
Author: Hossein Abbasi
Translator: Zahra Zamanloo
Translator: Zahra Zamanloo
The book named (past, present and future of the Jewish woman) is one of the few books that pays attention to the woman in religions. The author, Ms. Nathalie Rain, has lived for 5 years in the occupied territories and she knows the ups and downs of legal problems of women. He has knowledge of women's rights issues, and she writes about the state of women's rights there and she uses her first-hand sources to show that how Jewish usurpers with the instrumental use of women, subordinating the female sex and disrespecting for (human) woman try to achieve their demands. Zionists for the project of migration and usurp do not neglect any scoundrel act and they use some slogans such as reaching the (Promised Land) and setting up an (utopian) for men and women, but for all the people, they sent the Jewish of all around the world to Palestine. Those who are said by Nizar Qabbani (they have been even called from hell to disrupt the peace of Palestinian land).
This book, which is translated by Mrs. Soha Mansour to Arabic language, is not only important because it assesses the Jewish women's rights, but also it shows a real perfect overview of the history of Jews immigration, helps of the West and especially the United States, for continuing the domination of the usurpers, the war between Israel and Arab, Druze and Arab women's status in the occupied territories and issues of this kind. The author, in the 20 chapters of the book has considered the previous situation of Jewish men and women who have lived in other countries and regions, and now she has considered the present situation of Jewish women in the occupied Palestine and the future of Jewish women efforts to achieve their legal rights. After reading this book, readers are surprised why sometimes brave Jewish women who have worked to achieve their demands, have never defended the deplorable situation of Arab and Druze women, who are at least their fellow citizens! Is not it true that women's rights are part of human rights?
1. When we examine Jewish history and the formation of Zionism, we do not find a place for (women), because in Jewish culture, woman does not have a suitable human place. In the Old Testament, only two trips have been allocated to women. Four trips to Roth and ten trips to Esther.
Judaism has been investigated only by a manly viewpoint and the historical role of Jewish culture is especially for men. The consecutive interpretation and laws, habits and customs of the Jews are all about men and confronted by them. Zborowski and Hertzog write about this issue: (a good wife and mother helps her man in his work. Woman is responsible for implementing the works of home and rituals of family even when the men attempted to perform a ritual, these are women who provide everything for men. Rituals are only necessary for women when they are at home, otherwise the practice will not be necessary out of the house and even a woman does not need to realize them.
In addition, the woman is not even free in the religious celebrations of home. Woman in Jewish culture, even if she is able to solve her problems she must consult with one of the men including her husband, father, brother, or a rabbi and Jewish scholars. It means that woman does not have any freedom even in her personal affairs). (2) It is for a long time that in all countries and territories where Jews were deprived of their civil rights, the power, influence and decision-making were in the hands of settlers, the elders and men.
In no convent, women were not expected to attend. In fact, women were exempted from carrying all prayers except lightening the candles at home and it should be at Saturday night. Interpretation of one of the rabbis on this issue is interesting: (When Jewish boys reach in the age of puberty (completion of 13 years of age) (3) their obligations begin. An adult son at this age can read the Torah for others and puts a spell ... but women are exempted from most of the obligations and requirements. However, their exemption is not a sign of their inferior level and according to the origin of the Talmud (4) (a person who is engaged in religious work is exempted from other duties) It should be said that a woman's duty, in itself, is sacred and there is no need of other religious duties. The legal age of Yahvadah girls begins at 12 years plus one day and they do not have specific regulations). (5)
According to Nathalie, Judaism openly violated the rights of women's participation lest they neglected the roles as maids, housekeeping and home affairs agony and services to the men. And since the Jewish religion commands obedience and loyalty of women toward men, it gives a special dignity to men and on the other hand, Jewish women are obliged to have obedience, humility and surrender toward the orders of men and men are so respectable. The author, in this section refers to the great pressures particularly against Jews in Russia and says that how they decided to enter the Palestine. In the meantime, pressure on women was more (... and due to the fact that the ability of reading God's law, which is the main status of humans position, was not available for women, so automatically, women were deprived of social respect and dignity... Reb was the title of Jewish but there was no title for women, and they were addressed with the name of their husbands (Sarah, Isaac's wife) and thus, women lived in the shadow of their husband. Since the beginning of their birth girls had no position at home and their future was nothing more than marriage and giving birth to babies. A single woman had no identity and had no chance for a job or her dreams. On another hand marriage was a disgrace and disrespect for women. The decision making for girls to marry before their knowledge and this was done between their father and the dealers and often the first visit of the bride and groom was at the wedding day. Before this meeting, there was lot of bargaining and disputes on the groom's ability to support his wife. Girls were deprived of selecting their future husband and since they were considered as family burden, they were forced to marry soon. And unfortunately they married men with a lot of age difference. On marriage day, women's hair was cut and shaved up to the end of their life and therefore, they were forced to use inappropriate wigs that made their faces uglier. This was performed because they might led men to seduce. Without any doubt in this marriages there was no hope for good companionship and closeness. But the boys, from the little ages were sent to the Knesset to be aware of the Jewish religion and tradition and so they could find a proper place in society. (Shtetl, looked at herself from the perspective of men and talked to herself with a manly language. To form such a place for making the women so inferior was calling them as second-class citizens. Men always appreciate God (Jehovah) who had not created them as women). (6) Jury, the Jewish woman married only to give birth to children and keep Jewish generation and since the ritual preparations were necessary and urgent, she had no one's appreciation and gratitude. Jewish women had to act moderately with their children to keep their own emotional relationships since mothers had less respect and affection than their children. Women cannot escape from the slavery but they always felt the dark shadow of fear upon their life. Men only had the social support of service ... but it could not be thought that women who must defend their dignity how they can meet these important and heavy responsibility).
Invalidity of the opinion of Jewish men was approved when women could defend themselves in the attack of Russian forces in 1881. On the day when the Jewish men were performing their rituals, a group of women were attacked and the enemy began to massacre them.
In the first half of the nineteenth century, the only way to liberate Jewish women was escaping from house with a non-Jewish person that definitely brought a heavy price and acceptance of risk. After of Nicola's death in 1855, Russia decided to change the situation in the country and more than before increase its relationship with Europe. Among these changes, it can be referred to the relative freedom of the Jews in the late 70th century. Some Jewish youth arrived to larger cities and learned some skills. They entered the Political and social areas and they tried to resemble their old sports and clothing methods to new urban methods and made them closer to the horizon of their life. Iskandar brought this Group to universities and learning the skills of the population and every day the population of Shtetl decreased.
Many Jews fled to US, France and England from the illegal ways. (From 1820 to 1870, about 7,500 Jews of Russia and Poland immigrated to America and in 1871 to 1880 this number increased to 40,000 people. In a decade later this number increased to 135,000 and from 1901 to 1910 the number of Jews in the areas exceeded 704,245 people). In the meantime, the Jewish political thought turned towards socialism, communism, anarchism and the revolution. Women who were escaped from the endless suffering of Shtetl, ambitiously look for the freedom. A group of women sought freedom during the revolution, participating in the surveillance operation or marrying to a rich man. Some of the Jews who had joined the left-wing political groups seek to eliminate discrimination and reduce the pressure that was on their Semitic race. Another group though the only way of freedom is cutting their relations with Jewish. But the third group thought their future depends on the revival of Zionist concepts.
With increasing the discussions and negotiations on the formation of a country, a small group of Jewish extremists who had hard and difficult life, wished to go to Palestine. This group endured many hardships and lived in Palestine as the first humans. They tolerated the danger of malaria and snake bites and surely in such a hell that was reminding the Shtetl, any thought about women's freedom and equality was impossible. Families deceived their daughters, who were recently released and send them to the Promised Land. Women in this country should be struggling with more troubles. In Eastern Europe, Jewish women did not have any freedom and opportunities. These women thought that by stepping into the Promised Land, they will have freedom and equality and their nightmares will be ended, but upon arrival they found that promises such as equality and looking at them as (human) is chaff. The first group of immigrants moved to Palestine between 1880 and 1895, the second group during 1905 to 1914 and a third between 1919 and 1925: natural disasters, lands of horror, Arabs enmity with them, corrupt governments of Ottomans, long-standing hostility to the Jewish Ancient community, and ignorance to the problems of agriculture added immigrants problems.
Code 10
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