Maureena’s Torah Reflections
Parashat Matot. Numbers 30:2-32:42
Moses spoke …, saying, “This is what the LORD has commanded. If a man vows a vow to the LORD, or swears an oath to bind himself by a pledge, he shall not break his word…” “If a woman vows a vow to the LORD and binds herself by a pledge, while within her father’s house in her youth … if her father opposes her on the day that he hears of it, no vow of hers, no pledge by which she has bound herself shall stand.…” “If she marries a husband, while under her vows or any thoughtless utterance of her lips by which she has bound herself, …and her husband hears of it and opposes her, then he makes void her vow that was on her, (Num. 301-30:8 passim).
These words exemplify the meaning of patriarchy, a system that justifies male superiority over women and rejects equal structures in both public and private spheres of life. This system infects the Church to which I belong where women are not allowed to be ordained priests.
Throughout history certain women have challenged this system, even before the word was coined. I described 3 of them in my recent book, “Redeeming Jesus’ Name”:
- Eve, who took her own life into her hands, and became known as the mother of life (pp.13-16).
- Tamar, who made a dangerous choice when no right choice was available, saved the Jewish race (pp.19-22).
- Mary, the mother of Jesus, a woman whose origin is lost to history, is a savior of abused girls and women (pp.116-123).
Prepared by Prof. Sr. Maureena Fritz nds
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“Since the spiritual patrimony common to Christians and Jews is thus so great, this sacred synod wants to foster and recommend that mutual understanding and respect which is the fruit, above all, of biblical and theological studies.”
Declaration on the Relation of the Church to Non-Christian Religions: Nostra Aetate, No. 4