Virgin Mary and Jesus pbuh

[lunarious]

Virgin Mary, Imam Mohammed Baqir al-Qazwini says; she was the first Lady to enter into Gods service into the temlpe, because at her time only Men were allowed into the temple by Jewish Law.

 

[tree]

The Temple—Women Under the Law of Moses, Women Now | Meridian Magazine

 

[Yeshuasdaughter]

Virgin Mary, Imam Mohammed Baqir al-Qazwini says; she was the first Lady to enter into Gods service into the temlpe, because at her time only Men were allowed into the temple by Jewish Law.

Not true. That Imam is flat wrong. He is not taking into account Jewish culture, history, and tradition. Women had very different roles under Judaism than they did in other cultures, and although the ancient world was sexist, Jewish women had a lot more autonomy and self expression than women in many other societies.

Let's look at this through the lens of first century Jewish culture.

Mary was a really nice lady and a good mom. But she did NOT work in the temple.

None of this follows Jewish traditional practice.

For one thing, Mary and Joseph lived in Nazareth, which is a small agricultural town located almost 100 miles north of Jerusalem. Nazareth is located high in the mountains. One must cross mountain ranges, descend into farmland, and desert, and ascend once again into the mountains in order to reach Jerusalem from Nazareth.

Mary had lived in Nazareth her whole life, except for seven years spent in Egypt, while hiding from Herod after the birth of Jesus. Her family would have attempted to travel the vast distance to visit the Temple a few times a year, during holidays. But that was about it.

To work in the temple meant a lifetime of dedicated Torah study and memorization among the elders of the land. As rigorous a study as any medical school or law school. And it never ceases. To work in the temple meant knowing the answer to any question, at any time, by memorizing scripture, and the works of earlier sages. They must also know the Laws and customs regarding temple service and ritual.

There had already been several women prophets, high queens, judges, and generals in Israel from the very earliest days, for thousands of years prior. Some of these women are mentioned in the Bible.

A woman's voice or perspective is not hidden away in Judaism. Women have always been listened to, and their advice is considered. Women had the same responsibilities, in both religious and secular life. There were women business owners, property owners, etc. A woman could go into a business transaction to buy land or trade goods. Women were never ever hidden away.

Also, according to the Gospel of Luke, Chapter two, when Yeshua (Jesus) was born, and brought to the temple to be offered to the service of the Lord as firstborn, and also circumcised, there was a widowed prophetess, Anna, serving in the temple who prophesied over him. Anna lived and worked in the temple, honored by the elders and religious establishment, for over 80 years.

To live and work in the temple meant The Prophetess Anna was given living quarters on the temple grounds and participated in rigorous lifelong Torah study, discussion, and memorization. She also met the holy family and prophesized over them in a historically male part of the Temple when Jesus was brought to be offered to The Lord and circumcized as an infant.

So you see, your Imam is very wrong. He has not taken into account the culture of the day, nor the history of women's rights within the Jewish People, Mary's people.

 

[Magna]

A woman's voice or perspective is not hidden away in Judaism. Women have always been listened to, and their advice is considered.

The world as well as any other religion should emulate this. A much better path forward for our species than anything that would be closer to the opposite.

I do know it's common for different faiths to interpret the original texts quite differently.

Case in point: Catholics staunchly believe that Mary remained a virgin all her life and not only never had sex with anyone, she never had any children other than Jesus. From what I recall it was something to the effect that her womb was sacred because it carried Jesus and any other regular human children would have sullied that sacredness. The Scripture passages that talk about Jesus' "brothers" being nearby are interpreted by Catholics to be referring to relatives but not actual siblings.

Whereas many Protestant faiths point to the Scripture passages that talk about Jesus' brothers to mean that literally, and they believe that Jesus did in fact have siblings and that there's nothing at all wrong with that.

 

[lunarious]

We all have reasons to think we are good. I do not promise but if i have time, i'll try focus on this topic and look into Jewish history and tradition. @Yeshuasdaughter