Mama's Torah: The Role of Women

This book succinctly captures the essence of the Father's heart regarding what Scripture says about the role of women in the family, community and household of faith without getting bogged down in unnecessary details. It is a must-read for every person returning to the Hebrew roots of the Christian faith. I am not aware of any other book on the market that covers the issues Batya does, and from a pro-Torah, Spirit-filled and uniting the two-houses of Israel perspective.

Mama's Torah does not confine itself to dealing with just the subject of women from the point of view of YHVH's Torah-law (Genesis through Deuteronomy), but focuses on what all of YHVH's instructions, teachings or Word has to say about women from Genesis to Revelation. It is more like an instruction manual dealing with some controversial and at times divisive issues, but is dealt with from a heart of love, grace and mercy. Obviously, Batya has spent many years reflecting on these subjects and it comes out in her writings. Reading Mama's Torah is like drinking a fine, well-aged wine. Every sip is full of richness of body and fullness of flavor reflecting wisdom garnered from decades of pondering these subjects and years of experience watching biblical principles concerning women be applied and misapplied within the Judeo-Christian communities.

In reading Mama's Torah one's thinking may be stretched positively about the spiritual role of women in the family and spiritual community, but it does so without subscribing to the non-biblical rebellious and libertine concepts underlying the modern feminist movement. At all times, while stretching our thinking about the role of women in the community of faith, Batya keeps an eye on women working in conjunction with men and the proper role of male servant-based headship.

If we are to properly understand Acts 3:21 which speaks about the restoration of all things that must occur before Messiah Yeshua can return, then Mama's Torah is a must read. Often we interpret Acts 3:21 only in the context of restoring the Hebrew roots of the faith and helping to reunite the two-houses of Israel, but fail to see its other ramifications. Indeed, it speaks of restoring the "one new man in Yeshua," but Batya challenges us not to stop there. In the "one new man" let us not forget that there is neither "Jew nor Greek, male nor female" (Gal. 3:28). Again, without violating the concept of authority and headship, Batya challenges some of the traditional notions about the roles of men and women, but still keeps a healthy and balanced perspective.

Reading this book can help to strengthen marriages, and in this day of one broken marriage after another this is necessary. It teaches men to appreciate their wives and the giftings and sensitivities YHVH has placed for the purpose of watching out for and protecting her husband's interests. If a man heeds the early warning radar system YHVH has placed in his wife he may prevent his ship from running aground on the reef of failure. The material in this book will help a man to have a greater respect for his wife and to nurture her in her YHVH-ordained giftings and callings. Such can only serve to strengthen and build up any marital relationship.

Additionally, Batya offers a forceful, yet loving, warning to men and woman against the perils of legalism for those seeking to follow a Torah-based lifestyle. Legalism, which puts a twist on the Word of YHVH to make it say something other than what the Author intended, can sidetrack those returning to the Hebrew roots of their faith into missing the Father's heart and Spirit in keeping the Torah. Such is also the case with the restoration of a woman's place in the Torah-based community of faith. Wootten deals with one type of legalism: halachic legalism to which many in the Messianic movement fall prey. This involves the thorny and often divisive issues pertaining to headcoverings, woman teachers and a woman's involvement in leadership. This book gives a balanced approach to understanding these issues and admonishes all to walk in love and forbearance toward others.

Finally, in Mama's Torah Batya speaks a prophetic word of warning to those returning to the roots of their faith. She urges us to not just emphasize the return to the truth and the letter of the Torah-law (the male, authoritative side), but to keep this in full balance with the spirit and grace side of the Torah (the feminine, nurturing side) as well so that the young ones in the Torah-faith can be built up on a solid and balanced foundation of the full counsel of YHVH's Word and will not be aborted spiritually before they are fully restored to the Hebrew roots of their faith.