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According to Judaism, the Shekhina is the Divine Presence in this world. Basically, God's manifestation of Himself. The Shekhina is described as feminine and women are her main representatives on earth.
We are approaching a time when many many previous events are being rectified. We can almost say good bye to the "curse" of pain in childbearing with all the pain medicines, epidurals, etc that are available. Man does not necessarily have to "toil" for their bread. Many don't.
Another hopeful rectification that is going on, is the uplifting of women everywhere. Its enjoyable to read on the black blogosphere, BW galvanizing to their success. Stripping away at extra baggages of the DBR kind, and some are even pulling away from AA men, biracials, hispanics, Asians, etc that they feel are not out for the BW's interest. (although, personally, I think you can't just get away from a group so blindly like that. A case by case basis would be more accurate and precise. In some cases steering clear from a group -especially one that time and time again has not been kind is reasonable. And also I think although separation is a natural tendency for many, some will want to, at some point marry and live in some society with other people so I don't know about completely pulling away from everything except other success oriented BW).
I wonder what is going on with women the world over? Will Arab women who are suffering find a way to pull away from harsh, evil Arab men? (Calm down, I'm not saying all Arab men are evil) Will an organization or a voice rise up loud enough to save them? Will African women learn to embrace even those other women who were raped by evil militia men. Will we learn that a hurt woman is not damaged material? She 's just..a hurt woman. True, something has been lost and something has been damaged: perhaps her virginity, perhaps her trust, perhaps her confidence and self esteem. But KNOW that there is rectification. There is reparation. There is renewal for a woman. She's not broken egg shells.
Even in the good ole USA, there is the business in the black community of shunning or blaming BW victims of sexual abuse as if they are just beyond repair. (I read in a book about auras -the color that you can see around a person if your sensitive enough to it, that the auras of sexually abused victims are effected. An evil person can maybe spot this and capitalize on it. A sensitive loving person can also be in tune to this, but gives the survivor her space). Will our awareness bring us to the point of understanding and compassion (and thus knowledge) to cause us to stop shunning, blaming and start embracing and healing?
In the Jewish world, a new trend is happening -especially in Israel. Men seem to be clamping down against women. More and more the burden to prevent the spilling of seed is falling on the woman. She is expected to cover herself more and more. Even to the point that some are photo-shopping pictures and removing the females from various pictures. Others want women to go the back of the bus so as not to see them (as if perhaps they may want to nurse or do something that may cause arousal). But very often, there are men also at the backs of the bus and so where are they suppose to go? Can a more understanding and compassionate solution be found?
When men argue with their wives, when they have strife with them, its usually because there is something about the Shekhina that they can not accept. Yes, women have their problems as well, character traits to perfect, falling under the influence of an evil person or someone else who's misled, etc. But over all -at least in Judaism- women don't tend to be evil. In fact, women don't usually need to reincarnate unless the man has to, and thus drags his "wife" along in the process. (Note: This is NOT to say that men are evil. Just saying women don't tend to be mass murderers, rapists, commit fraud of huge proportions, etc)
What other corner of women is stuff happening? What's going on in the Asian women's world? In European women's world? What rectifications are we seeing?
It is taught that the Shekhina cries. All the time She's weeping for the fallen goods, Her scattered children, Her state of exile. Shall we rise in the darkness and weep with her? Shall we console Her and
A word on holding a grudge. Often times after an argument, the woman stays silent. Or even the man stays silent. Though that is quite virtuous (sages say blessings of wealth awaits those who do not succumb to anger), if truly in your heart you haven't forgiven the partner, then being silent is NOT virtuous, its just creating "toxic nostalgia" pent up feelings of bitterness that will eventually come out in full force the next time -- even if that next quarrel is not about something so serious. Better not to hold a grudge. in such a case, better to do like the Israelis do(lol) -and probably most middle easterners- just let it out right then and there. Empty out and finish with it.
I sense that with all these rectifications going on, perhaps the wind of the times is on our side. It truly is a time for change. Perhaps now is the time for women to band together, raise our voices, and be backed by the Shekhina's voice. Perhaps now is the time for us to rise and shine and not accept mediocrity, abuse, greed, and all the ills that will make the world unsafe for our children.
At any rate, I hope that wasn't too heavy just before the weekend. Have a great weekend and a happy rest of Black History Month!
