Chasidic Women |
The
Rebbe, Jewish Women, and Selective Perception
In 1950, Menachem Mendel
Schneerson {1902-1994) became the chief of the Lubavitch Chasidim.
Lubavitch is a Russian city where Hasidim were first organized by the
Baal Shem Tov, The Master of the Good Name. In 1928, at the age of 26, Rav
Schneerson left Russia and with his wife moved to Berlin, where he studied
mathematics at the university. Five years later, in 1933, Hitler became dictator
of Germany. Therefore the Rebbe moved to Paris where he studied electrical
engineering. Then, in 1940, the Schneersons moved again, as the Germans had
occupied France. By way of Nice, the Rebbe and his wife arrived in New York in
1941. In New York, the Rebbe worked as a naval engineer for the US Navy until,
at the death of his father in 1950, he became the head of the Lubavitcher
Chasidim. Promptly, from 1951- 1959, the Rebbe founded a girls’ school system
accessible to all Jewish women. He also organized an annual convention for all
American Jewish women. This led to the publication of a number of books
concerning the role and beliefs of Jewish women. The Rebbe then organized an
outreach group of his followers, who have travelled to remote locations to meet
Jews who were otherwise ignored. The outreach also went to college campuses to
reach students, many of whom had
abandoned Judaism. Chabad houses were established in many communities. These
houses made it possible for Jews to
meet and learn together. These Chabad Houses also served to rectify
misconceptions about Chasidic practices. Then the Rebbe created a
Yiddish/English journal called Di Yiddishe Heim, dealing with Chasidic family
life. All this allowed Chasidic women to study and advocate for women in
America. Chasidic women have been
encouraged to use the internet and thereby bring the present world into their
home. Technology is also used by
Chabad to reach nonaffiliated Jews. In sum, the Rebbe was a true friend of women
who succeeded to teach his followers to give women an equal and honored place in
the Jewish community. Yet, nonaffiliated Jews, Reform
Jews, Conservative Jews, and a host of agnostics, atheists, and bigots, have
claimed that the Rebbe and his followers were anti-woman. Those who make such
claims know nothing about the Chabad movement, but sit in judgment with
statements to the effect that the segregation of men from women during prayers,
Torah reading, and sermons, “proves” that Chasidim don’t like women. Those
who make such criticisms began in 1950, the year the Rebbe first assumed
leadership of the Chabad movement, to relegate all American women to housewives
only. Then it was said in American schools that only boys, not girls, were to
learn mathematics and science. Before
1970, the criticizers of Chabad would not allow women to hold an elective
office, segregated women in college classes and taught them only “Home
Economics,” refused to allow women to become physicians or pharmacists or
lawyers, and would not even allow police to arrest men who had beaten their
wives. Those who made all the criticisms
of Chabad based their beliefs solely on the practice of separating men from
women during prayer services. Furthermore, these criticizers convince themselves
that anyone wearing a beard or black hat must be a congenital woman hater. They
do not see the facts; they know only their prejudices. This is called
“selective perception,” in that we see only that which we already believe
and do not notice whatever contradicts our beliefs.
I have repeatedly heard some Jews
say with anger that they cannot tolerate the “black hats,” as the intolerant
claim all Chasidim are narrow mindless sexists. Yet, the facts seem to gain more
and more adherents. Consider that Conservative Judaism was once supported by 39%
of all affiliated Jews. Most recently that number has declined to 15%. Shalom u’vracha. Dr. Gerhard Falk is the author of numerous publications, including The American Jewish Community in the 20th and 21st Century (2021). |