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Are Women More Spiritual?

Picture
Question:

I have often heard that Judaism sees women as more spiritual than men. This is supposed to explain why men have more religious obligations than women--men need these things to become closer to G‑d, women are there already. But do we really believe that? Is it not just a patronizing way to avoid the issue of the different gender roles in Judaism?


Answer:

I remember as a child being told that men and women are equal. I had a big problem with it. I asked, "If men and woman are equal, why do men and women never compete with each other in sports? You never see a man playing against a woman in tennis, or women's soccer teams facing men's, or a mixed-gender 100-meter sprint. If we are all equal, why can't we compete together?"

The answer I received was unsatisfying: "Men are on average stronger physically than women. It would not be fair for them to compete against each other in sports which require bodily strength, because men would always win. But in every other way, men and women are equal."

This did not sit well with me. If men are superior to women in physical strength, but equal in all else, then men and women are not equal. Men have an edge. Unless there is some other area of human endeavour in which women are superior, we are not equal.

This bothered me for years. Until I discovered Judaism's attitude to women.

Women are more soulful than men. While men may excel in physical prowess, women are far ahead when it comes to spiritual strength. Women are more sensitive to matters of the soul, more receptive to ideas of faith, more drawn to the divine than men. The feminine soul has an openness to the abstract and a grasp of the intangible that a male soul can only yearn for. This is why G‑d told Abraham, the first Jewish man, "Whatever Sarah your wife tells you, listen to her voice." She was the greater prophet, her soul more intuitive than his.

When I first heard this idea, it suddenly all made sense. There is indeed a balance between men and women. Men have stronger bodies, women have stronger souls.

Of course there are exceptions. Some women could beat any guy in an arm wrestle. And some men are more spiritually attuned than the women around them. But for the most part, men have bigger muscles, women have deeper feelings.

The Torah gives men more physical mitzvahs to tame the body and give the soul extra power. Women don't need this help, because although men can jump higher in the air, women can reach higher into the heavens.


By Aron Moss

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  • Home
  • About Us
    • The Organization
    • The Rabbi
    • Jewish Area
    • Photo Gallery
    • Support plans
  • Programs
    • Event Calendar
    • Adult Education >
      • Tanya classes
      • Lunch and Learn
      • Study Course
      • Torah Tales course
      • One on One Torah study
      • Articles & Insights
      • Questions & Answers
    • Inspirational Evening
    • Community Shabbat dinner
    • Havdallah & Melave Dinner
    • Gan Chabad Jewish Preschool - About
    • Hebrew School
    • Summer Camp >
      • About
      • Testimonials
      • Photo Gallery
      • Dates & Rates
      • Registration
      • Faq's
    • Winter Camp
    • Krav Maga Youth >
      • Krav Maga Info & Registration
    • JTeens
    • Jewish Lending Library
    • Jewish Holidays >
      • High Holidays >
        • High Holidays Services
        • Rosh Hashana Community Dinner
      • Sukkot
      • Simchat Torah
      • Chanukah >
        • Menorah Lighting & Chanukah Fest
        • Chanukah Menorah & Candles
        • Chanukah Sufganiyot Baking
        • Chanukah Sufganiyot Orders
        • Menorah Workshop
      • Purim >
        • Hamantash bake
      • Passover >
        • Passover Seder
        • Order Shmurah Matzah
        • Passover products order form
        • What is Shmurah Matzah?
        • Selling Chametz
      • Lag Ba'omer
      • Shavuot
    • Synagogue Services
    • Challah Bake
    • Community BBQ
    • Havdallah Kids Event
  • Jewish Practice
    • Bar/Bat Mitzvah
    • Jewish Calendar >
      • Request a Holiday package
    • Mezuzah
    • How to light the Menorah
    • Shabbat Candle Lighting >
      • How to
      • Shabbat Times for Barrie
      • Shabbat SMS Reminder
      • Holiday Candle Lighting
    • Kosher Beverages
    • Kosher Poultry and Meat
    • Kosher Products
    • Mikvah
  • Contact
    • Join our email list
    • Ask the Rabbi
  • Donate
    • Building fund
    • Support plans
  • stam