Seeking the Sacred Feminine (Orthodox Judaism vs. "The Da Vinci Code")

Aish.com ^ | June 11, 2006 | Aliza Bulow

[sergey1973]

In The Da Vinci Code, Dan Brown tarnishes Judaism with the same stroke that he dismisses Christianity and Islam for their repression of women and of the Sacred Feminine.

"The propaganda and bloodshed [of the church] had worked. Today's world was living proof. Women, once celebrated as an essential half of spiritual enlightenment, had been banished from the temples of the world. There were no female Orthodox rabbis, Catholic priests, nor Islamic clerics. The once hallowed act of Hieros Gamos -- the natural sexual union between man and woman through which each became spiritually whole -- had been recast as a shameful act." (p. 134-5)

His thin reasoning goes like this: if Orthodox Jews do not ordain women, they must vilify them, disregard their sacred potential and view them as temptresses to be suppressed.

Nothing could be further from the truth. In Judaism, women -- married or not -- are the high priestesses of the most sacred place of worship and practice, the home. They are the core of the Jewish world, the foundational pillar of Jewish practice. It is they who are entrusted with the communication of fundamental beliefs, truths and education to the next generation during its most vulnerable and formative years.

[sergey1973]

Excellent refutation of claims made in the popular bestseller "The Da Vinci Code" from the traditional Jewish point of view. Can be of great interest for both Jews and non-Jews who are interested in traditional Judaism approach to a number of social, cultural and ethical issues, including the treatment of women.

[sergey1973]

PING ! An excellent and illuminating article on the traditional Judaism treatment of women and it's refutation of "The Da Vinci Code" claims of the alleged "misogyny" in Orthodox Judaism. Also makes for a good break from Politics -:))))

[The_Republican]

I think some Jewish writers are suffering from advanced case of ADD.

In previous threads, one guy tried to make the connection that illegal immigration would reduce Jewish clout.

Now this guy finds probably the only sentence in the whole Novel (there is another section where the ATBASH cipher is discussed but there is nothing controversial about that section except it compliments the creators of that coding scheme) they could find to find a way to get equally offended.

Most of the Novel discusses the actions taken by Church to suppress ideas they didn't agree with using violence.

If anyone has read the Novel, the 100% blame of loss of 'Sacred Faminine' is placed on Church. This sentence on which the whole article is based is only pointing out that the whole world is influenced by the demonization of women, and not just Christians. By no means it is playing any blame on Jewish church or religious traditions.

[Claud]

How delightful to see our Jewish allies join in the defense against this Gnonsense!

Shalom!

[Jeremiah Jr]

The Jewish Goddess, Past and Present

By JAY MICHAELSON
May 5, 2006

http://www.forward.com/articles/7728

Good reading...

[anonymoussierra]

Wole stac z daleka od tego. Dzieki

[Daffy]

Thanks for posting the article; the last line reads:

"Jay Michaelson will be leading the Nehirim spiritual retreat for GLBT Jews this month."

[Ottofire]

Gnonsense! I love it!

It pretty much describes the need of some to trumpet the writings of these ancient and long dead heretics as being of the same faith as those that follow the true scripture. You might as well trumpet the book of Mormon and how the Catholic, as well as Protestant churches have fought to keep the Mormon 'revelations' out of their services and out of the Bible.

Peace be with you.