What a shame

I usually have a lot of respect for Rabbi Raymond Apple, but his article “Women as Spiritual Leaders” (September 8) is disappointing in its imbalance.

He totally ignores the religious non-Orthodox communities where women are equal in any way and occupy positions of leadership at every level, as rabbis, teachers, board members and presidents.

In the academic fields, rabbinic colleges, universities and as exegetes women have been producing outstanding scholarship. To ignore that contribution is shortsighted at best, intellectually dishonest and a deprivation of a major contribution to the rich tapestry of Jewish life.

What a shame. URI THEMAL Kiryat Tivon

Putting aside any critique of the simplistic and anachronistic approach of Apple’s opinion piece, I wonder at the Post’s lack of editorial oversight in allowing the columnist to spout untruths.

“A few Israeli congregations allow women on their va’adot.” Seriously?! In my world of Israeli synagogues I don’t know of one that does not. (Please note: I have no idea how many non-haredi synagogues in Israel bar women from leadership; I am arguing that stating that only “a few” do “allow” it is entirely misleading.)

“One Jerusalem synagogue has had a woman president.” Again, this is simply untrue; I personally know of multiple synagogues in my small slice of Jerusalem that have or have had women at the helm.

Apple is of course entitled to his opinions, but not to alternative facts.

This piece was an embarrassment to me and not reflective of the Israel I am a part of, in which women increasingly fill leadership roles in Jewish religious communities. NAOMI BLOOM WURTMAN

Jerusalem