-Submitted by David Drumm (Nal), Guest Blogger
In the Hasidic neighborhood of South Williamsburg in Brooklyn, New York, persons unknown has been putting up signs in Yiddish that translate to: “Precious Jewish daughter, please move to the side when a man approaches.” City workers have removed the signs, not based on the message but because it’s illegal to affix signs on street trees.
It is apparently standard practice in Hasidic communities that women step aside when a man is approaching from the opposites direction. The signs are a crackdown on rebellious behavior by women.
Some have complained that their free speech rights are being taken away when the plastic signs were unbolted from the trees. I’m sure the ACLU is looking into the matter. Similar signs have been seen in other Hasidic strongholds in the New York area.
Control of women is a common aspect of orthodox Abrahamic religions. Without women to produce children, there will be no new generation to be indoctrinated in the sect’s orthodoxy, and the sect will disappear. If women are allowed to procreate with whomever they choose, the children will be lost to the influence of the sect.
From Numbers:
25:6 And, behold, one of the children of Israel came and brought unto his brethren a Midianitish woman in the sight of Moses, and in the sight of all the congregation of the children of Israel, who were weeping before the door of the tabernacle of the congregation.
25:7 And when Phinehas, the son of Eleazar, the son of Aaron the priest, saw it, he rose up from among the congregation, and took a javelin in his hand;
25:8 And he went after the man of Israel into the tent, and thrust both of them through, the man of Israel, and the woman through her belly. So the plague was stayed from the children of Israel.
God is so pleased by Phinehas’ act that “the plague was stayed from the children of Israel.” The Midianites are thought to have worshipped a multitude of gods, including Baal. Belief in God is preserved by killing non-believers and those who associate with them. The first Commandment is to believe in God and not to believe in other gods. It is the belief in God that is the primary goal, exactly what you’d need to maintain a religion. A religion’s first priority is to preserve itself.
H/T: Pharyngula, NY Daily News, Photo Credit: Aaron Short.
This may be a cry for modesty, not a slight for women. For instance in New Square, NY there are separate sidewalks for the men and the women. The bus thing is something similar. The Hassidim (literally “devout”) are big into the separation of the sexes. The fact that the signs say that the woman is the one who has to move is unfair though. Why shouldn’t the man cross the street? I personally think some Hassidim are nuts though, such as the ones putting up these signs. In Israel in Haredi (very religious) neighborhoods there is a separated bus option. SO I agree with you David to the effect that there are some crazy Hassidim, but the vast majority of them would not ask a woman to move out of modesty for them.
As far as your Bible skills go, you are not so good. The reason that Phineas killed the Prince of the Tribe that was having sex with the Midyanite woman was not because inter-faith sex is a capital offence according to Jewish tradition, It is not, unlike say, incest or homosexuality. I am currently not religious, but during my religious training as a Rabbi I was taught that the sin of that Prince was that he was a leader who was leading others to sin. His public flaunting of the Jewish Law that he chose to follow was enough to have a sentence of death proclaimed on him. It has little to do with womens sexuality or sexism.
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/10/19/sex-segregated-bus-brooklyn_n_1020064.html
http://www.nytimes.com/2011/10/20/nyregion/bus-segregation-of-jewish-women-prompts-review.html?_r=3&hp A bus that goes through Williamsburg seats men in the front and women in the back.
hahaha!…..I didn’t know *we* were supposed to fight?……
Woosty’s,
Good lord darlin’ … talk about the internal war! 😉
you know Blouise, I have enough Methodist, Congregationalist and Scot in me to see….. 🙂
… and the innate distrust of anyone who doesn’t relish a wee sip of the nectar.
Woosty’s,
One has to understand the manner in which a bagpipe and snare drum rouses a Scotsman.
Scotsmen (women implied, thus included)
Woosty’s,
It was a congregation mainly made up of fiercely independent Scotsman and the Methodist Church was across the square … ‘nough said 😉
Woosty’s,
Church, done right, is always a challenge with an occasional infusion of peace … enough to keep one going. In all honesty, much of the critical thinking and much of the good in me I learned in Church.
Church is a collection of individuals who, try as they may, can’t leave their baggage at the door when entering. It is often painfully difficult to unpack that bag whilst sitting in the pew, but, valiantly, each one tries. A successful outcome often results in some of that unnecessary baggage being left under the pew to be swept away. It’s hard work made somewhat easier with the support of the man or woman sitting next to you.
Rosemary infused roast beastie makes the job a little easier. 🙂
Sadly, most of the Congregationalist were rather portly from all that good living while the Methodists all seemed to be health-nuts and very fast on their “crazy-legs”.
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hahahahaha!
too funny….but why would a Congregationalist take umbrage w/a Methodist?
HenMan,
Elroy “Crazylegs” Hirsch was one of the all time greats on or off the field.
I used to do a peacefully rousing (yep, that’s what one reviewer called it) version of Amazing Grace with bagpipes and snare drum (I’m a mezzo-soprano) at the conclusion of which many of my fellow Congregationalist were ready to go “huntin’ down the Methodists”. Sadly, most of the Congregationalist were rather portly from all that good living while the Methodists all seemed to be health-nuts and very fast on their “crazy-legs”.
Submission is only called upon when there are disagreements. If you are happy with his plans, or agree together there is no submission in these things. It is when YOUR OWN PLANS have been spoiled that you can practice submission. It is then that you need to DIE to your SELF and follow God’s plan for you as a wife. ~from pete’s link
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Ephesians 5:25 Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her.
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Ephesians 5:28 In this same way, husbands ought to love their wives as their own bodies. He who loves his wife loves himself.
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Colossians 3:19
Husbands, love your wives and do not be harsh with them.
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Ephesians 4:31 Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice.
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So, there are many more examples but I *think* the point is that Church and State are not the same and while they may appear to be somewhat reflective of each other, should probably not be governed in the same manner. Tho it wouldn’t hurt the state to clean up its act .
Like most tenable and non-hurtful things church is a two-way street….gots that ‘do unto others as….’ thing happenin…in orde to be successful.
And I think it smart to learn one from the other….because being different from state, Churchs are called upon to behave not so much in strict legalistic fashion as in deference to a higher law, that of Love.
And there is no shame in that.
(and we don’t really do meatloaf in my church but we do like a rosemary infused roast beastie on occasion 🙂
Blouise-
On the plus side- when I was a kid Elroy “Crazylegs” Hirsch went to our church.
Blouise-
Methodist Meat Loaf= Yuck!
Methodist Communion:
Blood of Christ= Welch’s Grape Juice
Body of Christ= Tasteless Cardboard Disk
Methodist Pews= Hardwood (Only because granite is too expensive)
Methodist Theology= Thou Shalt Not Violate The 18th Amendment
Methodist Sermons= Zzzzzzzzzzzzzz
Result:
HenMan= Atheist
jo
at first i thought it was poe but all the links on it are real. i’d bet she has to get all posts pre-approved.
“and bad organ music and sit on a wooden pew. And no meat loaf in the church basement that’s been in the Nesco roaster too long. And no lime jello with little marshmallows in it. ” (HenMan)
Lordy, you went to the wrong church. Try a good old Congregational/Unitarian Church that’s been around since the country was founded. They have cushions on the pews; the organ player is usually the Dean of Organ from some nearby university; the choir has paid, professional soloists; all church dinners are catered; all money in the collection plate goes to mission work because the endowment is so huge that the church can pay for everything it would ever need or want; some even have liquor licenses left over from prohibition thanks to some really smart lawyers; if what is being preached raises any objections, the member is encouraged to stand up and interrupt the minister mid-sermon; most don’t allow any form of idolatry so the only references to God and Christ are in the Tiffany stained glass windows; ministers are voted on by the congregation and can be voted out immediately; some of the more Unitarian leaning ones don’t believe in the divinity of Jesus, or the Trinity, or even God. It’s a great church!
Hand to heart … if I’m lyin’, I’m dyin’
Pete, I went to the link you posted and I read it all. It was like seeing a train wreck and not being able to look away. Stepford Wives look rebellious next to these brain dead Bimbos-for-Jesus. And here is a cut and paste from that link that flabbergasted me……….
“My husband is a Godly man. He does know what’s best for me. Usually the things he asks my opinions on are small things like what to buy for his family or if I am going to come on vacation. I don’t since there is too much to do at home. Other times it’s if I mind that he goes out of town for hunting or for one of his other hobbies. I’m not asked about big things like buying a major purchase item or whatever. He does all of those things alone. It has always been this way. I did ask once why he does this & his response was I am the head of the home. I bring in the money & I shouldn’t worry about it because it’s no big deal. I was also told that I am not equipped (like himself) to make these decisions because I do not work. Does this bother me? No. Not in the least. He’s happy & so am I.”
Really!!! The people who indoctrinate their church to these attitudes are dangerous.
Yes, since they abandoned the Mother Goddess.