Barbara K

OH, one more thing… regarding your, gengwall, observation about how curious it is that the same people who deride women’s role and abilities also hold motherhood in such high esteem…

In the area of Kabbalah, or Jewish mysticism, there does seem to be a strong history of both a near idolatry of mothers right next door to a squelching of women’s role or authority. The rationale that an author gave in a book I recently did a review on is that women are so much more spiritual than men, that they have innate spiritual understanding by virtue of the midwives who did not kill the male babies while yet in Egypt; that their understanding is so intuitive that although it is nice for them to study or participate in worship gatherings or study, it just isn’t necessary for them…
There are many things that flow from this that I do not believe are either relationally or spiritually healthy or in line with our Elohim, YHWH’s Word, from Genesis to Revelation! (My background is that of clinical social work, marriage and family– and agency and private practice for 25+ years so I do have a basis for an opinion here!)
Needless to say, I take exception to such a position for MANY reasons. And sadly, this sort of thing is making its way into the American Messianic community.
Just FYI, in case you were interested.