I'm an Orthodox Jewish Woman, ask me anything.

[Jewishbookwork]

On the thread @Israelilefty started, people were asking about Orthodox Judaism. So I am starting (another) one here. Other Orthodox Jewish women are welcome to answer too, so we have more of a range of answers.

I am Chabad Chasidic, we are very religious - I wear a wig, my husband wears black and white and we have lots of books in hebrew in our house.

I don't think they would be a levite if they convert.

I noticed that you described yourself as dressing modestly. Do you consider how other dress immodest?

Also why does your god demand little boys' foreskins? Is that not a form of genital mutilation?

Do you believe your god is a just one? If so how you reconcile that with the instructions to wipe out certain peoples -the Canaanites.

Friend owner of an estate agent locally is female with female staff. A beautiful hall came up for sale it was a few million to buy. Some orthodox Jewish men came to the office asking to speak to a man. There wasn't one of course. It was a bit problematic because she didn't even have a husband to rope in. The hall was purchased thankfully.

Is an uncircumsized male considered a proper or fully fledged Jew according to halacha? On one of the documentaries there was a bris and the woman said he's now a Jewish baby.

Dressing modestly in Judaism has guidelines. These do vary slightly between communities but most orthodox communities agree with the following, covering up until the collar bone, up until the elbow, and wearing skirts until the knee. Anything less then this is classed as immodest according to Jewish law.

Circumcision: The baseline reason that we circumcise our sons is because God has commanded us to. “On the eighth day, the flesh of his foreskin shall be circumcised.”

There are a few spiritual understandings why God has asked this of us.
The most common thought behind circumcision is that God is giving us a message that our job in this world is to try improve ourselves and become better people. The act of circumcision on a baby, marking the completion of the body, is a human act. This teaches us that our spiritual, moral and ethical perfection requires human effort. God cannot do it for us. The circumcision is a symbol of our partnership with God

Additionally, it reminds us that this is the organ that is both the source of beautiful life, but can also be used for the most physical acts, giving us the message that all physicality in this world can be channelled in a divine way.

Very interesting, thank you. Are you allowed to use contraception or is sex just for procreation?

Most orthodox men have no problem doing business with females, and personally I find the above situation quite rude.
But I know that some Chassidic ultra orthodox men are extra stringent and particular to try avoid interacting with strange females and will ask for a male if possible.

Uncircumcised or not, a Jew is a Jew. Being Jewish doesn't depend on any actions or non-actions. Being Jewish depends only on the birth mother.
The women on the documentary was saying figuratively that the baby has now started his life living as a Jew. ie this is his first Jewish action/commandment that he's involved with.

Contraception is allowed. Sex is most definitely encouraged for enjoyment as well as procreation. Judaism places a lot of importance on having children and most orthodox families won't do family planning. Raising large families is seen as a blessing and a privilege.

(I'm just reading back my answers and I feel like I'm reading an English essay assignment. I'm not so stiff or articulate in real life 😅)

So you think that this all powerful and knowing being whilst creating the universe thought now I must tell them to slice bits of baby boys genitals off? You really believe that?

Was that before or after deciding to order the extermination of the Canaanites and allowing slavery?

@WhatWhereWho if you rephrase your questions in a more curious, respectful manner, I'd be happy to answer and explain

Regarding dress, from what I've seen it seems quite uniformy. I don't think I've ever seen a woman in a full length skirt for example or a maxi dress (which would be more modest) but it seems to be skirts 4 inches below the knee and a shirt or shell top. I did read in certain schools long skirts are not allowed. Is there anything religiously based about this 'uniform' or is it just community dependent?

How much burnout do you think is an issue in the UK with large families? On the US forum I read it seems to be a huge issue and many women feel obliged to have a big family, but don't enjoy it and are resentful of their older daughters for not doing enough. I imagine in the UK where there is over crowding it must be very hard on women.

OH give over. The English made the Welsh slaves, invaded them again and again. Ditto the Irish and Scottish. We rub along better these days thankfully.

History is full of horror stories from Atilla the Hun, the ottoman empire, the Roman empire.

Agree...other atheists who believe the concept of and belief in a god or gods is bad simply because of the terrible things that have been done in their names baffle me.

Its people who do that & use faith as an excuse...Same as racism, misogyny...you name it.

@istoodonlegoagain I'm getting the impression that you are working/interacting with the Chassidic Jewish community.
I'm not Chassidic but I do interact daily and am friends with many Chassidim (Chassidic people). The Chassidic community are the most traditional and conservative of all streams of orthodox Jews. Ultra Chassidic women tend to dress very conservatively as you described above.

Most mainstream orthodox girls/women will wear any skirt/dress that covers the knees. I wear maxi dresses/midi skirts/maxi skirts in a variety of colours etc. There is no "uniform". Other than clothing not being provocative or very flashy there aren't set rules on colour and style.

Yes it was Chassidic group I was with, and I'm aware they are highly conformist, but even more modern Orthodox women I follow dress like this, I've never seen much of a variation. Sonya's Prep, Frum it Up, who are more modern look like they use the same wardrobe. Maybe it's dependent on the community.

Do you have any YouTube recommendations? I love the above two channels. I'd like if Zipporah did a channel, but I can't stand Moses 😳

Its a good question. In todays times when woman want/need to go out to work I think the issue of burnout has increased. Mental health and a happy positive home are important values in our lives. If a woman is not coping, there is no issue with her taking contraception for a few years until life settles down. There is no one standing over us telling us to have more kids. Rather we are brought up to value children and large families are viewed as a blessing.

I know that British culture is very wary of overburdening kids by asking them to help out too much at home or with their siblings. However, in most Jewish homes kids helping out is a norm. We see it as an important part of their social and emotional upbringing. I'm the oldest of a family of 9 kids and I don't have any resentment. (Of course if a parent takes advantage and there is neglect this is damaging, but) in most healthy homes the natural give and take that occurs in big families is character building and teaches important life skills including responsibility, empathy, team work etc.

Try https://www.youtube.com/c/ThatJewishFamily @ thatjewishfamily
They're a really cute fun nomadic Jewish family.

Yes but the religious still claim this was divinely ordered by an infallible and just deity who is worth being worshipped. People the world over have been arseholes, not just religious ones.

Ok - please.

I also wear maxi dresses ( in the summer that’s all I wear because of the heat), denim skirts, pleather jacket, can go a little boho with massive head scarves (I mainly wear scarves rather than a wig).my wardrobe is mainly next sale 😄

YouTube recommendations:
https://www.instagram.com/houseoflev?igsh=cHQ2N242YXZlc2Vt this family (house of lev) documented their conversation process

The bohemian balabusta is brilliant, she covers Sex ed, nidda, women’s issues, and family life https://www.instagram.com/bohemianbalabusta?igsh=MTU3cmZ4bHUxcm45YQ==

Chabad shlucha living far away from Jewish communities with her family, and basically making memes to cope https://www.instagram.com/wife_mom_shlucha?igsh=MXd5eXNpY3RxZml3ag==

jewish parent of 2 children with Down syndrome (think they have other children as well) https://www.instagram.com/upside_of_goni?igsh=MXh6bmdkNTRhdW4ycg==

Jewish feminist activist organisation https://www.instagram.com/chochmat_nashim?igsh=c2owZ29kcWp0MmRz

Non Jewish nanny - window into the Jewish community from a non Jewish perspective https://www.instagram.com/nonjewishnanny?igsh=a3c1OHVkYmR4cW83

There are Jewish fashion and food accounts I follow as well, and music ones, which I can link to if you want and they give a bit of insight into Jewish culture on instagram. Also some other activism accounts, eg one person who constantly raises awareness of infertility struggles.

I mentioned Miriam earlier -- I really like her but also wonder how some of her opinions are received by more socially conservative Orthodox Jews. For example, she has said that she would regard a trans woman as a woman, which I would imagine is not necessarily a common POV.

I used to live in a community with a lot of Orthodox Jews and had very positive interactions with my neighbours (the married women, at least, as they were the ones who spoke to me and were lovely).

However I also have multiple Jewish friends who have become less religious and tell horror stories of people who have left the community and were prevented from seeing their children, were shunned by their families, etc. I think it's such an interesting way of living, but as with all extremely conservative and insular communities, has massive down sides that rarely make the instagram reels.

I would be very surprised to see Miriam talk about her community shunning religious leavers, the racism and abuse cover-ups, or the sometimes appalling treatment of non-Jews in Jewish urban communities.

Hi, another question - while some religions believe they should 'spread the word' (eg Jehovahs Witnesses), it seems that Jewish people try to keep themselves very much apart from non Jewish. Is there no obligation to do this so that others not of your faith can be 'saved'? What does Judaism say about non-Jews re heaven etc?