Quick thought.
I am about to get ready to go to the Kotel, the Western Wall. To go we have to dress a certain way. It isn't very strict how we have to dress though. We are just supposed to be dressed modest. Our thighs, shoulders, belly, etc. have to be covered. I have no problem with dressing this way to be respectful. My only thought is, why should women be told to cover themselves as to not tempt men. Comment with your views and ideas!
Great question Shoshana! Not only do women have to dress a certain way, they also have a much smaller area of the Kotel where they're allowed to be. Obviously from a Reform Jewish perspective this is quite problematic. There's an organization called Women of the Wall (http://womenofthewall.org.il/) that deals with a bunch of these issues. Looking forward to hearing about your first time at the Kotel!
ReplyDeleteI noticed that it was a smaller area. That actually really upsets me. I mean I know that the Kotel is a very religious cite but it is modern times and men and women are equals. Why shouldn't we be able to adjust some things.
DeleteI think part of this is not temptation but distraction. A beautiful woman dressed in a revealing way can distract not only men but other women, and not necessarily in a sexual way. When we don't "stand out" then we can blend and become one in our prayer. WOW issues go way beyond the issues Aaron mentioned. I think most significantly is the manner in which a female is allowed to pray is the big one for me. For the sake of peace, however, I did not have a problem conforming to the "norm" at the kotel.
ReplyDeleteI want share with you. When I was at the Kotel 4 years ago. I had not been in Israel since I was in my 20s, many years ago. And I stood there for the first time, it felt like the first time. And I saw all my ancestors in back of me. I felt them. And they stretched back to infinity it seemed. And it was an overwhelming feeling. And I thought of how many of our people could only dream about seeing the Kotel. They had to picture it in their minds. They had no photographs. Maybe there was a drawing. But they prayed to be there and there i was standing there, in the flesh and i cried. And they were all there.
ReplyDeleteTemptation or distraction, I still don't agree. I wish I felt something like everyone else when I was at the wall. Everyone was emotional or spiritual and I was just like, "nice wall". Maybe one day it will mean more to me. Or maybe it just isn't for me. Who knows.
ReplyDeleteI remember being at the Kotel when I was a teen ager and I felt pretty untouched in a personal way. It was a great place and of great historal value but it did not touch me. I think maybe to be there a few times and to forget what you are feeling and look at what other people are feeling and just "be". i think also when I did the tour under the wall, the magnitude of the whole temple was awesome. Remember it is just a very small piece of wall of the whole temple. Don't feel bad, everything is the way that it is and affects us all differently. We can't make ourselves feel something, we can just feel and ease into the feeling by "being there". Peace
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