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From: Russell Hendel <rhendel@saber.towson.edu>
Date: Thu, 30 Sep 1999 22:00:03 -0400 (EDT)
Subject: RE: Women and Angels

Ira Robinson in v29n88 asks whether we should follow certain laws whose
reason focuses on our resembling angels. This was recently asked on the
sister email group, AVODAH. Allow me to bring depth to Iras question by
generalizing it to include several examples.

EXAMPLE 1: Men stand during Shmoneh Esray with their feet together in
order to resemble the angels whose feet are aligned together (Ez 1).

EXAMPLE 2: Men wear Kittles on the high holy days in order to resemble
the angels that are pure.

Over and above the technical legal sources that answer these questions I
would suggest an approach that concentrates on underlying reasons. More
specifically

--We stand with feet together during prayer IN ORDER TO SHOW
RESPECT/REVERENCE to God. But women must also show respect to God and
hence should stand the same way

--We wear kittles in order to a) remind ourselves of goals of spiritual
purity b) remind ourselves of the day of death (and induce a sense of
humility) Since women need these reminders also they should wear
kittles.

Finally I take note that Sarah surpassed Abraham in prophecy and
therefore had the status of an angel.

Russell Jay Hendel; Phd ASA
RJHendel@Juno.Com
Moderator Rashi is Simple
http://www.shamash.org/rashi/