Women’s Issues
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Women and Halacha
Can women issue rulings on halachic questions? There’s no reason why a qualified woman can’t express her opinions on halachic matters. She can’t serve as a judge in matters that require a court, but there’s no reason why she can’t…
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Impurity after Giving Birth
Why is the period of impurity after giving birth to a girl twice as long as for a boy? The commentaries say that carrying and giving birth to a girl has a greater effect on the mother, from which it…
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Women and TZITZIS
>Why don’t women wear TZITZIS? According to the Shulchan Aruch (17:2), women are allowed to wear TZITZIS. But the accepted ruling is that TZITZIS are regarded as men’s ornaments, and it is therefore not proper for women to wear them,…
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Women Testifying
Why can’t a woman testify in court? The halacha disqualifies various classes of people from being judges or witnesses, but these disqualifications are not all for the same reason. A person who is in a position to give testimony about…
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Jewish Sources About Women
Where can I find Jewish sources about women? There are two very good books available in English on women’s issues in orthodox Judaism; both are published by Ktav Publishing House, Hoboken, NJ: Moshe Meiselman, Jewish Women in Jewish Law, 1978.…
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The Exemption of Women From Time-bound Positive Commandments
Does the Torah exempt women from time-bound positive commandments? he statement that women are not obligated to do positive time-bound mitzvos is part of the Oral Torah. It occurs as a anonymous statement in the Mishnah (Kiddushin 1:7); there are…
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The Requirement of Women to Pray
What is the basis for women being required to pray? There aren’t any explicit instances of women praying in the Torah, but in the Prophets (1 Samuel Ch.1) we find a detailed account of Hannah’s prayer for a child and…
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Women and Talmud
Can women study Talmud? Yes, women _can_ study Talmud. Generally, however, Judaism recognizes certain differences in men and women. To ignore these differences is to ignore biology — our brains are physically and chemically different, and our needs are different.…
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Women in the Bible
How many women are mentioned in the Bible? Answer: In the book of Genesis alone, over 40 woman are mentioned as individuals, though not all of them are named. Here is a list: Eve (3:20) Cain’s wife (4:17) Adah, Zillah…