Reply To: Ladies First – Is it respectful or not?

Whether the story about Rav Moshe is true or not, “salad and halacha” etc. are EXTREMELY important parts of Yiddishkeit and should not be debased just because there are other EXTREMELY important parts of Yiddishkeit.

A Jew approaches every situation through the eyes of halacha. A Jew is supposed to analyze every little situation and determine what halacha wants from him. Halacha encompasses many aspects and includes using one’s common sense and sensitivity & middos, etc.

IF in fact Rav Moshe did hold open the door for women, it was BECAUSE he analyzed the situation from a halachic perspective and decided that it was the right thing to do.

I will grant that different people’s minds work different, and some people (such as myself) enjoy analyzing every situation and it does not in any way take away from my Ruchius or sensitivity and in fact adds to it. I can understand that there are some who have trouble relating to that approach, and might find it frustrating and annoying. BUT I still believe that it is the Torah approach even if it is hard for some to relate to.

We are in this world to get close to Hakadosh Baruch Hu. We accomplish that by thinking about each and every action and using it as a means to get close to Hashem. “Ain l’Hakadosh Baruch Hu baolamo elah arbah amos shel halacha bilvad”. By making sure that each action is in accordance with halacha, we can use every action to get close to Hashem and we can achieve the ultimate in bein adam l’chaveiro by bringing the entire world close to Hashem.