Rabbi Ovadia Yosef
Photo: Gil Yohanan
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Rabbi Yosef: Woman can be prime minister
In response to query regarding women in public rule, Shas' spiritual leader gives clear detailed answer saying that in principle, 'if she conducts herself with dignity and strengthens religion more than other male candidate, we must elect the woman'
Ynet|Published: 11.02.08 , 09:21
Rabbi Ovadia Yosef, Shas' spiritual leader, said last week that in principle, a woman could be the prime minister of Israel.
The halachic ruling was given in response to a question sent to the rabbi, and clearly stated that it was only in principle and did not refer specifically to the general elections, a ruling which is to be given by the Council of Torah Sages.
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Rabbi Yosef discussed this issue at length in the Hebrew website "Halacha Yomit" saying, "Regarding appointing a woman as prime minister – if she conducts herself with dignity and honesty, and is instrumental in strengthening religion more than any man who submits his candidacy, then we most certainly should give preference to electing the woman."
Despite the ruling, Yosef addressed the problematic aspects of the matter. He mentioned that the Sages of Blessed Memory learned from the verse, "Be sure to appoint over you the king the LORD your God chooses" (Deuteronomy, 17:15), that it should be a king and not a queen that would rule of over Israel, and therefore, a woman could not be appointed queen of Israel as long as there is a king who is as fit to rule.
He added that Maimonides wrote the above verse applied not just to kingship, but to all positions of public rule. Yosef continued to say that this was only Maimonides' opinion, which the other sages, who said gender was only an issue in kingship, did not share.
Yosef said that Nahmanides's writings also showed that if David had not had any sons, it would be lawful to say that David's daughter was queen, and she could even bequeath kingship to her sons, as he wrote that the reason David couldn't leave the kingdom to his daughter was because he had sons.
Therefore, it seems there is no absolute restriction on woman taking on public authority posts, even as queen, as long as the path taken to leadership was taken with modesty.
Rabbi Feinstein's ruling
Yosef also metioned Rabbi Moshe Feinstein's ruling in the case of a woman whose husband, a kashrut supervisor, passed away, leaving her with no way to support her family. The woman, being educated and God fearing, wanted to take on her husband's supervising job, which would also entail ruling over a large group of workers.
"The question brought to Rabbi Moshe Feinstein," wrote Yosef, "was if there is any reason to prevent her from this, when it is vital for her livelihood. After deliberating long and hard, and deciding to allow her to take on the position, one rabbi spoke out against him, saying his ruling in this matter would lead to a breakdown, when the State of Israel sees that such a great rabbi allowed a woman to be a kashrut supervisor, and will lead to having women in the State's parliament.
"Finally, Rabbi Feinstein addressed the matter of the parliament in the State of Israel, where heretics and Shabbat desecraters are appointed, which is completely forbidden in the Torah." Yosef said. "As Maimonides wrote, anyone who is not God fearing, even if they carry great wisdom, should not be appointed among Israel's leaders. And the whole point of leadership in Israel is to strengthen the power of the Torah and not, heaven forbid, to weaken it.
"Regarding the appointment of women, it is clear that if the chance to vote between a woman who is fit and a man who is not fit arises, we should certainly give preference to electing the woman over the man who is not fit."
In summary, Yosef said, "In regards to appointing a woman as prime minister – if she conducts herself with dignity and honesty, and is instrumental in strengthening religion more than any man who submits his candidacy, then we most certainly should give preference to electing the woman.
"It is absolutely forbidden to support any party whose representatives are not God fearing," he added. "On the contrary, we must vote in favor of representatives that strengthen the power of the Torah. And if people who are not fit can be found in all the parties, then the ones that are closer to religion should be favored."