Why Not Give Women a Chance?

Having been petitioned by women and women’s groups, Attorney General Avichai Mandelblit said that the state was in favor of some version of that. But suggested that it probably will not be in the form of giving them Semicha. I am sympathetic to that. I believe it is a workable compromise.

As I have said many times, I am opposed to women becoming rabbis for a variety of reasons. Not going to go into all of them - which I have done in the past. Suffice it to say that women have Halachic limitations with respect to various functions of a Shul – the traditional ‘home’ of the rabbi that men do not have. Semicha should mean equality in all areas with no limitations.

It is also a fact that there is almost universal agreement by Poskim across the Orthodox religious spectrum that women may not be ordained as rabbis. The idea of rebelling against those Poskim is divisive and will not serve Orthodox Judaism well. If a movement is rejected by Orthodox Poskim, how can it identify as Orthodox? Insisting that they are, will not make it so. Even if they are fully observant. You cannot do your own thing in Judaism and call yourself Orthodox. It will only contribute to another split in Judaism.

This is’t about Daas Torah as defined by the right. It is about the very nature of Orthodoxy.  Defying the public policy decision of virtually every recognized Posek is no way to serve Orthodox Jewry.  It doesn’t really matter what their argument in favor of it is. No matter how sincere or convincing their argument might be, it is overwhelmed by all the Poskim that have rejected the idea and have explained why.

That being said, I am not opposed to women studying Torah at the highest level and being recognized for it. There are in fact many women that already qualify for such recognition and have not been recognized for their contributions other than in unofficial lip service kind of ways. A lot of very smart well educated women have contributed and still contribute. 

They have a right to be officially recognized in ways similar to their male counterparts. I know many learned women who with their superior Torah knowledge can put many learned men to shame! There is no reason they should not be recognized. Albeit without the controversy of being granted Semicha.

Which is why I am disappointed with the response of the Chief Rabbinate. I of course agree with their refusal to grant Semicha. But I do not understand why there cannot be some sort of compromise. That would be a win/win for both sides Women have the ability to achieve great heights in Torah knowledge. And many already have. That should not be discouraged. It should be encouraged, incentivized and rewarded with official recognition.