THE MYTH:
Torath Moshe (the Torah of Moshe) suggests that women be treated (jailed) much like (many) Muslim women (heaven forbid), and be locked or forced to stay in their house; only allowed to leave twice a month? This is based on the often misquoted and misconstrued verse from Mishneh Torah: Hilchoth Ishuth 13:11.
THE FACTS:
Any one listening to (and/or spreading) this type of Motzi Shem Ra (slander) jeopardizes his world to come. Let them be forewarned about this.
The entire book of the laws of Women (Hilkoth Ishoth) rigorously and meticulously details a multitude of protections, exactments, decrees and laws that were specifically designed to protect the women from abuse of any kind. To pick one verse (out of context) and say it means the exact opposite of this entire book, is like finding an APPARENT black spot on the son, in order to deduce that the Sun it all dark and black.
Here are some VERY disturbing
points, which are usually left out of this digusting perversion of Torah.
It turns out that one of my wife's good friends apparently heard
this in one of her so called "TORAH" lectures a few weeks ago. After hearing this, she
openly declared her disdain for the Rambam (Maimonides), after seeing his picture shine off
of my front wall. What a terrible tragedy... that she bought into this. I won't
mention which group she is learning with.
1-The word used here מנע
(mem-nun-ayin) literally means to detain someone. We can see this by following
its usage in other places, many of which call on the WOMEN to detain the MAN for
different monetary or more personal matters. Anyone trying to relate this to the
Muslim concept (heaven forbid) where women are beaten or locked away is either sick,
mistaken or prejudiced, and is certainly disgracing Torath Moshe.
2- In
the sentence just preceding this verse (which appears in Mishneh Torah: Hilkoth Ishuth 13:11),
he prereqs this entire comment with the following sentence: "A women is not
confined in a jail, from which she can not come and go." And before this, he
specifically describes many examples where a women goes to visit the father,
mourner, wedding celebration, or friend (and more examples are given).
Disgracefully, the Moznaim mistranslates (as usual) into English that the women
is "GIVEN THE OPPORTUNITY" to do these things. Again, as one continues to finish reading the next two chapters, the can not help but be embarassed at the number of laws which protect this VERY FREEDOM.
3-The real proof of this
concept is that the Rambam uses the following word to describe a women
who FREQUENTLY leaves the home, going out one time and going out to the streets the
next, as a disgrace ( גנאי ) - (gimmal,nun,aleph,yud). He does not call it an
ASUR (something forbidden). And in the other word (he will not "allow" her
יניחוה ) can just as easily mean 'facilitate'. And even if you will say it means
'allow' in a few instances, there is no mention here of using force or locking her up. That is
foreign to Judaism. Perhaps they could/would take her to bet din, in certain legal instances. However, someone here is trying to Arabize/Muslimize the traditions of Israel. I've seen this
done amongst one particular group of people, that I dare not mention (for fear
lashon hara).
4-Lastly, I want to point out something critical here. The
Rambam does not pull this out of thin air (Psalms 45:15). Even Rashi himself
sees this as a special point about women being the base (light) of the house (without
her constant light, the dwelling is clearly found lacking "no attraction").
If this clearly Semitic concept bothers the sensibility of (a minority of) modernized people (usually the Feminist element) with an ax to grind... to bad!!! This does exist in our faith. It may not be the law, but it is certainly the WAY of COUTH Jewish Women to behave, as is well documented. Sarah's desire to remain in her tent is another such instance of this ancient concept. It does not mean she is trapped there (heaven forbid).