Questions about or that apply specifically to women.

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4
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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 ...
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 ...
4
votes
1answer
67 views

Does the status “mal v'lo taval” apply to women?

In a number of circumstances, the halachic status of מל ולא טבל ("circumcized but not immersed in a mikveh") takes on significance. For instance, regarding a nochri touching wine, the Shulchan Aruch ...
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 ...
3
votes
4answers
222 views

Lady drinking Havdalah wine

Many times I have heard that a lady should not drink the wine from Havdalah as it will make her grow a beard. If a lady drank from the Havdalah wine will she really grow a beard? Is there a source ...
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 ...
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, ...
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 ...
3
votes
2answers
61 views

Women and Parshas Zachor

Are women Halachically responsible to hear the reading of Parshas Zachor?
3
votes
1answer
331 views

Women Making Kiddush

Let's say a husband and wife are alone on Friday night or on Shabbos day. Can the wife make kiddush for herself and her husband?
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?
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 ...
3
votes
1answer
62 views

Wives and daughters and the Mitzvos of Purim

Can a married woman rely on her husband for the mitzvos of Purim of Shalach Manos and Mattanos Levyonim (I recall somthing about Ishto Kigufo)?
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
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 ...
3
votes
1answer
96 views

Were there more than seven prophetesses?

The Bavli, M'gila 14:1 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 [in ...
3
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1answer
176 views

Women putting up Mezuzos

Can a women put up a Mezuzah?
3
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1answer
89 views

Reason why women are obligated to eat Matza

Pesachim 43: says that women are obligated in the Mitzva of Matza since they are obligated in the prohibition of not eating Chametz. Why do we not say that the reason is since they were part of the ...
3
votes
1answer
89 views

women's saying a b'racha on s'firas haomer

Mishna B'rura 489:3 says women do not say a b'racha on s'firas haomer; Aruch Hashulchan 489:4 says they do. What is the practice of various Ashk'nazi communities (for example, chassidic (various ...
3
votes
1answer
187 views

Woman attending shul after childbirth

There is a common custom that a woman who has given birth does not travel anywhere until she has gone to shul. What is the source of this custom, and what are its details? (I.e., it is necessary to ...
3
votes
2answers
713 views

Hotels in Yam Hamelach with Kosher Swimming

Can I get a list of Hotels in the Yam Hamelach (dead sea) area that feature separate swimming hours for men and women? Are there any? Also looking for specific information on the Le Meridian (here). ...
3
votes
1answer
72 views

How is hataras nedarim (annullment of vows) done one behalf of one's wife?

I've heard: Just have her in mind State it outright "this is for my wife too" Today I saw someone do the whole thing in the plural -- "any vow that we vowed .. we hereby regret ..." Any input on ...
3
votes
1answer
243 views

Double head covering for women?

Is there an inyan for women to have a double covering on their head? (Like men do.)
3
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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
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 ...
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 ...
3
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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 ...
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 ...
3
votes
0answers
61 views

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

Possible Duplicate: "Jumping" at the end of Shemoneh Esrei As a female davener, who is very slow, I have never seen what men do at the end of Shmone Esrei. But my husband assures ...
3
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0answers
148 views

Is Cross dressing allowed on purim [duplicate]

Possible Duplicate: Is cross-dressing permitted on Purim and if so why? Normally cross dressing is against Halacha is it allowed on Purim?
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?
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 ...
2
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1answer
92 views

Teffilin and women [closed]

Easy riddle but I Need sources Which famous women wore teffilin and the source where we know it from?
2
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1answer
57 views

Bentching Ha-Gommel after a Birth

After a woman gives birth many have the custom of reciting the blessing of "ha-gommel" (a blessing of Thanks.) Until how long after a birth may this blessing by recited? (i.e. can it be said even a ...
2
votes
2answers
99 views

Birchas Hatorah and Sefardic women

In an earlier question I mentioned that women make Birchas Hatorah. Is the same true for Sefardic women and why?
2
votes
2answers
465 views

Etymology of “kimpeturin”

What is the etymology of the yiddish term "kimpeturin," which refers to a woman who is recovering after childbirth?
2
votes
1answer
112 views

Women and writing a Mezuzah

Can a women write a Mezuzah?
2
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1answer
233 views

Are women exempt from Tachanun and discouraged from saying it?

My brother heard from someone that she heard that women are exempt from saying Tachanun and therefore discouraged from saying it. Is this so? If so, why? Do you know sources for this? UPDATE: I ...
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
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 ...
2
votes
2answers
197 views

Milk of a woman — Only for a sick person or even healthy?

In says in Shulchan Aruch Yoreh Deah Siman 81 SIf 7 that it's muter to drink chalav isha (the milk of a Woman) as long as it's "pirush" from the body (i.e. it was already extracted and now inside of a ...
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 ...
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 - ...
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
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
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 ...
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 ...
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2answers
218 views

What is the source for a woman's voice as ervah?

What is the source that a woman's (singing) voice is considered ervah?
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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
3answers
80 views

Reading Meggilah for women

What is the Process if you are Laining Meggilah for women only: Who makes the Bracha? Before and after? Can a person who has already heard be yotzeh the Women? Does it make a difference if it is ...