Might as well get into the print business.

The whole problem with this is that the Talmud is very clear on women holding positions of leadership. It's just the way it is. Call it whatever you want, misogynistic, oppressive, whatever. The fact is that it's none of those things. It's just the way it is, and the Talmud is very clear on it. That is why Orthodox is the only branch of Judaism truly recognized by the highest Rabbinical council in Israel.

You are right rwminnesotan. The article implies that members are looking for someone who looks like them. They are actually looking for a leader who teaches what is found in the Torah and the Talmud.

@my4cents, If that were the case, then they wouldn't be seeking that teaching from a "Female Rabbi". The literal translation of the word "Rabbi," is "Male Teacher". It has nothing to do with oppression, or "keeping women down," a woman cannot be a Rabbi, anymore than a cat can be a dog, or a motorcycle can be a car. The word is rooted in the male form. What people don't understand, is just because a woman cannot be a Rabbi, doesn't mean that women aren't an EXTREMELY important part of Judaism. Not everything is about discrimination. There are very specific ancient and sacred reasons why Orthodoxy, and Halakha deems it to be this way.

This philosophy of trying to give the members of the current congregation what they want is going on in all religions. However, this may lead to a generation or two of younger people leaving the church entirely because of it. This might be a wise thing to do now but long term it will be harmful.

And so it goes as religion becomes less relevant to modern life and rational thought sheds a critical light on the destructive fairy tales. Time to find a new brand of control.

Finding a job where you try to guilt-trip people into giving you 10% of their pre-tax income is difficult? What a shame.

rwminnesotan--"Not everything is about discrimination." True, but this is. Just because it's written in religious (Whether it's sacred is a matter of opinion and belief) doesn't immunize it from being correctly labeled discrimination. Nazis and Klansmen have policy about Jews; the fact that it is written doesn't make it any less hateful or discriminatory. And they would argue their view of Jews is just as divinely assigned as yours.

You mean religion is biased against women? Color me shocked. Of course, the funniest thing is that people like rwminnesotan can say that it's not misogynistic, oppressive and discriminatory because it's what the Talmud says. I'll defer to his apparent expertise about what the Talmud says, but the mere fact that the Talmud says it doesn't make it nondiscriminatory.

@franknjack & Pookiepay, Anyone who knows anything about Judaism, knows that women are revered, and that their place is no less important than that of the man. If people don't like the way something is about Orthodox Judaism, they can change religions, or join one of the Conservative or Reform branches. My only point is that in ORTHODOX Judaism, a woman cannot be a Rabbi. The man has his place in the structure, and the woman hers, and they are both equally important. And franknjack, your comment comparing the way Nazi's think to the way Jew's practice their religion was one of the most offensive comments and comparisons I have ever encountered in my life. If you understood Orthodox Judaism, you would understand that it does NOT oppress women by not allowing them to be Rabbi's.