"ו מ"ו:
    There is an opinion that Serah was a half sister to the 4 sons of Asher. What a wonderful miracle woman Serah daughter of Asher.

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  2. “Women and authority” More on miracle women throughout history. Torah thought on parsha שמות
    “And he went out ויצא the second day ביום השני, and, behold והנה, two men of the Hebrews שני אנשים עברים were striving together נצים; and he said ויאמר to the offender לרשע, Why do you strike your fellow?” (Exodus 2:13)
    Sanhedrin 58b
    “ R. Eleazar also said: The earth was given only to the strong [i.e only a strong man should wish to possess land, as there are always quarrels in connection therewith.]. as it is said, “The land belongs to the strong ואיש זרוע לו הארץ; The privileged ונשוא פנים occupy it ישב בה.” (Job 22:8) Resh Lakish said also: What is the meaning of the verse, “He who tills his land shall have food in plenty עבד אדמתו ישבע לחם, But he who pursues vanities ומרדך ריקים is devoid of sense חסר לב.” (Proverbs 12:11) He that serveth his land shall be satisfied with bread? If one enslaves himself to his land [continually toiling thereon] he shall be satisfied with bread: if not, he shall not be satisfied with bread”
    איוב פרק כב פסוק ח
    וְאִישׁ זְרוֹעַ לוֹ הָאָרֶץ וּנְשׂוּא פָנִים יֵשֶׁב בָּהּ:
    מלבי"ם
    איש זרוע לו הארץ, שע"י שאתה איש זרוע ותקיף בארץ הכל נכנעים תחתיך, ולא לבד שלא יענישו אותך על רוע מעשיך, כי עוד ישב בה נשוא פנים שהכל ישאו פניו בכבוד, וכבוד והדר יעטרהו, ולפעמים יקרה ג"כ שיענישך ה' תיכף, והוא אם.
    משלי פרק יב פסוק יא
    עֹבֵד אַדְמָתוֹ יִשְׂבַּע לָחֶם וּמְרַדֵּף רֵיקִים חֲסַר לֵב:
    רש"י
    עובד אדמתו ישבע לחם - כמשמעו, ולפי משלו שחוזר על תלמודו תמיד שלא ישתכח:
    מלבי"ם
    ר"ל מי שמאמין בה' וזורע אדמתו (כמ"ש אמונות זה סדר זרעים ופירש"י שמאמין בה' וזורע). ועי"כ ישיג רב ברכות מטל השמים מעל ומתהום רובצת תחת, ע"י שהוא מאמין ובוטח, וזה פירוש של עובד אדמתו ישבע לחם, אבל המרדף ריקים ע"י שהוא אץ להעשיר ומבקש תחבולות להתעשר תיכף, אחר שאינו מאמין ובוטח תחת שחפץ להתעשר ישבע ריש, ופה מדבר במרדף ריקים להתעשר ע"י גזל וחמס, וסיפא דענינא מוכיח שאמר חמד רשע מצוד רעים. שהרשע אינו רוצה לעמול ולעבוד רק חמד לחיות ע"י ציד של רעים, שצדים אנשים בצידם ולוקחים ממונם ע"י מרמה ותחבולות רשע, וזה חסר לב שאין לבו מושל עליו להתנהג כפי חקי החכמה,
    משלי פרק כח פסוק יט
    עֹבֵד אַדְמָתוֹ יִשְׂבַּע לָחֶם וּמְרַדֵּף רֵקִים יִשְׂבַּע רִישׁ:
    רש"י
    ישבע ריש - עניות:
    Job 22:8 Malbim explains that wicked using force succeeds to make everyone in the land subservient to the wicked one. Malbim says that not only will the wicked escape punishment for his wicked deeds, but all in the land will honor and praise him. Malbim says at times God will punish the wicked immediately.
    Proverbs 12:11 (and 28:19) Rashi metaphor to righteous living will yield fruit and sustain life. Malbim righteous living brings “So God give you of the dew of heaven and the fat ומשמני of the earth, And plenty of corn and wine ורב דגן ותירש.” (Genesis 27:28). Whereas the wicked seek vanities are hasty to do trickery, stealing and violence to get rich. In the end the wicked become poor. The wicked live by stealing and such wickedness. These wicked have no heart in the sense that they don’t live by rules of wisdom.
    Beautiful. משלי פרק יד פסוק א
    חַכְמוֹת נָשִׁים בָּנְתָה בֵיתָהּ וְאִוֶּלֶת בְּיָדֶיהָ תֶהֶרְסֶנּוּ: Righteous women live by rules of wisdom. Moses face wicked Jews doing trickery, stealing and violence to get rich. The Progressive Left in America has many Jews doing fraud: trickery, stealing and violence. Biden won the election by fraud. Jonathan Pollard was punished by fraud. שמות פרשת שמות פרק ב פסוק יג
    וַיֵּצֵא בַּיּוֹם הַשֵּׁנִי וְהִנֵּה שְׁנֵי אֲנָשִׁים עִבְרִים נִצִּים וַיֹּאמֶר לָרָשָׁע לָמָּה תַכֶּה רֵעֶךָ:

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  3. Trump and his followers live and breath fraud

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  4. Daas Torah “Trump and his followers live and breathe fraud” No. see It’s 2021, and still Waiting for Godot and Durham Report - Opeds - Israel National News
    “ Durham’s got the goods. He’s launched a worldwide investigation that will expose the Swamp, all the way up to Obama. Wow. Just as we thought! He will name names. Naturally. Durham is known for his thoroughness. He will prove conclusively with facts, pictures, charts, witnesses that the fix was in against Trump from Day One.”
    Midrash Rabbah - Exodus I:29
    “AND HE WENT OUT THE SECOND DAY, AND BEHOLD, TWO MEN OF THE HEBREWS WERE STRIVING TOGETHER (ib. 13). This refers to Dathan and Abiram, whom he calls striving on account of their subsequent record [“And the sons of Eliab: Nemuel, and Dathan and Abiram. These are that Dathan and Abiram, the elect of the congregation, who strove against Moses and against Aaron in the company Korah, when they strove agitated against the Lord.” (Numbers 26:9)]; for it was they who said this thing; it was they who left over of the Manna [“But they paid no attention to Moses; some of them left of it until morning, and it bred worms and rotted; and Moses was angry with them.” (Exodus 16:20)]; they it was who said “And they said to one another, Let us make a captain, and let us return into Egypt.” (Numbers 14:4). They it was who rebelled at the Red Sea [once Dathan and Abiram were declared wicked, it was not difficult to credit them with all sorts of evil doings.]”
    True I love Trump and I love Netanyahu and I hate false charges. Bravo, Trump will get a vote in the Senate and in the House, maybe this Thursday. Bravo, Netanyahu faces a new election March 2021. Moses faced the wicked Dathan and Abiram, who sought to kill Moses. Are there Jews today---Dathan and Abiram types?

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  5. Torah thought on שמות
    “And He said, I will be with you כי אהיה עמך; this shall be the token to you וזה לך האות that I sent you כי אנכי שלחתיך. And when you have freed the people from Egypt בהוציאך את העם ממצרים, you shall worship God תעבדון את אלקים at this mountain.” (Exodus 3:12).
    שמות פרשת שמות פרק ג פסוק יב
    וַיֹּאמֶר כִּי אֶהְיֶה עִמָּךְ וְזֶה לְּךָ הָאוֹת כִּי אָנֹכִי שְׁלַחְתִּיךָ בְּהוֹצִיאֲךָ אֶת הָעָם מִמִּצְרַיִם תַּעַבְדוּן אֶת הָאֱלֹהִים עַל הָהָר הַזֶּה:
    רש"י
    דבר אחר כי אהיה עמך וזה שתצליח בשליחותך לך האות על הבטחה אחרת שאני מבטיחך, שכשתוציאם ממצרים תעבדון אותי על ההר הזה, שתקבלו התורה עליו והיא הזכות העומדת לישראל.
    My theory. God is telling Moses that God is with Moses and that Moses will succeed in freeing the Jews from Egypt and will succeed in receiving Torah on behalf of the Jewish people at Mount Sinai.
    See Arutz Sheva; “Saudi Arabia has agreed to open its airspace to Qatar, ending three years of boycott by the Gulf States against Qatar. The deal was brokered by Special Adviser to President Donald Trump Jared Kushner and Special Representative for International Negotiations Avi Berkowitz. The deal will be signed in Riyadh tomorrow in the presence of Kushner. Under the agreement, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates and Bahrain will lift the air and naval blockade imposed on Qatar while Qatar drops all lawsuits against its neighbors in international courts. In addition, the countries will cease attacking each other in state-run media outlets. The agreement, reached just two weeks before the end of the Trump Administration, follows the signing of four normalization agreements between Israel and Arab states over the second half of 2020. The first two agreements, dubbed the 'Abraham Accords,' were reached between Israel and the nations of the United Arab Emirates and Bahrain. Israel later reached normalization agreements with Sudan and Morocco”
    Wow, Qatar agrees not to attack in state run media! Wow the vaccine is hugely effective and side effects minimal. Wow, soon entertainment and travel industries will return to normal. My theory. Critical, no no no, to Biden’s socialism and to the radical Progressive Left etc. The question today: is God with us?

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  6. No to trump and his attack on Democracy

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  7. “Daas Torah No to trump and his attack on Democracy” No. More on Torah thought parsha שמות
    “Yet I know that the king of Egypt will let you go except by a mighty hand ולא ביד חזקה. So I will stretch out My hand and smite Egypt with all My wonders בכל נפלאותי which I will work upon them אשר אעשה בקרבו; after that he shall let you go. And I will dispose the Egyptians favorably toward this people, so that when והיה you go, you will not go away empty handed ריקם. Each woman shall borrow from her neighbor and the lodger in her house objects of silver and gold, and clothing, and you shall put these on your sons and daughters, thus stripping the Egyptians ונצלתם את מצרים. But Moses answered ויען משה and said, But, behold והן, they will not believe me לא יאמינו לי nor listen to me ולא ישמעו לקולי, but say: The Lord did not appear to you. The Lord said to him, What is that in your hand? And he replied, A rod. He said, Cast it on the ground. He cast it on the ground and it became a snake; and Moses recoiled from it. Then the Lord said to Moses, Put out your hand and grasp it by the tail—he put out his hand and seized it, and it became a rod in his hand—that they may believe that the Lord, the God of their fathers, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob, did appear to you. The Lord said to him further, Put your hand into your bosom. He put his hand into his bosom; and when he took it out, his hand was encrusted with snowy scales מצרעת כשלג! And He said, Put your hand back into your bosom.—He put his hand back into his bosom; and when he took it out of his bosom, behold והנה there it was again שבה like his body כבשרו.—” (Exodus 3:19-4:7).

    My theory. God is trying to bring unity to the world, peace between Pharaoh and Egyptians and to Moses and Jews. Pharaoh, Egyptians, Moses, and Jews all have free choice.
    How will voters in Georgia vote today Republican or Democrat? How will Congress vote, maybe Thursday, to recognize Biden/Harris?
    My theory. Biden/Harris did a coup, common in certain foreign countries, not seen in America. Harris’ attack on Trump will not help her cause. Why? My theory. Americans see little good in Biden/Harris. Where are efforts to bring unity in Biden/Harris?

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  8. Trump is the enemy of democracy - He lost! Time to realize reality!

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