Just imagine a conversation between TV host Guy Zu-Aretz and basketball star Omri Caspi in the latter's popular podcast.
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Zo-Aretz: "Since I started making sure to avoid extracting semen in vain, my life has drastically changed. Self-control, maturity, perfection, a major leap in the level of responsibility I am able to take upon myself. Since that moment I have become a different person."
Caspi: "What are you actually telling us – you stopped ...?".
Zu-Aretz: "Absolutely. Extracting semen in vain is a forbidden passion. By the way – also regarding sex. I'm not there anymore. Not easy, but recommended."
Caspi: "After all, you spend long periods without your partner, moderating "Survival'; it's not simple at all."
Zu-Aretz: "Listen, Omri, habits are old, and I am not anymore. When one understands what extracting semen in vain is – you can't do it. You just can't do it."
Don't worry – such a conversation will never happen on any podcast and neither on any campaign for religious strengthening. Ninety-nine percent of the Jewish craze about getting closer to, and friendlier with, Judaism (as well as Christianity and Islam), involves policing women. Men are always on the outside of this discussion. It is always okay to discuss women in the public realm, as if they were a white whale in National Geographic documentaries: display them in public, clarify what is good for them, what is appropriate for them, what they should do, what they shouldn't do, and which lifestyles they should adopt, and mainly which not – in dress, in studies, in the army, and now – even in sexuality.
No, this is not an Israeli invention. In France as well, while dealing with the legislation to prohibit women's face coverings in public places that is infuriating the Muslims, there is a plethora of video clips with religious women explaining how the burqa "releases me" and "enables me to be what I am and who I am," and that "the moment I am in it – I am finally me."
A Muslim media influencer in Great Britain, formerly a biology researcher, made matters clear in a video clip that went viral: "From the moment I decided to devote myself only to motherhood and religion – I experienced the ultimate autonomy." And there are endless examples.
Is it coincidental that we have not heard even one senior (or junior) politician making a statement that one's friendship with Judaism should be upheld in more profound and primeval ways? That they don't demand reduction and superficiality; normalizing the public debate on women's lifestyles? It seems not.
This is also the common denominator coming out just before elections. Why was this video clip put on public media?
A discussion on ties with the Palestinians or economic issues, education or transportation, are not concerning major political players these days. Without putting it in words, the timing is focusing on the modeling of women's status. The Niddah [Jewish laws pertaining to menstruation] video has been mocked and scorned, even to some critical opportunity-eds. But, in the end, someone, and possibly even the leader of the "National" party that has changed to the "Faithful" party, might even let out that "they also scorn adherence to the Niddah laws by their pure wives." Efrat, Lehava and other national purity guardian organizations, were never this close to the Prime Minister's Office.
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