Well, today isn't over yet, but it's Friday, so here's an entry.
I went to shul this morning. Dad and Daniel were offered the honor of carrying the Torahs down the aisle after they were removed from the ark.
Apparently they didn't want me to feel left out, so I got revi'i. Naturally, this was the one day I didn't wear a hat.
This poses a problem. You see, I don't like it when people tell me that I'm just like the men. I'm not. But the ritual committee has determined that all people on the bimah must wear a head covering.
I wear a hat or a kerchief because I like it, but I'm not married and I don't need to cover my hair. So I had a few moments of gut wrenching debate with myself before I decided that yes, i would go cover my hair, but I would use a lacy headcovering and not a kipah.
I didn't want a repeat of my Bat Mitzvah. You see, all the girls had to wear tallitot at their Bat Mitzvahs, but I didn't think I could in good conscience say "asher kidshanu b'mitzvotav vitzivanu l'hitatef batzittzit". I was not commanded, and I didn't feel comfortable taking on the obligation. So when I decided I wasn't going to wear a tallit, the cantor and the rabbi went to my mother and told her to put pressure on me, more or less. I also got a private lecture from one of the clergy who told me that I was "undoing all the progress we've made in equality" and asked me if I wanted to end up "sitting behind the mechitza all my life".
So today I decided not to fight. Eventually I just need to get out of here and find myself a nice modern orthodox shul, preferably one with at least a monthly women's minyan.
And at that point you ought not see me posting on second day Succos anymore.
Apparently they didn't want me to feel left out, so I got revi'i. Naturally, this was the one day I didn't wear a hat.
This poses a problem. You see, I don't like it when people tell me that I'm just like the men. I'm not. But the ritual committee has determined that all people on the bimah must wear a head covering.
I wear a hat or a kerchief because I like it, but I'm not married and I don't need to cover my hair. So I had a few moments of gut wrenching debate with myself before I decided that yes, i would go cover my hair, but I would use a lacy headcovering and not a kipah.
I didn't want a repeat of my Bat Mitzvah. You see, all the girls had to wear tallitot at their Bat Mitzvahs, but I didn't think I could in good conscience say "asher kidshanu b'mitzvotav vitzivanu l'hitatef batzittzit". I was not commanded, and I didn't feel comfortable taking on the obligation. So when I decided I wasn't going to wear a tallit, the cantor and the rabbi went to my mother and told her to put pressure on me, more or less. I also got a private lecture from one of the clergy who told me that I was "undoing all the progress we've made in equality" and asked me if I wanted to end up "sitting behind the mechitza all my life".
So today I decided not to fight. Eventually I just need to get out of here and find myself a nice modern orthodox shul, preferably one with at least a monthly women's minyan.
And at that point you ought not see me posting on second day Succos anymore.