Women and Men are EQUAL in the Bible-and do not let them tell you differently!
In the Torah portion for this shabbat, called Vayakhel, there is the source for one of the most important discussions in all of Judaism dealing with the sexuality and the equality of women and men. As the Torah describes the building of the Tabernacle, it uses the word “tzela” to describe the “side” of the structure (Ex 36:25) The word “tzela” is exactly the same word used to describe the part of Adam’s body from which God created Eve in Genesis. Two thousand years ago, the translator Onkelos mis-translated “tzela” as “rib” in Aramaic, and it is thought of to this day as Adam’s “rib”. This has given rise to a continual narrative of the “lesser” status of women. However-in this week’s portion “tzela” clearly means “side”-and for that reason, most of the commentators have said that Eve was created NOT from Adam’s rib, but from his side. In other words, the first human was BOTH male and female and God “split” this being into two in order to create woman and man. This changes the story. Eve is not from a rib of Adam, but rather his equal- and even further, the first human was neither completely male, nor female, but a combination of both. Don’t let anyone tell you that women are lesser than men. Don’t let anyone tell you that the current debate over sexuality is against God’s will-the first human was both male and female!
Keep Punching!
The Boxing Rabbi