My son had a siddur party at the kindergarten some monts ago. I find these parties odd; why celebrate the fact that a child receives a siddur if they anyway don’t teach them what they are praying about? Why make such a fuss about some practise that is post-biblical anyway? At least my son had a good time.
But that’s not what I wanted to write about.
After the party, one of our neighbors (let’s call her lady X) complained that there were women at the party that did not wear any head covering. Now, lady X is really worried about her husband who can’t chas veshalom come to these occasions with untznius women. The fact that these women wear skirts and do not show any cleavage is somehow not what counts. It’s the sexy, uncovered hair of course!
Last week, we received a letter stating that since our kindergarten is Chinuch institution linked to our synagogue, we are kindly requested to be dressed appropriately when bringing our children to kindergarten, especially when it comes to head coverings. All phrased neutrally, as if there were men without head coverings as well.
Needless to say, I was outraged by the letter. Especially since I know that Lady X is very close to two of the three women that signed the letter. The fact that the letter was sent just a few days before the end of the school year only adds more suspicion that lady X was involved since the farewell party is the only thing still happening until the end of the year.
Now why can’t they just be grateful that the less frum people send their kids to their fundamentalist kindergarten? Don’t they realize they are just estranging people from Judaism?
What upset me most was this veil of halacha used. As if God wants you to be dressed in kindergarten the same way you are in shul just because it is a chinuch institution linked to our shul.
Perhaps I should come next time in my tallis. The idiots.
Update: Last time was still mixed, but now it was separated! Also, all the ladies that did not wear a head covering last time, decided to come without one. Bravo! The funniest is that my son danced with a girl from his class as part of the act. Tsss...tsss...past nisht! :P
you have it all wrong. you should have come dressed in the tallis, but nothing else.
ReplyDeleteYes, that is infuriating...
ReplyDelete@Bec: I love the way you talk, girl! ;)
ReplyDeleteHead covering over a wig or hair? Not that it matters for a school function, but I'm curious!
ReplyDeleteNo just in general, just imagining they were talking about yarmulkas ;)
ReplyDelete> why celebrate the fact that a child receives a siddur if they anyway don’t teach them what they are praying about
ReplyDeleteIt’s celebrating a milestone, it’s fun for the kids, and it gives them a sense that davening is important.
> Why make such a fuss about some practise that is post-biblical anyway?
First of all, most people don’t think at all about when particular practices started. If it’s something they grew up with, it’s all the same, whether it started with Moshe at Har Sinai or as a cute idea someone had a hundred years ago. Secondly, a huge chunk of modern Judaism is post-biblical, and it’s all a big deal.
> Now why can’t they just be grateful that the less frum people send their kids to their fundamentalist kindergarten? Don’t they realize they are just estranging people from Judaism?
1. Non-tznius women are believed to be the cause of all ill in the world.
2. Uncovered hair will inevitably lead men to sin.
3. Most realistically, it’s not about keeping Judaism alive, but about keeping pure the particular sub-strain of Judaism that this woman believes in. It’s sacrificing the Judaism species for the sake of the purebred subsect.
> As if God wants you to be dressed in kindergarten the same way you are in shul just because it is a chinuch institution linked to our shul.
Well, they would counter that God wants you dressed that way all the time. But the argument as laid out is kind of stupid.
Wouldn't it be a trip if they took off their wigs? Then everyone could see their ratty hair or perhaps a shaved head :-)
ReplyDeleteThis comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
ReplyDeleteJP: Watch your mouth and read the darn post before you comment.
ReplyDelete