Yeah, yeah, but we already KNEW that, right? As a believing Jewess, I believe everything in the Torah is correct and still relevant today. How many times over the past century (two or three even!) have Jews tried to become "enlightened" by throwing off the yoke of Torah (chas v'shalom) to accept upon themselves, well ... nothing.
Some people mock Torah, saying it's "outdated" and "behind the times". They couldn't be more wrong. See, Hashem created us. He understands us better than we understand ourselves. So He made some real clear lines for us to exist as a decent world. He gave us a spouse, and he made that relationship sacred. Within that relationship, He set boundaries, red lines to never cross. For instance, a married woman covers her hair. When the husband and wife wed, the hair becomes holy, sacred between just the two of them. It is not something that is shared with the outside world. In Chabad, we believe that kedusha, holiness, flows down from above to the woman through her hair. (In a man, it flows through his beard hair, and what exactly this means, I don't know 100%.) We also keep our hair covered all the time, even at night when sleeping.
In Orthodox Judaism, there are rules between men and women. It doesn't matter married or not married ... men & women don't mix. We dance separately at weddings; we eat separate at them too. We have functions that are usually only for men or for women. Our synagogues are divided, so that each gender can focus on their prayers, rather than their outer appearance.
Generally, men & women who are not related do not touch. No handshake, a pat on the back, and no high fives. Immediate family members, like a father and daughter, or a grandmother and a grandson are permitted to touch or hug. The Torah even goes as far as to prohibit a brother and sister from living together in the same house as grown ups (with no parents; as room mates) for more than 30 days.
But Leah ... it's 2017! Nothing is going to happen if a man shakes your hand! Nothing is going to happen if give a high five to a guy. Nothing is going to happen if you stay late at the office with a man and no one else is there ... Except it DOES happen and it IS happening. Every single day you hear of yet another scandal involving some big famous guy who used his power to push around a woman and get what he wants. And here is the beauty of it ... follow me for a second here ... It was recently revealed that Vice President Mike Pence will not dine alone with a woman. He was opening MOCKED for that. People went off on him, saying that he must not have any control over himself, and he's a wimp who can't alone with a woman without jumping her. No one stopped for one moment and thought to themselves, what does that mean for Mrs. Pence? I can tell you what it means for Mrs. Pence. It means she has total and complete peace of mind. She knows that her husband is bound solely to her. It means that more likely than not, she doesn't have to fear that his name is going to pop up on a scandal, because he has drawn a very clear line in the sand and he will not cross it, no matter what! I celebrated my 30th wedding anniversary this past June. In 30 years, I have never, ever, ever once worried about my husband. Because like VP Pence, he has a line in the sand that he won't cross. He follows the same book that I do, and he understands that when the Torah has set certain guidelines for us, G-d KNOWS what He is doing. Think about this for just one moment. If every single one of these guys who is accused of awful things had made a line in the sand, and not crossed it, would any of this mess be about today?
Today, more than ever, the words of the Holy Torah are needed to guide us all, and show us how to behave as a civil nation. It's not outdated, and it's not irrelevant. I would even venture to say that it's more relevant that ever. Maybe it is time for people to review the laws of yidchud (not being alone in a room with a member of the opposite gender)? All I do know is that it can't hurt.
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