Women’s Issues
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Women and Havdalah
Are women allowed to make havdalah if a man will be home in 5 minutes? When is a woman allowed to make havdalah for herself and other women? Answer: There is a difference of opinion regarding a woman’s obligation to…
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Monetary Obligations of a Husband
My husband and I both work, and we have been having some “discussions” regarding the level to which my husband must contribute to household expenses. (Don’t worry, we’re getting marriage counseling.) What are my rights according to Jewish law? Can…
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Women’s Obligation to Learn Torah
I noticed in Chapter 6 of Pirkei Avot that a lot of the statements of the Sages have to do with Torah study. In what way should women (who do not have a requirement to study Torah) internalize these lessons…
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Is Judaism Sexist?
Is our religion sexist? If by “sexist”, you mean “of the opinion that women are inferior to men”, then no, Judaism is not sexist. If by “sexist” you mean “of the opinion that men and women are different – psychologically,…
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Father’s Role in the Delivery of a Child
What is the role of the father at the delivery of his child? It seems that, historically, the father (or any male for that matter) had very little to do in the delivery of a child, and was most likely…
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God Referred to as “He”
Why is it that God is always referred to as “He” or “Him” and not as “She” or “Her”? Firstly, it must be understood that since Judaism holds that God has no physical form, He (obviously) lacks genitalia, and can…
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Shalom Zachor and Celebrating a Girl’s Birth
Is there any similar ceremony to a Shalom Zachor [customary celebration for the birth of a boy on the Friday night after birth] for the birth of a baby girl? A shalom zachor, by definition, is a party to welcome…
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Is G-d Really a “He”?
A very literate Jew I know continually refers to G-d as a “He”. Why not refer to G-d as a “She”? G-d, being non-physical, is gender neutral (i.e. neither a “he” nor “she”). However, proper rules of grammatical etiquette employs…