Questions tagged [women]

Questions about or that apply specifically to women.

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1 answer
85 views

Do women/minors count toward the nine listening to chazaras hashatz?

Shulchan Aruch, Orach Chayim 124:4, in my own, loose translation: When the leader repeats the amida (sh'mone esre), the congregation should be quiet, pay attention to the benedictions that the ...
5 votes
4 answers
2k 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 ...
11 votes
2 answers
328 views

Mitzvah for fathers to buy things for dating-age daughters?

I heard that men whose daughters are dating have a mitzvah to supply them with things that will help them, i.e. dresses, jewelry, etc. Is there a source for this?
12 votes
2 answers
723 views

Do the Nine Measures Apply to the Woman?

Nedarim 20b discusses nine mannerisms which a man should avoid whilst being intimate with his wife. The Talmud says that practicing these nine mannerisms can lead to having obstinate, rebellious ...
3 votes
2 answers
527 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 ...
1 vote
1 answer
309 views

How is the body of a androginus or tumtum hung?

If an androginus (person possessing both sex organs) or tumtum (person of unspecific gender) is punished by beis din for a capital case and then hung, how is the body displayed? Like a man (naked but ...
14 votes
1 answer
1k views

Does a woman have to cover her head if she is bald?

The Gemara in Ketubot 72a outlines the issue of married woman covering her hair. This issue has been discussed already on this forum. Rav Yehuda Herzl-Henkin has wonderful and thorough treatment of ...
10 votes
4 answers
21k 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 ...
6 votes
3 answers
1k 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 recent 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 ...
3 votes
3 answers
1k views

What is the difference between Maharat and Yoetzet Halacha?

I am familiar with two different programs which (as far as I understand) teach women to be halachaik authorities. Graduates of one program--Yeshivat Maharat in New York--are called Maharat. Graduates ...
3 votes
1 answer
342 views

Who were Esav's wives?

Bereishit (Genesis) chapter 26 and Genesis 36 state different names for the wives of Esav (Esau). What are the different explanations to this problem? (Biblical Criticism explains this as two ...
2 votes
2 answers
156 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?
1 vote
1 answer
245 views

Is it a sin to study talmud as a woman? [duplicate]

In the movie Yentl, a woman pretends to be a man in order to study talmudic law. Is it considered a sin to study the talmud as a woman?
3 votes
3 answers
2k views

What are the most commonly-held positions regarding Kol Isha?

As a woman, I am mindful of the need to avoid putting Jewish men in inevitable situations of kol isha (hearing a woman's singing voice). However, I have heard many interpretations of this law, and I ...
7 votes
1 answer
3k views

Women and girls covering their heads when lighting candles

I'm not sure how widespread the following practice is, since, as a man - and even since I was a young boy - I have always taken little notice of other women and girls outside my immediate family as I (...
4 votes
2 answers
2k views

Can a Jewish woman sing in front of a non-Jewish man?

Suppose I am a Jewish woman. Suppose I am in a taxi (or similar semiprivate place) with a male cab driver who I am quite sure is not Jewish. May I sing in front of him? Hypothesis: That since the ...
3 votes
0 answers
130 views

Stepping back, forward and bouncing 3 times, after Shmoneh Esrei [duplicate]

Possible Duplicate: "Jumping" at the end of Shemoneh Esrei Most questions about Shmoneh Esreh appear written and responded to by men. So this is asked by and for women who might want ...
3 votes
1 answer
514 views

Can a woman daven in a nightgown?

Can a woman daven in a nightgown that she sleeps in and wears all day unless leaving the house? Or is this not allowed since by man it's not considered respectful to daven before Hashem in pajamas he ...
3 votes
2 answers
962 views

Why are there few female circumcisers these days?

This article cites varying opinions regarding the use a mohelet - woman circumciser. There are opinions allowing it, though. Excerpt: There is a controversy in tractate Avodah Zarah 27a regarding ...
0 votes
1 answer
217 views

Ladies first or men first?

Bereshit 31:17 reads: וַיָּקָם יַעֲקֹב וַיִּשָּׂא אֶת בָּנָיו וְאֶת נָשָׁיו עַל הַגְּמַלִּים׃ So Jacob rose, and he lifted up his sons and his wives upon the camels. Rashi: את בניו ואת ...
4 votes
1 answer
631 views

How does a lady Daven Tashlumin for Mincha if she never Davens Maariv?

Suppose a lady who normally Davens (prays) Mincha missed Mincha one day. Now this lady never Davens Maariv. Must she Daven Maariv to do Tashlumin or can she just Daven one Shemona Esrei for the missed ...
4 votes
1 answer
1k views

If a woman converting to Judaism goes to Mikvah during her period but doesn't see any more blood, is she Tehorah?

As a corollary to this question, if a woman goes to Mikvah for her conversion "during her period" (let's say on the 2nd or 3rd day), but for some reason (for which she should probably consult her OB/...
11 votes
2 answers
549 views

Were there more than seven prophetesses?

The Bavli, M'gila 14 amud 1, quotes: Forty-eight prophets and seven prophetesses prophesied for the Jews…. Further along on the page, it questions this: Were there no more? But it says [...
3 votes
2 answers
760 views

How can we say women can't receive s'micha when they already have?

The topic of s'micha is a touchy subject in general due to the fact that the s'micha we have now is a rather diminished form in comparison to the s'micha of the Bible or Talmud. The institution of ...
3 votes
1 answer
177 views

Saying Va'yechulu with a woman

The Mishna Brurah 268:19 writes that one should say va'yachulu with two people minimum since there are those who hold you can't say it by yourself (he does note that one can read by himself if done as ...
14 votes
4 answers
3k 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. ...
5 votes
1 answer
280 views

Why is Sarah the only woman that has her years lived mentioned?

Breishit 23:1 mentions that Sarah was 127 years old when she died. Ohr Hachaim's commentary seems to glance upon some issues regarding why Sarah's age was mentioned, and he seems to focus on the fact ...
5 votes
2 answers
926 views

Is there an obligation for men and women to sit separately at a simcha?

Rav Binyamin Kamentzky, whom I recently saw, told me that until about 30 - 25 years ago, it was very common for men and women to sit together at weddings, Bar Mitzvah and other seudei mitzvah run by "...
-1 votes
1 answer
231 views

Are Pilgashim used as "place holders" in a man's life?

Is it normal for a Jewish man to have a pilegesh to take care of physical needs when he is not yet married? By "pilegesh" I mean a woman who is temporarily monogamous with him for the purpose of sex, ...
11 votes
1 answer
446 views

Implications of gradual gender change at age 12

In the village of Salinas, Dominican Republic, about 2% of the females (as determined by external genitalia) gradually morph into males at age 12.[​1][​2] If such a child was Jewish and accepted as ...
1 vote
1 answer
375 views

Wife's conjugal rights [duplicate]

I understand that a wife has a conjugal rights depending on the occupation of the husband (2 times a week, 1 time a week, on Friday night, one time a month, 1 time in 6 months, 1 time a year) And ...
-1 votes
1 answer
77 views

Why did a newspaper edit out, rather than obscure, women from a photo? [duplicate]

When the Israeli newspaper HaMevaser published a photo of world leaders at the Paris Unity Rally, it edited out the women from the photo, so they were entirely absent from the result. The ...
11 votes
3 answers
2k views

Should women eat in the Sukkah?

Is there any inyan for a woman to eat in the sukkah. I know they're not required (after all, it's a mitzvas asei shehazeman grama [מצות עשה שהזמן גרמא]), but I still know many women who do. Is this ...
0 votes
1 answer
199 views

Are women halachically obligated to fast on the minor fasts? [duplicate]

A friend of mine has told me they are not halachically obligated and yet I can not see any mention of this in the Shulchan Aruch. Please show מקורות.
4 votes
5 answers
192 views

Is there anything in the Tanakh or Talmud about a woman that raises her children alone?

I just lost my grandmother. She raised her 5 children alone. I am looking for things in the Tanakh or Talmud to cheer my dad up. Is there anything in the Tanakh or Talmud about a woman that raises her ...
2 votes
1 answer
2k views

Can a woman be a zadik? [closed]

Can a woman be a zadik? Who of the matriarchs would be considered a zaikai if women can be. Thank you.
3 votes
1 answer
262 views

Is there no such sin as a wayward daughter? If so, why not?

The mitzvot and sins are not equal in their distribution. Some are only applicable to men, some to women, some to Kohanim, to Kings, etc. In the case of a wayward (or rebellious) son who is described ...
-1 votes
2 answers
208 views

בין אדם לחבירו - between man and his fellow man

The translation of בין אדם לחבירו is between man and his fellow man. 1) Does בין אדם לחבירו also apply to women? 2) If it does, then shouldn't it be worded בין אשה לחבירה or בין אשה לחברתה?
7 votes
4 answers
2k views

Why is there so much focus on Women's Modesty among Orthodox Jews?

Based on the amount of attention given to women's modesty, one could argue that being modest is their primary role in Judaism. (I think I've even seen that said explicitly.) Women are obligated in ...
7 votes
1 answer
410 views

kallah not doing work during sheva brachos

We know that a chasson is not permitted to do work during his Sheva Brachos. Two reasons: Either because he must spend the time bringing joy to his wife or because he is compared to a king and a king ...
1 vote
2 answers
698 views

Is women saying Kaddish an issue of Kol Isha?

I have seen it discussed whether or not there is an issue of kol isha by kriyas haTorah, but I have not seen any sources addressing whether there is an issue of kol isha by kaddish, specifically...? ...
17 votes
2 answers
2k 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?
1 vote
1 answer
234 views

Married women uncovering their hair in the presence of gentiles

Is there a halachic difference of a married women covering her hair in the presence of Jews or Gentiles? Even if you hold like the chasam sofer who says that it's Deoraisa?
3 votes
0 answers
224 views

Are ankle socks non-tziniut?

Is it permissible for a woman to wear ankle socks? The issue that comes to mind is that the area between the bottom of the skirt and the top of the socks is visible and quite substantial. But if you ...
5 votes
2 answers
2k views

Does Judaism have anything on maiden names?

A recent NY Times article describes a rising trend in women's choices in keeping their maiden names, instead of (more traditionally) taking their husband's last name. I've wondered what opinions ...
2 votes
2 answers
1k 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?
2 votes
1 answer
3k views

Is it wrong not to wear a bra?

Is it a problem (for reasons related to tznius or any other Jewish concern) if a woman does not wear a bra? Is it still a problem if it is not obvious that the woman is not wearing a bra? Women may ...
1 vote
0 answers
59 views

Teffilin during Shabat

Semag : כל אחד מישראל אינו יהודי שלם אלא אם כן יש לו שני עדים שהוא יהודי, הלכך בשבת ויום טוב שנקרא שבת, ושבת נקרא אות, פטור אדם מלהניח תפילין כי די שיש לו שני עדים שהוא יהודי עדות שבת ועדות מילה (...
5 votes
3 answers
1k 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 - ...
1 vote
1 answer
2k views

Nose rings allowed or not allowed?

The Torah states that Eliezer gave Rivka a golden nose ring...Based on the Torah it is allowed. What I want to know is why people do not accept this and discourage it.

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