Mr. Zuckerman would like "evidence that the availability of Yoatzot Halakha has “led to greater commitment to the mesorah and observance of halakha.â€"
1. Since the year 2000, yoatzot halacha have answered over 300,000 questions through our website, hotline and community yoatzot halacha.
2. Thousands of women have told us they would not ask taharat hamishpacha questions to a rabbi. We cannot begin to count the times we counsel a woman who cries to us upon realizing that because of her reticence to ask a Rav a question, she had been keeping taharat hamishpacha wrong, at the expense of shalom bayit or having children.
3. In some communities employing a yoetzet, rabbis typically continue to receive similar numbers of questions a year as previously (in some communities as few as 5-10 a year), whereas their community yoetzet halacha reports far more questions. In the larger communities in the United States, yoatzot halacha are answering 500-1500 questions a year, and increasing by the year. Mid-sized communities receive 30-150 calls a year.
4. Yoatzot halacha maintain the integrity of the halachic process by consulting with a posek when an original psak is needed. Most questions that reach us, however, do not require a psak but rather proper hadracha. A "kallah class" generally takes place in the hurried period before the wedding, between wedding gown fittings, apartment search, sending invitations, etc. The lessons are before the wedding, but the material is put into practice afterwards. Newly marrieds, women after birth, women going into menopause--all require proper hadracha in real time. Thousands of questions that reach us are of this nature.
Therefore, many rabbis refer women to us and hire yoatzot halacha for their communities. They recognize our ability to guide women to greater commitment and more precise observance, as many women feel more comfortable and dignified raising very sensitive issues with a fellow woman.
Atara Eis, Yoetzet Halacha
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 10/06/2015 05:18PM by mlb.
