In Praise of Women

The Obama White House marked International Women's Day on Monday, a highlight of women’s History Month. President Obama and the first lady, Michelle were generally upbeat.

The Cabala traces the seminal beginning of male and female to the brain which is divided primary into two hemispheres called Chochma and Bena. Chachma/Clarity is right and male side of the brain while Bena/Builder is the left and female side of the brain.

The soul enters into the body from the right side of the brain which is only able to recognize something indistinct which is then seeded into the left side of the brain where cognition takes place. The Zohar-Book of Secret says that women have Bena Yetera/Extra Understanding, but the Cabala explains Extra as the ability to bring from the deepest depths something completely new–like a baby.

The Midrash-Book of Metaphor says, when Avraham the father of ancient peoples was first in the world 4000 years ago he thought that God was woman because all light comes from the darkness. The darkness is greater than the light as seen in the ability of darkness to hold the light or for a woman to receive a man.

In the Torah Woman’s day is celebrated at the end of summer known as Tuba Av called in the Talmud–Book of Law the greatest of all the holidays.