Woman Detained for Carrying the Torah

[Jessie-Jess]

Is this more a religious liberty issue or a womens' rights issue? I believe it's both.

[Gregory Matthews]

further witThis aspect of the video begins at about the 4 minute mark.

The central issue here is  Jewish religious law and the differences that exist among the various Jewish sects.   As a factual matter, the women (plural) have violated the norms (rules) that have been established   in an area that is controlled by a Jewish sect that prohibits their actions.

The situation referenced here is in my thinking similar to an actual situation of which I am aware:  A person who claimed to be a member of a Jewish associated sect visited a SDA Church one Sabbath morning.  He announced to the Sabbath School Class that he attended, a meeting that he intended to hold and invited the class members to attend.  [NOTE:  I was in that class and a witness to his actions.]  The pastor contacted him, that day, and informed him:  1)  He could not hold any meeting in the SDA Church without coordinating it with the pastor.  2) If he was permitted to hold such a meeting, it would have to be on a date and time that he was given and the date and time that he had announced was not an acceptable date.  3) If he were to hold such a meeting, he would be required to abide by certain boundaries that he would be given as to what he did at that meeting.

He informed the pastor that  the only acceptable date and time was the one he had selected and would not have his meeting on any othare date and time.  In addition, he alleged that his religious rights and those of the members of the SDA congregation were being violated.

Of course, the above situation differs from that in the video.  However, as a former congregational pastor, I have personally experienced situations in which a visitor sitting in my congregation attempted to do something that would have   disrupted the service.    I have been informed ahead of time of people who intended to come and do such.  I have had to inform my Elders of appropriate boundaries and the pint at which the police should be called.

I will give you two examples:

1)  A male who intended to visit on some Sabbath and would attempt to physically remove any female who was on the platform in violation of his beliefs as to the circumstances under which women should be on the platform.  He had a past history of doing exactly that.  He personally informed me of his intent to visit my congregation.  I had to give my Elders the guidelines as to when to call the police.

2)  I was informed of a female who would likely visit my congregation and challenge me publicly at some point in the service.  She came.  She rose to her feet and challenged me during the sermon.  I had never seen her before in my life.  I responded by calling her by name and telling her that I would be glad to talk privately with her but this was not the time for a public discussion.  Her mouth dropped open when I called her by name and she left without talking further with me.