Jewish news for womyn-folk.

Just found three headlines from the last couple days that I thought I’d share. Consider it a little taste of news in the womyn’s world.

Rabbi Metzger: Married women should give up maiden name

“Advice to women from the chief rabbi: Married women should give up their maiden name, Chief Ashkenazi Rabbi Yona Metzger told hundreds of women at a convention Monday dedicated to Jewish family values and religiosity. ‘We are currently in an era of permissiveness and there are many messages that create cracks in the Jewish home’s whole structure,’ the rabbi told the women in attendance.”

Pregnant, breastfeeding women must fast on Tisha B’Av

“The Halacha (Jewish law) holds no all-inclusive exemption for pregnant women or those breastfeeding. Each case must be assessed separately.

The rabbi explained that ‘the assumption that nowadays women are weaker than they were in the past is not necessary so, and the medical logic says that in light of the nutrition and medicine that we live with today, the situation is exactly the opposite.’

Thus, he disputes the lenient Halachic position stating that women in these situations must be exempt from fasting in all cases, a stance supported in the recent years by popular rabbis of the religious-Zionist persuasion.

This is the rule decided upon by the head of the Petach Tikva Hesder Yeshiva Rabbi Yuval Sherlow, right before Tisha B’Av.”

Fight for agunot isn’t over

“Jerusalem Family Court announces unprecedented ruling, orders man who refused to divorce his wife for nearly a decade to pay her $158,000 in damages. Rivkah Lubitch celebrates, but explains why the happy ending is still far off.”

Discuss.