Judith Plaskow Feminist Approach to Judaism

Reconstructionist Judaism, as Plaskow’s they are followers of post halakhahic system, they believe that through generation law and reading of secret text were modify by rabbis, who have only authority towards interpret them. As generation passed Jewish do not have actual secret text, or command of god, so today they have not any knowledge about actual secret text, furthermore they are not more able to accept rabbinic authority of halakhah, as now they were living post-halakhaic age, where morally or legal commitment has no meaning.

In fact Halakhah is way towards god, for establishing connection with divine orders.

Exodus: Moses advice to peoples, intended for purifies themselves, before coming in front of god that “do not go near a woman.” So it’s clearly show so as to Moses address male audiences, of nation of Israel, women were excluded from this secret divine event. So in this process there is someone helper the third one whose transmission god words, and they were males, whose interpret this.

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In fact this was done by human involvement.

This exclusion, contemporary Judith Plaskow brings in to discuss in her book, “standing again mount Sinai” Plaskow defines that Jewish feminist theology which provides purpose of existence, and it’s also provides critique on text, as well as recovery them. Its go throughout many stages finally started criticism on male authority on interpretation of text also critique on bible, halakhah, god commands which in favor of male character. Second focal point of Judith Plaskow’s toward nature of torah, actually god reveal the torah, this revelation show nature (image) of god, which were doubt full in sense torah large part sustain male audience, this doubt revolve in critique towards torah, which is in under of male control.

"You shall not covet your neighbor’s wife" this shows male are like Jews, and women are other creation in relation towards men. In this way torah make world, where Jews men are center of the world. Where they have authority to interpret of text, also keep the vision of reality, so feminist stand toward refusal of torah as a “partial record of God wrestling” so here “god wrestling” means doctrinal status of torah has several statements, first one torah is partial record (of real encounters) In interpretation of male language.

Furthermore last one it is record of only Jewish male, women are excluded from this experience, and women are not witness of any experience of Sinai. So in this way women stand for deal with new reading of torah, history finally expand torah into a Midrash way, midrash very old commentary on Hebrew bible. In a way usually Jewish used to enlarge meaning of texts. So in a midrashic way take contemporary questions into a very traditional sources and answer to the question they lead to the feminist approach. This gap fill with Midrash, like excluded women from the secret event of Mount Sinai. Such expand of torah open up new chapter on challenges traditionally texts.