the samaritans community in israel

The Samaritan Women

The mere thought of women in a religious community probably brings to mind a picture of desperate housewives whose entire role in life is to serve their husbands and children, though it is not the case with Samaritan women. Already at the age of four, they begin their studies of the bible and the Samaritan language the same as the boys. Following that, they attend a regular school to gain education and matriculation certificate like all other Israeli children. Education for both boys and girls is very important in the eyes of Samaritan parents as nowadays its significance in the everyday life is apparent to all, thus some girls even engage in academic studies. This is of course less common among the older generations of Samaritan women who were not presented with such opportunities in their time, though now they are expected to at least graduate high-school.

The Samaritan woman's status in the family and the community is firm and she is completely empowered to decide on her own direction in life, her future and ultimately that of her family. The source of this status has to do with the fact that no religious limitations and prohibitions apply to their daily routine. There is no dress code nor is any separation imposed between the sexes inside the synagogue or other occasions. The major part of the Samaritan women population owns driving licenses, freely commuting across the country. Samaritan women have the right to decide for themselves who to marry and when. Similarly to the situation in the rest of the developed world, the marital age slowly rises among the Samaritan women as they are not in such a hurry to get married and raise a family.

The Samaritan woman's religious rolls conclude in keeping the Sabbath and the other holidays, menstruation in purification duties and other biblical obligations such as keeping the Kosher, etc. Most of the Samaritan women work and do not stay at home with the children, thus the average number of children in the average Samaritan family does not vary from that of the general population, about three children per family. Usually, the children are sent to the kindergarten or stay with their retired grandparents.

Thus, in case you have imagined Samaritan women to be similar to Jewish orthodox women, you have been clearly mistaking. In light of the fact that the Samaritan religious requirements do not prevent their full integration in society, Samaritan women practically do not differ in any way from other modern Israeli women. One may suggest that the Samaritan community is not sealed before the global changes in women's rights but has in fact embraced them completely, despite the slight delay.

Menstruation customs (Nidah)

"And if a woman have an issue, and her issue in her flesh be blood, she shall be put apart seven days: and whosoever toucheth her shall be unclean until the even" (Leviticus 15:19, KJV).

According to the torah, a woman must keep the seven day menstruation period from the first appearance of blood. During that period she must avoid touching people or objects of wider use. Samaritan women have to declare their period so that nobody would touch them or pass objects to them. Usually, the women use designated for that purpose tools and dishes, while every other thing the woman touches must be washed with water. In case she is breast-feeding, the baby also becomes unclean together with his mother and is washed and cleansed at the end of the menstruation period. In her period, a Samaritan woman also must not cook or perform any domestic chores which during this time fall under her husband's responsibility.

Unlike in other communities, Samaritans strongly cling to what is written in the Torah, and from that reason Samaritan women are required to keep only seven days of Nidah instead of the twelve day period common in various Jewish orthodox communities. Samaritans regard the Nidah custom to be a major element of their identity and would never give it up. This custom also serves a cohesive purpose for the extended family, as it obliges women to assist one another during those periods. For example, they can cook for one another, guard each other's children or assist with the daily chores. This custom also introduces men to that domain. The major part of the Samaritan women population in fact claims to enjoy the week on Nidah as women can rest and socialize with other women in their periods. Following that week, women are baptized and cleansed.

Samaritan women also keep the post birth Nidah, as commanded in the Torah.

"Speak unto the people of Israel, saying, 'If a woman conceives and bears a male child, then she shall be unclean seven days. As the time of her menstruation, she shall be unclean. And on the eight day the flesh of his foreskin shall be circumcised. Then she shall continue for thirty-three days in the blood of her purifying. She shall not touch anything holy, nor come into the sanctuary, until the days of her purifying are completed. But if she bears a female child, then she shall be unclean two weeks, as in her menstruation. And she shall continue the blood of her purifying for sixty-six days." (Leviticus 12:5, EST)

Following a birth of a male child, the woman is considered to be unclean for the next 40 days whereas in the case of a girl, that period doubles. This period has a built division. If a male child is born, these days are divided to 7 menstruation days and 33 days in which the mother is not allowed to touch a man or enter a synagogue. In the case it is a girl, the period again doubles.

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