Questions about or that apply specifically to women.
3
votes
1answer
43 views
What kind of cleanliness is required to put on Tefillin?
The Rama says (OC 38:3) that one must protest a woman's putting on Tefillin. The Magen Avraham there (sk 3) says that this is...:
מפני שצריכין גוף נקי ונשים אינם זריזות להזהר...
...because ...
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 ...
1
vote
3answers
93 views
What do Sephardic sources have to say about women wearing t'filin?
This answer to another question about women and talit/t'filin says (about t'filin):
Because of the Rema is the foremost Ashkenazic authority of halakha, the great modern Askenazic poskim (R. Moshe ...
4
votes
3answers
151 views
Do the Gemara and the Rema prohibit, or encourage, women putting on talit and/or tefillin?
An article in Ynet Judaism (in Hebrew) addresses the resent controversy regarding the prayer of Women of the Wall at the western wall. And claims the following claims:
אף אחד גם לא הקריא להן את ...
1
vote
1answer
30 views
Why is birkas kohanim in the masculine singular?
If the kohanim are blessing the entire people, one would think that it should be worded, "יברככם...וישמרכם" Why is it in the singular form?
On a related note, if a father places this blessing on his ...
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 ...
-4
votes
2answers
80 views
Who should be asking a nidda shaala
Who should be asking a niddah shaala the woman or her husband, or is there no difference or does it perhaps depend on what the shaala is.
Rabbis prefer woman for a variety of reasons. The man often ...
2
votes
0answers
51 views
Can members of Hatzalah learn how to deliver a baby?
This seems like a very simple thing. Is there anything wrong with male members of hatzalaha (a frum Jewish emergency medical organization) learning how to deliver a baby? I recently heard that ...
2
votes
2answers
323 views
Pleasure of woman at the end of relations (source in Chazal?)
I heard that it says in chazal the woman only has pleasure at the end ("gamar bia") of tashmish (relations). Is there any source/citation for this?
0
votes
0answers
136 views
Is male and female masturbation Biblically (“miDeoraita”) prohibited?
Is male and female masturbation Biblically ("miDeoraita") prohibited? If it is, where do we learn this from? Please provide sources. Thank you.
1
vote
2answers
86 views
What Chasam Sofer writes in regards to a Kohen Gadol marrying a Basuleh
The Chasam Sofer in Toras Moshe Parsha Emor writes the following:
A cohen should marry a basuleh (virgin). The Ramabm counts this as a Mitzvas aseh (positive commandment). However one could have ...
3
votes
3answers
67 views
What's her husband doing at the gates in the middle of her song?
Eishes Chayil is a song sung traditionally on Friday nights. It's the last 22 verses of Mishlei/Proverbs. It speaks about a "Woman of Valor", and literally does nothing but sing her praises. Well, ...
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 ...
1
vote
0answers
140 views
Rabbi Soloveitchik's wife and hair coverings
I've heard from some that Rabbi Joseph B. Soloveitchik's wife didn't cover her hair. I haven't managed to find a source for this. If there is a source, what is it, and if it's true, what was her ...
4
votes
2answers
87 views
What was so good about Naamah the Ammonite?
In Bava Kamma 38b we are told that one reason God spared Lot was because of the two good birds who would issue from his daughters. Rus from Moav and Naamah from Ammon. Rus is well known, the only ...
6
votes
3answers
197 views
Rashi's Daughters wearing Tefillin
There is a commonly held "tradition" that Rashi's daughters wore Tefillin.
One highly educated rabbi/professor has publicly stated that he's spent 35 years searching for a source but to no avail.
...
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 ...
3
votes
1answer
51 views
Can one say “Hazak u'Baruch” to both men and women? If not, is there a female equivalent?
When returning from an Aliyah la'Torah, I am commonly met with "Hazak u'Baruch". I have encountered this saying in other situations when someone does something praiseworthy.
Can one say "Hazak ...
3
votes
2answers
125 views
When and why did women change to ritually bathing in the Evening?
Do you happen to have any ideas, or any sources, detailing why women first became required to bathe in the evening as in current practise, as opposed to the recorded biblical requirement to wash ...
5
votes
2answers
186 views
Why is age 3 the age at which a girl is able to have intercourse?
In msh210's answer to this question of mine, he stated that:
women...who physically could be [intimate with men], which is those who had reached their third birthday.
In comments, he mentioned ...
8
votes
3answers
184 views
Why was there a distinction made for women captives?
In Numbers 31, God tells the Israelites to wipe out the Midianites (and incidentally, Balaam) by killing every male. But they spared certain women (v17-18):
Now therefore kill every male among the ...
0
votes
0answers
51 views
Is there an 'Inyan of Upsherin for girls?
Upsherin is cutting a boy's hair at or about the age of three for the first time. Is there any 'Inyan (idea) of an Upsherin for girls? Why or why not?
5
votes
2answers
117 views
Taharas hamishpacha practices during pregnancy
I am basing this question on this quote from the Wikipedia page on Hasidic childbirth customs:
At the beginning of pregnancy, a woman's separation behavior depends
on the regularity of her ...
1
vote
2answers
175 views
Does Halachah allow Jewish women to wear baggy ski pants while skiing?
My impression was religious Jewish women wear skirts and dresses - and not pants - because pants are a man's garment and there is a prohibition against cross-dressing. However, when skiing, everyone ...
0
votes
0answers
56 views
Women fasting on Taanis Bechoros [closed]
The Machaber in OC Siman 470 writes that there is an opinion that holds a woman that is a bachorah should fast on Taanis Bechoros. The Rema adds there however that this is not the minhag. The Rema ...
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
4answers
142 views
Biblical significance of face veil
I read here about certain Jewish sects prescribing face veil. A related question about the rule was asked here, and i was asked to ask a separate question on Biblical history of the same.
Was such a ...
1
vote
2answers
182 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 ...
3
votes
2answers
77 views
Formulation of Women's Zimmun
According to this answer, three women who have eaten together may make a zimmun. The usual formulation of the zimmun, "רבותי נברך", does not make sense for women. What formulation should women use ...
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, ...
2
votes
0answers
49 views
May a woman be a kvater?
May a woman serve as the sole kvater (person who brings the baby to the sandek) at a bris? At most britot I've been to, the duty of kvater was handled by a woman and a man (typically married), with ...
2
votes
1answer
59 views
Source that a woman is considered to have a bris milah
I recall learning, I think in mesechtas kiddushin, that a woman is the (halachic?) equivalent of a man who has had a bris milah performed. In other words, since she does not have the same organ she is ...
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?
...
8
votes
2answers
109 views
How were girls educated during the Talmudic era?
According to the Encyclopedia of Children and Childhood in History and Society's article on Judaism:
Owing to the primacy of ritual in traditional Judaism, instruction of children focused on the ...
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 ...
6
votes
1answer
116 views
What opportunities do Orthodox women have to learn and participate in their communities outside the home?
I've visited several Orthodox communities but never been part of one. One of the things that has always been a stumbling-block for me is the role of women. Here are two things I've observed about ...
-4
votes
2answers
203 views
When did the switch to matrilineal descent occur?
Does anyone know when the switch the matrilineal descent took place? I've seen other information about the potential impetus, but when did it become so? Was there even a switch?
3
votes
1answer
131 views
Mikvah and illness
Is there any reason to assume that a woman may or may not go to Mikvah when she has a non-life threatening illness that may be made worse by going (eg., flu, strep, ear infection)?
What if both she ...
1
vote
1answer
62 views
Are Shiurim (Classes) for Women common in Orthodox Synagogues?
Is it quite common at most Orthodox shuls for there to be a women's shiur presented by a female? What topics would generally be discussed?
0
votes
0answers
108 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
0answers
74 views
Looking at clothing of a woman
It says in Shulchan Aruch Evan HaEzer Siman 21 Sif 1 that it's ossur to look at the colored clothing of a woman that you know even if she is not wearing them, lest one come to "hirhurim" (to think ...
2
votes
0answers
67 views
Saying Divrei Torah by a Seudah — also for Women?
There is a mitzvah of saying Divrei Torah at a Seudah (meal). The rule says that any table that didn't have Divrei Torah said on it is as if someone ate from "Zivchei Masim" ("sacrifices to the ...
6
votes
2answers
122 views
Who was Cain's wife?
I saw this problem on reddit today and I think that we cursorily covered this in Tanach class. Who was Cain's wife? In בראשית ד' י"ז it says " וַיֵּדַע קַיִן אֶת-אִשְׁתּוֹ" but it never says who she ...
2
votes
1answer
53 views
Lighting candles on Yom Tov that falls out on Motzei Shabbos
Before a woman lights candles for Yom Tov that falls out on Motzei Shabbos does it say anywhere that she needs to say "HaMavdil" first? (Since the kedushas are different -- on Shabbos it was ossur to ...
3
votes
2answers
104 views
How was Devorah appointed a judge?
Although there is already a question on how judges were appointed during the period after the First Temple was built, that question did not cover the period of the Judges, following the time of ...
2
votes
1answer
402 views
Pants under skirts
Which authorities permit women wearing "womens' pants", as long as it is covered by a skirt, in lieu of tights in non-athletic situations, for example as a more comfortable, warmer, or even more ...
0
votes
3answers
710 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 ...
7
votes
1answer
191 views
Where does our blessing for daughters come from?
In many Jewish homes on Shabbat, the head of the household would bless his sons to be like Ephraim and Menasheh but would bless his daughters to be like the matriarchs . What is the source, if any, ...
