Israel’s Attorney General recently declared that women should be allowed to sit for the same rabbinical exams as men, albeit not in order to acquire the title “Rabbi.” The Chief Rabbinate, however, threatened to stop all examinations if this plan were implemented.
Is the Chief Rabbinate justified? Is there a problem with women being rabbis in Orthodoxy? If so, is there an equivalent position or title which would be acceptable? And are the current steps leading down a slippery slope where traditional gender roles will be undermined?
To answer these questions, Scott Kahn spoke with Rabbi Dr. Kenneth Brander, the President and Rosh HaYeshiva of Ohr Torah Stone. They had a frank discussion about his views regarding the role of women in Modern Orthodoxy, and the roles that women can – and should – play in communal spiritual leadership.
Here are links Rabbi Brander mentioned in the podcast: https://www.yutorah.org/sidebar/lecture.cfm/848712/rabbi-dr-kenneth-brander/is-there-a-glass-ceiling-for-the-roles-of-women-in-orthodoxy-/
https://ots.org.il/marching-on-the-glass-floor/
Check out jewishcoffeehouse.com/ for the Orthodox Conundrum and other great podcasts, and remember to subscribe to them on your favorite podcast provider. Also visit our Patreon site for bonus episodes, merch, and more at www.patreon.com/jewishcoffeehouse.
Music: “Happy Rock” by bensound.com