I'm no Betty Friedan

I have tremendous respect for feminists worldwide. Regarding certain issues, I even allign myself with the feminists. When it comes to Judaism, however, I'm just not that woman who was ever jealous that I don't get to layn on Shabbos, I don't dance with the Torah on Simchat Torah, I don't put on tfellin, tzizit, a talit ot a kippa. Never had a desire to do any of those things. I don't feel any less attached to G-d or Judaism for not partaking in those mitzvot.

But, when I was reading the Introduction to Rav Saadia Gaon's The Book of Beliefs and Opinions I was a little taken aback when I read the following:
"Furthermore women and young people and those who have no aptitude for speculation can thus also have a perfect and accessible faith, for the knowledge of the senses is common to all men."

I raised my hand for more than 20 minutes in class today, patiently waiting for Professor Harvey to call on me, so I could ask him my question. Sadly, we didn't get to discuss the introduction this week because we got bogged down in Plato and Socratese and something Elton John said last week about religion being the root of hatred. But finally, with 5 minutes left until the end of class, I was able to ask my question. I asked Professor Harvey why Rav Saadia Gaon would say that women have no aptitude for speculation.

Professor Harvey smiled, then hemmed and hawed, and smiled some more. And did not respond for a few minutes, while the female majority of the class waited patiently for his response. To his credit, he said that the remaining 5 minutes of class was probably not the best time to discuss this, and so we will start with it next week. I am looking forward to understanding why Rav Saadia, and according to Professor Harvey a number of medieval Jewish Philosophers, felt this way about women.

Were they not married? Did they not respect their wives? Better yet - did they not TALK to their wives?

Curious indeed!

I got myself to the gym tonight for the first time in a number of days and saw my trainer. We are going to start up next Monday at 1:00 p.m., so I have to try to gear up the best I can in the interim. The gym had two live DJ's and the music was absolutely terrible. I was happy that I at least had my iPod with me, so I could drown out the bad tunes.

It's really late here and I'm ready to pack it in and call it a day. I have to be up early tomorrow so I can get the massive load of laundry done before the weekend. Song of the day is Something About the Way You Look Tonight by Sir Elton John. If it weren't for him, we would have been able to delve into the essential texts instead of spending time discussing his theories.