How to square traditional Judaism with feminism

[Hineini]

In traditional Judaism women are equal but different. The only actual prohibitions I can think of are around ritual impurity connected to menstrual blood and lochia.

Because of the different roles and responsibilities of the sexes, women were not obligated to carry out certain rituals. Patriarchy and toxic masculinity over the millennia, however, have converted the 'freedom from' into outright prohibition.

Judaism is a faith that encourages debate. As we like to say, "Two Jews, three opinions" and "Why does a Jew always answer an question with another question?" The answer being, of course, "Why not?"

Jewish principles guide my life. They help me, I believe, to be a better person and a better member of society. I follow them because I believe that they have something to offer society, not in fear of divine retribution or in hope of reward.

But faith is not logical. Feminism is. How do I square being a believing Jew (if somewhat lapsed in my practice) with being a feminist?

How do I square being a believing Jew (if somewhat lapsed in my practice) with being a feminist?

Do you have to square it? Women are varied. You don't have to take a settled position or to stick rigidly to either logic or tradition. Those areas of your lives can, probably already do, inform each other.

You are entitled to feminism, entitled to strive for freedom from patriarchy, because you are female. There's no further requirement. Women will disagree on aspects of life and religion/culture is a big one. But we're all women.

Depends on what you mean by traditional Judaism. I follow a Conservative/Masorti path, which the more "traditional" (read Orthodox/Hasidic/Haredi) scorn. Conservative, Masorti, and Reform Judaism consider sex equality to be important and practice it whenever it is possible to do so and not violate the Torah.

There are many different interpretations of the Law and you can look around and find a community that suits you.

Well I am a Muslim and feminist too.

Because of the different roles and responsibilities of the sexes, women were not obligated to carry out certain rituals. Patriarchy and toxic masculinity over the millennia, however, have converted the 'freedom from' into outright prohibition

That makes sense to me.

I find some people interprete anything to do with religion as if all religions were the same as their experience of Christianity. Letting women rest during their period is not oppression, for example.

If you're looking at traditional Jewish observance, I don't see how you can ignore the fact that a minyan, the quorum for a religious service, only counts men. And then there's the prayer of gratitude that a man says every morning, "Blessed are you, HaShem, King of the Universe, for not having made me a woman." (Along with similar thanks for not being a gentile, or a slave.)

Here's an article about the prayer, trying to give it a positive aspect, but not saying it's time to get rid of it:
www.jweekly.com/2016/07/21/the-advice-mensch-mens-daily-prayer-insults-women-whats-up-with-that/

So, some challenges for feminists there.

I'm Reform, and part of the reason for that is that I couldn't square Orthodox views on sex roles with my own feminist ideals.