Sunday, March 17, 2019

Sexism in the Talmud



The Talmud is very complicated, not every statement is a law, sometimes it is a commentary or the opinion of a certain Rabbi, sometimes a stipulation or refutation, however the quotes below should give you a good idea about Talmudic reasoning on certain issues.

The Talmud describes women as a "piece of meat" whom can be taken by her husband as she pleases.  Also, unlike a man, a women who is only accused of adultery may be stripped to the waist in public to humiliate her and she is forced to drink a cup of poison to prove her innocence, if she lives she is pure, if she dies she is guilty of sin. 


Women are like a piece of meat, husbands may take them as they please

“R. Johanan said: The above is the view of R. Johanan b. Dahabai; but our Sages said: The halachah is not as R. Johanan b. Dahabai, but a man may do whatever he pleases with his wife [at intercourse]: A parable; Meat which comes from the abattoir, may be eaten salted, roasted, cooked or seethed; so with fish from the fishmonger. [4]” - 1962 Soncino BablyonianTalmud, Nadarim 20b

FOOTNOTE 4: [This parable serves to express the absence of reserve that may characterise the mutual and intimate relationship of husband and wife without offending the laws of chastity.]


As women only accused of adultery by her husband (without evidence) is striped to the waist in public, dressed in black and her jewelry removed to make her repulsive

MISHNAH. … IF SHE SAYS, 'I AM PURE', THEY BRING HER UP TO THE EAST GATE WHICH IS BY THE ENTRANCE OF NICANOR'S GATE WHERE THEY GIVE SUSPECTED WOMEN WATER TO DRINK, PURIFY WOMEN AFTER CHILDBIRTH, AND PURIFY LEPERS. A PRIEST SEIZES HER GARMENTS — IF THEY ARE RENT THEY ARE RENT, AND IF THEY BECOME UNSTITCHED THEY ARE UNSTITCHED UNTIL HE UNCOVERS HER BOSOM, AND HE UNDOES HER HAIR. R. JUDAH SAYS: IF HER BOSOM WAS BEAUTIFUL HE DOES NOT UNCOVER IT, AND IF HER HAIR WAS BEAUTIFUL HE DOES NOT UNDO IT. — IF SHE WAS CLOTHED IN WHITE, HE CLOTHES HER IN BLACK. IF SHE WORE GOLDEN ORNAMENTS AND NECKLACES, EAR-RINGS AND FINGER-RINGS, THEY REMOVE THEM FROM HER IN ORDER TO MAKE HER REPULSIVE. AFTER THAT [THE PRIEST] TAKES A COMMON ROPE AND BINDS IT OVER HER BREASTS. WHOEVER WISHES TO LOOK UPON HER COMES TO LOOK WITH THE EXCEPTION OF HER MALE AND FEMALE SLAVES, BECAUSE HER HEART IS MADE DEFIANT THROUGH THEM. ALL WOMEN ARE PERMITTED TO LOOK UPON HER, AS IT IS SAID, THAT ALL WOMEN MAY BE TAUGHT NOT TO DO AFTER YOUR LEWDNESS. -Soncino 1961 Babylonian Talmud, Sotah 7a-7b 


Woman accused of adultery is forced to drink a cup of "bitter water" (poison), if she is innocent she will survive, if she is guilty she will die from the poison 

MISHNAH. WHEN HE COMES TO WRITE THE SCROLL, FROM WHAT PLACE DOES HE WRITE? FROM IF NO MAN HAVE LAIN WITH THEE1 … BUT IF THOU HAST GONE ASIDE, BEING UNDER THY HUSBAND ETC.2 HE DOES NOT, HOWEVER, INCLUDE, THEN THE PRIEST SHALL CAUSE THE WOMAN TO SWEAR,3 BUT CONTINUES WITH, THE LORD MAKE THEE A CURSE AND AN OATH … AND THIS WATER THAT CAUSETH THE CURSE SHALL GO INTO THY BOWELS AND MAKE THY BELLY TO SWELL, AND THY THIGH TO FALL AWAY.4 HE DOES NOT, HOWEVER, INCLUDE, AND THE WOMAN SHALL SAY, AMEN, AMEN. R. JOSE SAYS, HE MAKES NO OMISSIONS.5 R. JUDAH SAYS, HE WRITES NONE OF ALL THIS EXCEPT, THE LORD MAKE THEE A CURSE AND AN OATH ETC. AND THIS WATER THAT CAUSETH THE CURSE SHALL GO INTO THY BOWELS ETC. AND DOES NOT INCLUDE, AND THE WOMAN SHALL SAY, AMEN, AMEN. - 1961 Soncino Babylonian Talmud, Sotah 17a

and if she be not innocent, she reverts to dust.21

FOOTNOTE 21. Dies from the effect of the water.


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