We Put the “Gal” in Egalitarian
Gender Equality and Equal Participation in Jewish practice
Prepared by Amy Dorsch for USY
Goals:
 USYers will be able to define egalitarian traditional Egalitarian Judaism
 USYers will learn a very brief history of Women’s roles in traditional
Jewish practice, once dominated by men
 USYers will debate women’s obligations to fulfill particular mitzvot of
Tallit and Tefillin to comprehend and define Egalitarian Jewish practice
Long-term Objective:
Through the exploration and understanding of Egalitarian Jewish practice,
USYers will recognize the possibilities that exist for full female
participation in Jewish observance.
Materials:
 Article: Should All Barbies Wear Tefillin?
 Image: We Can Do It Feminism and Tefillin poster
 Article: http://womenofthewall.org.il/women-and-tallit/
 Signs that say “It’s a Guy Thing” and “It’s a Girl Thing”
 Photos of USYer girls wearing Tallit and Tefillin
Program/Procedure:
1. Hook/Grabber
Leader will call out a list of words. In 2 teams, USYers will decide whther that
word is attributed to either guys or girls by holding up the appropriate sign
List of words:
 Construction work
 Teaching
 Social worker
 Pink
 Soccer
 Video games
2. Discussion
Is there really a distinction between “girl” things and “guy” things? Why does
one buy pink balloons for a baby girl or cars and trucks for a little boy? Even
though we’ve come a long way in terms of gender equality, we still “genderize”
or assign genders to tasks, interests, skills, even colors. We seem to
distinguish almost everything by gender, even food! How does traditional
Judaism sometimes reinforce this gender division?
3. Transition to topic: Judaism and Gender
Is Jewish observance a “guy thing?” When you think of an observant Jew, do
you picture a guy wearing a kippah and tallit? A woman with a long skirt and
head covering? What types of Jewish practice are typically attributed to males
and what types to females? What is your first reaction to seeing a woman
wearing a kippah? Or Tefillin? Why do you think that Judaism is still
genderized?
4. Images
Show the group images of Tefillin Barbie, Feminist in Tefillin (We Can Do It)
and USYers in tallit and Tefillin. Ask for their immediate response, first
reactions.
Sample Questions:
 Does this look odd to you?
 Does this make you uncomfortable as a female?
 Is a woman in a Tallit “unfeminine” or “butchy?”
 Could you imagine that there was once a time was this was forbidden?
 Why do you think one may react differently to a women wearing tefillin
as opposed to a guy?
 Conservative Judaism prides itself on being an Egalitarian movement.
What does this mean? What does this mean to you? Does it matter?
5. Should All Barbies Wear Tefillin?
Explain: The Rabbinical Assemby produced a Tshuva or Rabbinic response
explaining that woman are not except from mitzvoth such as wearing Tallit
and Tefillin. Many people applaud this step, others are still not comfortable
embracing the idea of women and Tallit and Tefillin. Should Judaism still
maintain some of its gender distinctions?
What is the debate?
6. Gather the info: Proof that women are exempt (and no, it’s not
because it may ruin or clash with their outfit!)
We live in an era where gender equality is still an issue, but we are
fortunate to have to equal opportunity in the secular world. It’s not so
black and white in Jewish tradition.
Explain Women of the Wall and distribute article.
Skim through the article a write down 1 reason, based on a traditional Jewish
text, why women aren’t required or may be exempt from wearing Tallit and
Tefillin.
7. We put the GAL in Egalitarian- The other side of the debate
Now consider what it means to be Egalitarian. What does this mean from a
Jewish perspective? If men and women are equal, than wouldn’t women also
be required to wear Tallit and Tefillin? Does being Egalitarian mean 100%
equal? In other words, if men read from the Torah, than woman can as well. If
men wear Tallit and Tefillin, than women should be required to as well. Yes?
No? Why or why not?
Have students share their perspectives on the issue and define Egalitarian for
themselves. How would you apply this to yourself?
Should women be required to wear Talit and Tefillin if we are to truly
represent what it means to be Egalitarian?
Females: is it hypocritical to say yes to leading services or reading from the
Torah but no to Tallit and Tefillin?
Males: Do you think it is unfair that the obligation is on you and not them if we
are to be truly equal? If woman want to be equal participants in Jewish ritual
and observance, shouldn’t they be required to do what you do?
8. Assessment
Egalitarian. What does this mean to you for woman and men to be equal in
Judaism? If we are to pride ourselves on being an Egalitarian community, this
means that…
Complete the sentence: Woman should wear tallit and Tefillin because… or
[specifically females]I would consider wearing Tallit and Tefillin because…
Women of the Wall Prayer Service
Tefillin Barbie
It’s a “Girl”
thing
It’s a “Guy”
Thing
The Great Tefillin Swap
USY Spring Board Weekend 2014