I am writing a research paper on Gender Roles in Judaism. Do you believe that women should be in the working world? Do Jews really believe in gender equality? Does the Torah go into detail about womens roles in society?

There is no one place where the Torah discusses gender roles. The information is scattered throughout the written Torah and the Talmud. Briefly, the Torah does envisage that women will bear the primary responsibility for raising children, and for this reason, women are exempt from most mitzvos that are time-bound (for example, praying at fixed times). The Torah also requires a high degree of modesty (from men as well as women) which precludes certain occupations—being an actress or a model, for example.

Many Jewish women in the past and certainly in the present have worked outside the home. The book of Mishlei (Proverbs)—written by King Solomon some 3000 years ago—in Chapter 31, verses 10 to 31, contains a beautiful poem about the Jewish woman. This poem is both an extended metaphor about the love between Hashem and the Jewish people—compared to the love between a husband and wife—as well as a song of praise to the ideal Jewish wife and mother. If you read it you will see that the ideal woman is conceived of as one who is very much active both in her own household and in many aspects of business, such as selling handicrafts, buying and selling property, and so on. This poem is sung in Jewish homes every Friday night at the Shabbos table.

As for the question of equality which you raise, that is a complex question but I will try to give you a brief summary. In the Torah there are two parallel systems, one a system of hierarchy and the other a system of absolute equality. As an example of the first system, we have requirements to give honor to people whose status requires them to perform certain services—for example, to those who are born into the priestly class (kohanim) and who used to bring sacrifices on behalf of all the people when the Bais Hamikdash (the Holy Temple) stood. As an example of the second system, we have many commandments in the Torah requiring a judge, for example, to be scrupulously fair between a rich and a poor litigant, never to show favor to the rich and powerful. Many other examples could be brought of both systems.

In the eyes of Heaven there is absolute equality of status, meaning that a person who fully fulfills his or her obligations receives the same Heavenly reward and has the same value in G-d’s eyes as any other person. A man has certain obligations—for example, to daven (pray) with a minyan, or to wear tefilin—which a woman does not have, but if she fulfills the obligations she does have—such as teaching her children the mitzvos, or dressing modestly—she receives her full reward in Heaven. A slave or a High Priest are equally beloved in Hashem’s eyes. Yet, each one has different obligations and different rights and duties.

In terms of working outside the home, my own preference—and I stress that this is my OWN feeling—is that women should not work full-time when they have small children, if they can possibly manage another way. They should work part-time or do work that can be done at home, at least until their children are in school. I personally am very uncomfortable with mothers dropping infants off at day care. However, I stress that this is my personal feeling. And I do realize that financial necessity does force some women into the workplace. But a woman who thinks that she can only have personal fulfillment and status if she works full time is making a mistake, in my opinion. There is nothing ultimately more fulfilling than creating a Jewish home and pouring your love and creative abilities into your family.

In terms of Jewish law, women are definitely allowed to work outside the home, and many if not most Orthodox Jewish women do so. Provided that the job does not damage a woman’s modesty, there is no restriction on the type of job a Jewish woman can hold. There are Orthodox women doctors, lawyers, professors, businesswomen, and so on.

Toby Katz