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Umm. Feminine men exist you know. I personally am a more feminine man and rely more on intuition. Nurtarance, creativity and emotions. Of course as a general rule men are more masculine and women are more feminine but it’s not right to generalize. Hope everyone had a wonderful peach this year! Reply

The Feminine The comment is profound but it fails to distinguish between the feminine and the female. The feminine is a psychological and spiritual attitude that exists in both men and women. It needs to be nurtured in both and its essence provides nurture and sustenance to both. There are women who have highly developed feminine qualities and there are others who do not, where these characteristics are more hidden or not very developed. Similarly there are men who have a strong feminine (different than effeminate)aspect and others who suppress this part of themselves, often out of fear. The feminine is a set of wonderful, life-giving qualities that both men and women need to develop within themselves. Reply

Home & feminine wisdom As it says, “A feminine wisdom builds her home.” (Proverbs 14:1)

Nu, a widow can't build her home and strive for shalom bayit? I will admit that it is strange to prepare a Shabbes meal for oneself and to bench the candles in solitude, but that is what I do.

I see no reason to change what I have done all my life ... whether my daughters of blessed memory were in the home or not and whether my husband was alive.

I do believe that in my current life-style that shalom is bayit is critical because it is my connection to HaShem ... and at 65, spiritual needs trump physical needs. Reply

Can you say Shalom Bayit? It's all about shalom bayit nor shalom bias. The sages say that if husband and wife are meritorious by having a peaceful and happy relationship between a wife and husband, the Shechina dwells between them. Its all about behaving virtuously together.

So what is feminine wisdom? A married woman must therefore make Shalom Bayit her first priority. She must put ALL of her strength into creating peaceful home, this is the most significant mitzvah of her life. Reply

A man's responsibility From my own experience I don't agree that it is mainly the woman who creates the space in a home for the human spirit. The attitude of the man of the house is extremely important for harmony in the home. His relationship with his children is crucial as well. Reply

How beautiful,
A man of wisdom is a great gift to a woman and her home without him she cannot exist.
Thus we have Love and a pure family unite, how I yearn for this great circle of completion in a world of trouble and remorse,
Thanks for sharing Reply

José Flávio Nogueira Guimarães The reason it's called masculine and feminine personalities are named such, is because they're meant to apply to males and females. Reply

thank you Rabbi... I have been a full time homemaker my entire life. In school I was mentally gifted and expected to accomplish great milestones. Even in the 60's, it was apparent to me that one of the most difficult and important tasks in life was to make a house a home. I rejected scholarships, etc. and made it a lifetime pursuit to be a good Homemaker....the part about wisdom...I didn't always have that. However, I zealously pursued it. I have donated thousands of hours to charity. I have touched thousands of lives. I am an accomplished cook, homemaker, etc. It's sad that the most important job in the world, is listed so low on everyone's meter. You get it...I got it. It isn't about cooking and cleaning...scrubbing and washing...it's about charity and creating a HOME. Thanks for reminding me about the wisdom part... Reply

I love your words that are so beautifully summed up from the original design from G-D. As I read the comments I saw a complete disconnect and distortion from people who obviously hold their own opinions and life choices above the Commands and character of Elohim. If it weren't so serious you might think this was a liberal college debate among secular know-it-alls. Homosexuality is an abomination and has nothing to do with this subject as well as feminist ideology that is an affront to G-D, equal to rebellion. Reply

Moving In After our marriage, when my newly wed wife and I moved into our new apartment, she made one thing clear to me, that at home she was captain of the ship and I was a passenger. I didn't like it at first because I was rather put off by it. However, I grew to like it. At home she is the one mostly in command. Secondly, I'd like to mention a song that is on this theme, and that song would be "Home" by Dream Theater. Reply

So are those of us who make a home for G-d in this world. Reply

Misogynistic? I'm so uplifted and energized by your words Rabbi! In my professional life I exert a small influence on a fraction of the world shared by millions. In my home I create a massive influence on whole worlds shared by a few. Not by dishpan hands and scrubbed floors (because I'm very mediocre in that role) but by my spiritual influence and how welcome I wish the Holy One to feel in my home. Reply

Attn Levi, NY, USA Not only male gays have the feminine part as the dominant one; many male heterosexuals, sometimes, have a feminine part as the dominant one; and even male gays, a few, have the masculine part as the dominant one. There are no rules regarding sexuality. Yes, I agree with you. There are lots of unhealthy people in the world, but that has nothing to do with sexuality and sexual orientation. Reply

ATTNjosé Flávio Nogueira Guimarães, Belo Horizonte True. I am referring to healthy people. Today there are many unhealthy people in our unhealthy society, and very few people have meaningful relationships, because we've forgotten how to mirror the masculine and feminine aspects of our creator, in the correct way, as he designed us. Reply

Rabbi Your comment: "Allow yourself to feel good about being a woman" proves my point. It appears as if you want to provoke and make personal comments to someone you have never met. A tad misogynistic.

Do take care if you are going to be spiritual and spout words of wisdom, not to undermine the very public you are trying to reach. Reply

True. I am referring to healthy people. Today there are many unhealthy people in our unhealthy society, and very few people have meaningful relationships, because we've forgotten how to mirror the masculine and feminine aspects of our creator, in the correct way, as he designed us. Reply

attn Levi, Rooklyn, NY Well, you´re disregarding the millions of gays and all the other deviants! Their dominant part is feminine; at least the male ones. Sexual orientation has nothing to do with gender. Then, please, do not mix up. Reply

Reply to your to my reply Hello Rabbi

Your comment: "Allow yourself to feel good about being a woman" proves my point. I don't think you see from what you have advised, that you are indeed being provocative in trtying to anger others. You are implying you know more about me than I do. about myself by your incorrect observation. I enjoy being a woman - so your mistakes in assuming things are fairly acceptable - it proves you are indeed human and therefore I forgive you. Reply

attn José Flávio Nogueira Guimarães, Belo Horizont Sure. But we're referring to the dominant part. Reply