The article I chose to read and discuss this week is called "Gur Hasidim and sexual separation" written by
Tamar Rotem. This article relates the general principles followed by Gur
Hasidism with regards to sexuality. Rotem explains that their religious practices
center on the sacred and they view sexuality as a sort of anti-sacred part of
life. Men and women are expected to avoid looking at one another, men are
expected to avoid looking even at other naked men, and some families even have
men and women eat at separate tables if extended family is present. This is not
merely a ploy to have more control over the women as Dr. Nava Wasserman
explains "Modesty demands which are made of women are also frequently
interpreted as acts of oppression by men, but the Gur case proves that the
demands for modest attire made of men are even stricter." According to the
article this is all partly in response to the overly sexual nature of society
today. However, sexuality is not viewed so negatively by other orthodox sects
of Judaism. In fact, the article explains that in other Jewish sects they
embrace the two weeks that men and women are allowed to cohabit (women are
considered "niddah" or unclean for the week of their period and the
week immediately following). Most Jewish sects believe that if Halakhah (Jewish
Law) allows for an act, practice, etc. then you should embrace that. Gur
Hasidism believe that you should restrict yourself even in acts that are
permitted. The article discusses how even in marriage sexuality is forbidden
except for procreation. They treat women as if they are niddah all the time.
Men and women can't even touch one another. The distance created by this and
the negative emotional effects at the beginning of the marriage are discussed.
More interesting though is Wasserman's observation that "'There is
something in the lifestyle that makes them highly independent. Gur women have
lots of opportunities for self-expression, ‘she says. 'This is because men do
not fill any function in the feminine sphere.'" Also she recognizes that
in many Gur Hassidic marriages they find ways to have a positive relationship
in spite of these prohibitions against sexuality.
The author, Tamar Rotem, writes from an outsider’s
perspective. She writes as an observer and uses fairly reliable sources to
relate the facts to the audience. The subject of the article is explored
through academics who have detailed knowledge of Gur Hasidism. Tamar Rotem has
written several articles for this paper, Haaretz, and seems to be a
reliable source. She does not use much opinionated language and explains things
as they are in this article. Her sources seem highly reliable. She quotes
Wasserman who has spent years studying this topic and even taught at a Gur
Seminar according to the article.
I personally found this article interesting because my family has a fairly
close connection with the Gur Hasidic movement. Most of my grandfather's family
lives in Bnei Brak which was mentioned in the article. His grandfather was a
Gur Hasidic rabbi. My mom has always told me stories about how her uncles would
all sit in one room with all the men and all the women would be in a different
room. When the article spoke about how at extended family functions they
separated men and women it brought this to mind. However, my mother always
spoke about this with disdain as if the women were treated as less than the
men. Now, after reading this article, I can see how this has little to do with
the equality or inequality of men and women and more to do with a specific way
of observing that which is sacred.
