I see no reason for JOfA to drop the “O” in its acronym. If you don’t believe that feminism has a place in Orthodoxy, perhaps you are understanding the concept of feminism incorrectly. I suggest that you do check the JOFA website to see what its founders have to say on the subject before you attack its right to exist. After I post this, I will be creating a new thread for anyone who would like to discuss feminism, but please leave it out of here.
I see that the right to an open forum to express one’s opinion does seem to be limited to those who have mainstream opinions. How can this be so? Don’t you see that name-calling and the like is juvenile and doesn’t accomplish anything? Do you really think that insulting me like this will cause me to change my mind? It is a tremendous aveirah to embarrass a human being. Just because we have not met in person does not mean that you are exempt from this. In my eyes, this discussion thread has become a chilul Hashem. Why was the Beit Hamikdash destroyed? Because we couldn’t get along with each other. I take no offense if you disagree with me, but if you don’t want to leave an intelligent comment explaining your viewpoint, please don’t resort to insults and name-calling. This type of behavior is what divides the community of Am Yisrael and takes us further and further away from the Geulah.
For those who are still in doubt about my sources, I’ll provide the links. However, I see that no one else here has been challenged about where they got their information. The R’Hirsh quote comes from the website of the Jewish Virtual Library, a respected source. According to JVL, the quote comes from Horeb, Chapter 60, #416, if anyone would like to look it up for yourself. By the way, the quote I provided was partial; R’Hirsh continues on the subject to say:
“There are probably no creatures that require more the protective Divine word against the presumption of man than the animals, which like man have sensations and instincts, but whose body and powers are nevertheless subservient to man. In relation to them man so easily forgets that injured animal muscle twitches just like human muscle, that the maltreated nerves of an animal sicken just like human nerves, that the animal being is just as sensitive to cuts, blows, and beating as man. Thus man becomes the torturer of the animal soul. which has been subjected to him only for the fulfillment of humane and wise purposes…”
The Rama quote actually comes from a book, The Jewish Dietary Laws: Their Meaning for Our Time by Samuel H. Dresner, pages 33-34 if anyone would like to check it. I have not read the book, but as far as I know, it is an objective look at kashrut and Dresner himself is not a vegetarian. If he was, however, I would not suspect him of fabricating quotes to support his beliefs, particularly since he quoted the Rama in a published book which was read by countless editors rather than a simple post on a website.
I have to go to work now, but I’ll respond to the rest of the posts when I get back.