Tagged Questions
4
votes
1answer
92 views
Do you have to listen to the mikveh lady?
From what I understand when a woman goes to the mikvah there is another woman who watches her immerse (dubbed 'mikveh lady'). Apparently this is for practical reasons to make sure everything is done ...
2
votes
1answer
54 views
Seeing dam due to relations and the halachos of vests
If a woman was a "ro'eh machmis tashmish" (she saw blood after having relations), does the day that it happened go into the account of her "vestes" (the days that she will have to be concerned she may ...
10
votes
1answer
119 views
Do men on the women's side count toward a minyan?
If men are on the women's side of the shul during davening when there are no women there, do they count toward the minyan, or are they considered separate? Does it matter if the women's area is right ...
6
votes
1answer
68 views
Does a lady count as a Panim Chadashos?
Even Ha'Ezer 62:7 says that in order to say Sheva Brachos at the meals that are made for the week after the wedding for the Chassan and Kallah there needs to be a Panim Chadashos (new face) present. ...
3
votes
1answer
86 views
Is it permissible for a single woman to have a baby through artificial insemination by an anonymous sperm donor? Is it moral?
Single women, approaching or past 40, hear their biological clock alarm ringing with tremendous volume. One that I know has decided that her love life is not going to come around soon enough for her ...
2
votes
2answers
270 views
Are (opaque) stockings under a skirt considered enough to cover ervah?
This is a question about skirt lengths. From this answer:
The halacha is that "tefach b'isha ervah" - a tefach (about 3.5
inches) uncovered on certain parts of a woman's body is ervah -
...
6
votes
2answers
193 views
May a woman look at a man for pleasure?
It's ossur for a man to look at a woman for pleasure. Even to look at her small finger with the intention of having pleasure from it (See EH"E Siman 21 Sif 1.)
Is there any prohibition for a woman to ...
1
vote
2answers
181 views
Women face veil prescribed
I read here about certain Jewish sects prescribing face veil. Is there, in fact, a rule requiring or encouraging covering the faces of women in presence of unrelated men? If so, what is the source for ...
2
votes
2answers
93 views
Is a woman less-obligated in bentching?
In a group of two women and one man, why can they not have a zimun together? If it is because of different levels of obligation, why is a woman less-obligated to bentch? If it's the same obligation, ...
5
votes
2answers
154 views
My father-in-law was a Cohen. Are my children Cohanim?
I seem to recall that Kehuna passes from father to son. Does it pass through the mother as well?
My father-in-law was a Cohen. That makes my wife Bat-Cohen, but what does it make my children?
...
3
votes
1answer
93 views
Have poskim written about partnership minyanim?
Are there any contemporary responsa regarding partnership minyanim, such as Shira Hadasha and Darkei Noam?
Various rabbis have written against it (e.g., R. Student, R. Rothstein, R. Firmer) and it ...
0
votes
0answers
107 views
Is a woman obliged in the mitzvah of Niddah if her husband is not Jewish? [closed]
Since Niddah is a woman's obligation alone, in theory, it should not depend on whether her husband is Jewish. Correct?
If so, then why do many modern mikvaot exclude women with non-Jewish husbands?
...
0
votes
3answers
708 views
How, if at all, can “frum” Jewish men justify their consorting with prostitutes?
A friend of mine is a part-time magistrate in Sullivan County, New York. He often hears cases of hasidic men being caught with prostitutes. Moreover, he tells me that the cases of STDs among hasidim ...
-3
votes
1answer
147 views
What are the sources that a husband may beat his wife?
What are the sources, even those that are rejected in the final halachic analysis, that encourage or allow a husband to physically abuse his wife?
5
votes
1answer
168 views
Is a bat kohen allowed to go to cemetery?
Besides the permitted reasons for male kohen, is a bat kohen allowed to go to cemetery for other reason?
5
votes
3answers
395 views
Horse back riding for women
Is it permissible for an Orthodox woman to do horseback riding in an ordinary saddle, or does she have to use a sidesaddle? Furthermore, would she be able to use women's trousers made for horseback ...
4
votes
1answer
67 views
Women and arba minim on first day
On the first day there is a din of "lechem" ("to you") that the arba minim must belong to you. Many women will take the arba minim of their father or husband (or brother perhaps) in order to fulfill ...
3
votes
2answers
205 views
Food cooked by woman during Niddah?
If according to my Bible translation - please correct me if it is wrong - anything a woman in niddah or a state of tumah, or 'impurity', touches or sits on becomes 'impure', can food cooked by her be ...
5
votes
2answers
353 views
Modesty: What is the difference between Conservative and Modern Orthodox?
What are the differences between female Modern Orthodox/Modern Orthodox Liberal Jews and Conservatives in terms of women's modesty? My question applies both to dress and social interaction - shaking ...
3
votes
1answer
162 views
Should a woman wear a gartel?
My understanding of the halachic need for a gartel is very limited; is there any reason a woman should or should not wear one during prayer?
5
votes
4answers
358 views
How assur is mixed dancing?
What is the level of the issur on mixed dancing? Minhag? D'Rabanan, D'oraita, etc.?
What about separate dancing but without a mehitza?
8
votes
2answers
462 views
Are Jewish women permitted to use birth control that stops menstruation?
Is there any reason that a Jewish woman who has permission from her Rabbi to use birth control could not choose a pill that stops her from menstruating? Although certain birth control pills are ...
8
votes
2answers
167 views
Can a woman drink the Kos Shel Bracha?
After saying Birkat HaMazon with a cup of wine, the Shulchan Aruch rules in OC 190:3, that at least a cheekful of wine must be drunk. If this was at a zimmun and the leader of the zimmun does not want ...
1
vote
0answers
151 views
Must a woman cover her hair during childbirth?
Does a woman need to cover her hair during childbirth or other major medical procedures?
8
votes
3answers
268 views
Are women forbidden from Teaching Gemara\Talmud?
Assuming that women are allowed to learn Gemara\Talmud\Torah she-Ba'al Peh, are they still forbidden from teaching it to others (either men or women)?
Textual sources for (either references or links) ...
5
votes
1answer
97 views
Women and Tefillah - per the Rav
I remember a long time ago hearing that the Rav (Rabbi Joseph B. Soloveitchik (1903–1993)) held that women should pray three times a day.
Can anyone verify this, and what is the reason/source ...
7
votes
1answer
76 views
Prenatal testing
I've been hearing that some people are discouraging prenatal testing for halachic reasons but it seems pretty important to me.
Does anyone know if there's actually something halachicly wrong about ...
5
votes
2answers
65 views
Saying Baruch Shepatrani for a girl
Do you say Boruch Shepatrani for a girl at her Bas Mitzva? If not, why not?
7
votes
1answer
200 views
May a non-Jew have an abortion?
Are non-Jews permitted to have abortions? (Consider the gemara in Sanhedrin 57b where "a baraita brings in the name of Rabbi Yishmael that a Ben Noach gets capital punishment if he intentionally ...
3
votes
1answer
162 views
What kind of Mechitza is required when the women daven on the second floor?
Many times I have seen Shuls where women pray on a balcony on the second floor.
What kind of Mechitza do they need?
Is it enough if one can't see them (for example, if the angle is such that they ...
18
votes
2answers
782 views
What are the sources for women to wear/ not wear pants?
I have heard that the argument is beged ish / kli gever, and I have heard people say that even if that was once a real reason for it it doesn't apply today for various reasons.
I understand that the ...
11
votes
2answers
368 views
Why don't brides (always) cover their hair for their weddings?
Why don't brides (always) cover their hair for their weddings? I understand that in some ultra-religious groups they do, but there seem to be many groups within Orthodoxy where they do not cover their ...
7
votes
1answer
125 views
Who is obligated in Pidyon HaBen?
A woman I know mentioned that she is redeeming her firstborn son. This got me thinking. A Pidyon HaBen is mandated for the first male child to "open" the mother's womb. But whose Mitzvah is it?
The ...
12
votes
2answers
324 views
Bootstrapping problem: havdalah ends shabbat (for one who didn't daven ma'ariv) but lighting the candle is melacha?
This answer to a question about melacha before havdalah notes that in that situation one should say "baruch hamavdil bein kodesh l'chol" first. Does that apply to lighting the havdalah candle? I ...
10
votes
2answers
153 views
Nursing in the bathroom
Per Food in bathroom it is forbidden to eat in the bathroom. Can a lady nurse in the bathroom or is it considered like eating in the bathroom? (sources)
6
votes
3answers
366 views
Baby boy's MOTHER as the sandek(et)
I have recently come upon historical evidence of the mothers of baby boys serving as the sandek(et) during the brit milah.
From page 18 of The Orthodox Jewish Woman and Ritual: Options and ...
8
votes
2answers
100 views
V'Al Brischa SheChasamta Bivsoreinu - ועל בריתך שחתמת בבשרנו - does a lady say this?
In Bentching (grace after meals) - both in the Ashkenazic and in the Sefardic version - we say V'Al Brischa SheChasamta Bivsoreinu - ועל בריתך שחתמת בבשרנו - "and for Your covenant, which you sealed ...
9
votes
2answers
210 views
If women are not obliged to daven maariv, should they daven if they wish to?
This source says that women are not obliged to daven maariv but may do if they wish.
Although the Shulchan Aruch (108:7) allows one to recite a Tefilat Nedava in a certain case, Halacha Berura (22nd ...
11
votes
3answers
363 views
Woman's hair covering in the home or in private
Trying to sort out my question, I came across this one, which is closely related, but it is not an exact duplicate.
According to those who say a woman must cover her hair, not just her head (those ...
13
votes
3answers
237 views
Halachic Source for Women-Only Mikvaoth?
Some (actually many) Mikvaoth are designated for women's use only, generally for reasons of cleanliness.
Is there Halachic literature supporting (or urging) this?
(This question is not asking for ...
14
votes
3answers
518 views
The laws behind the separation of men and women
In Israel there is a hot debate because of instances on some communities where extra steps are taken to separate men and women in every day life. For example in some bus lines women seat in the back ...
10
votes
2answers
204 views
What is a woman's obligation when it comes to T'fillah?
In Orthodox practice it is commonly thought that women are not obligated in T'fillah (parts of it anyway) due to its time-bound nature. However, what is a woman's obligation? Which prayers must she ...
7
votes
2answers
205 views
May a woman freeze her ova?
Is a woman allowed to freeze her own ova if she is coming to the later years of her life and is afraid she will miss her opportunity to have her own children naturally or otherwise, or is that frowned ...
10
votes
3answers
489 views
Can a female be a Shochet? (slaughter animals)
Can a female slaughter animals according to Halacha? (sources)
9
votes
1answer
273 views
May a lady take a pregnancy test on Shabbos?
Are there any issues with taking a pregnancy test (non-electronic) on Shabbos?
14
votes
1answer
890 views
Mixed swimming in a pool?
What are the issues with mixed swimming, from a tzniut point of view? Does it make a difference if the swimmers are or aren't Jewish? For example, are there issues with me swimming with my wife and a ...
4
votes
2answers
176 views
arachin: dependance on age and sex
Why is the erech (Vayikra 27:1–8) of a woman less than that of a man? And why does erech depend on age? Sources, please.
17
votes
13answers
1k views
How to tactfully circumvent opposite-gender handshake
Say you're a man in a professional setting, and a woman who isn't used to dealing with observant Jews stretches out her hand to greet you -- but your practice is to avoid shaking hands even in ...
12
votes
2answers
424 views
Do Shaving Restrictions Apply to Bearded Women?
For example, if a woman were to have a beard, would she be permitted to shave it off with a razor or otherwise destroy it, or do these restrictions apply to both men and women?
7
votes
3answers
320 views
Is mixed gender volleyball permissible?
Are men and women permitted to play volleyball against each other, with each team only one gender?
Does it make a difference if they are separated by an opaque wall or a regular net?
