Parshas Vayishlach 5776 

QUESTION:

How do you answer someone who says religious women are second class?

ANSWER:
Religious women are A-1 class!! There's nobody better than religious women. Now what about religious men? They're also A-1, certainly we're not going to say that women are better than men. Oh, you want to say they're second class compared to religious men? Look, with Hakadosh Baruch Hu there's no such thing! Everybody is judged on his merits, like I mentioned before. A righteous Torah woman, a woman who is Orthodox and is loyal to Hakadosh Baruch Hu and tries her best, can many times outdo the biggest tzadikim.

I give you one example here. Rebbetzin Kaplan, who made a revolution in America, and she did more than any single Rosh Hayeshiva did in America. But even if you're not such a successful personality, in your own home, if you serve Hakadosh Baruch Hu with a pure heart and you try very hard, there's no question that you can become great. What do you want? You want to hold speeches? Speeches are not for women to hold in public, there's a reason for that, it's a biological reason, it can't be helped. Women can speak to women, but you can't become a Rosh Hayeshiva if you're a woman. And don't bewail the fact that you can't become a Chief Rabbi, there's a reason why women cannot do that, it's a technical reason.

Therefore every person should utilize his opportunities, and women have opportunities to become great no less than anyone else.

Good Shabbos To All