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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 הגמרא שמספרת על ברוריה אשת רבי מאיר, שהייתה מניחה תפילין ומתעטפת בטלית, וגם לא את זו שמספרת על מיכל בת שאול שהניחה תפילין ולא מיחו בידה, ובטח שלא את פסק ההלכה של הרמ"א שמחייב אותן בברכה על כך.

In short, it claims that the Gemara depicts "Bruria wife of rabbi Meir" and "Michal, daughter of Saul" putting on tefilin and talit, and nobody stopping them. And also, that the Rema said that they are obliged to bless the act (לברך), and thus implying that this is allowed (and maybe even encouraged).

What is the Gemara's and orthodox adjudicators' view on the issue?

I know that this is an English site, but please, when you put references to books and scriptures, put them in Hebrew as well, it makes the job of understanding what is written and checking it by myself much easier.

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  • I take it the article doesn't say where in the g'mara? (If it does, please add that to the question to help guide answerers.) Commented May 12, 2013 at 16:04
  • No it doesn't I have also read some of the talkbacks, and none of those say where in the gemara it appears, or from what book the Rema's Halacha is taken.
    – SIMEL
    Commented May 12, 2013 at 16:28
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    Thanks for clarifying. Also, welcome to Mi Yodeya and thank you for bringing your question here! I hadn't heard the claim of g'mara support and, if it's there, would be interested in knowing too. Commented May 12, 2013 at 16:30
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    See Women & the Mitzvot: Serving the Creator, pp. 95-105, which discusses this at length.
    – Fred
    Commented May 12, 2013 at 19:36
  • See also this article
    – Double AA
    Commented May 12, 2013 at 19:43

3 Answers 3

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There is much discussion in Jewish literature about this subject, and there is also a difference between a woman wearing a tallit and tefillin. It is easy to show what the Gemara and the Rema say, but leaving out all of the rishonim and acharonim on the topic would prevent learning where the halakha stands. But here is a start.

  • Regarding tefillin

Mishna - מסכת ברכות פרק ג:ג (Berakhot 3:3)

נשים ועבדים וקטנים פטורין מקריאת שמע ומן התפילין וחייבין בתפלה ובמזוזה ובברכת המזון

Women, slaves, and minors are exempt from the recitation of Shema, and from tefillin, and are obligated in prayer and mezuzah and the blessings on food.

The reason why women are not obligated is explained in the gemara קידושין (Kiddushin 33a-34b), where the Torah uses the words "sons" for the mitzvah of learning Torah, which is in the same verse as the mitzvah for wearing tefillin (this is a general principle of Torah verse application). Also, women are not obligated by positive time-bound mitzvot, so they're not obligated to wear tefillin (same sugya in Kiddushin). But can they wear teffilin anyway? Here is the main story of a woman wearing tefillin in the gemara.

Talmud Bavli - תלמוד בבלי מסכת עירובין דף צו עמוד א-ב (Eruvin 96a-b)

דתניא: מיכל בת כושי היתה מנחת תפילין ולא מיחו בה חכמים. ואשתו של יונה היתה עולה לרגל ולא מיחו בה חכמים. מדלא מיחו בה חכמים - אלמא קסברי: מצות עשה שלא הזמן גרמא היא. - ודילמא סבר להכרבי יוסי, דאמר: נשים סומכות רשות. דאי לא תימא הכי - אשתו של יונה היתה עולה לרגל ולא מיחו בה. מי איכא למאן דאמר רגל לאו מצות עשה שהזמן גרמא הוא? אלא: קסבר רשות, הכא נמי: רשות. אלא האי תנא היא, דתניא: המוצא תפילין מכניסן זוג זוג, אחד האיש ואחד האשה, אחד חדשות ואחד ישנות, דברי רבי מאיר. רבי יהודה אוסר בחדשות ומתיר בישנות. ע"כ לא פליגי אלא בחדשות וישנות, אבל באשה - לא פליגי. שמע מינה: מצות עשה שלא הזמן גרמא הוא, וכל מצות עשה שאין הזמן גרמא נשים חייבות. - ודילמא סבר לה כרבי יוסי, דאמר: נשים סומכות רשות? - לא סלקא דעתך, דלא רבי מאיר סבר לה כרבי יוסי, ולא רבי יהודה סבר לה כרבי יוסי. לא רבי מאיר סבר לה כרבי יוסי - דתנן: אין מעכבין את התינוקות מלתקוע. הא נשים - מעכבין. וסתם מתניתין רבי מאיר. ולא רבי יהודה סבר לה כרבי יוסי - דתניא: אדבר אל בני ישראל וסמך - בני ישראל סומכין ואין בנות ישראל סומכות. רבי יוסי ורבי שמעון אומרים: נשים סומכות רשות. וסתם סיפרא מני - רבי יהודה.

For it was taught: Michal the daughter of the Kushite wore tefillin and the Sages did not attempt to prevent her, and the wife of Jonah attended the festival pilgrimage and the Sages did not prevent her. Now since the Sages did not prevent her it is clearly evident that they hold the view that it is a positive precept the performance of which is not limited to a particular time.

But is it not possible that he holds the same view as R. Jose who ruled: It is optional for women to lay their hands upon an offering? For were you not to say so, how is it that Jonah's wife attended the festival pilgrimage and the Sages did not prevent her, seeing that there is no one who contends that the observance of a festival is not a positive precept the performance of which is limited to a particular time? You must consequently admit that he holds it to be optional; could it not then here also be said to be optional? — It reprsents rather the view of the following Tanna. For it was taught: If tefillin are found they are to be brought in, one pair at a time, irrespective of whether the person who brings them in is a man or a woman, and irrespective of whether the tefillin were new or old; so R. Meir. R. Judah forbids this in the case of new ones but permits it in that of old ones.

Now since their dispute is confined to the question of new and old while in respect of the woman there is no divergence of opinion it may be concluded that it is a positive precept the performance of which is not restricted to a particular time, women being subject to the obligations of such precepts. But is it not possible that he holds the same view as R. Jose who stated: It is optional for women to lay their hands upon an offering? — This cannot be entertained at all, since neither R. Meir holds the same view as R. Jose nor does R. Judah hold the same view as R. Jose. ‘Neither R. Meir holds the same view as R. Jose’, since we learned: ‘Children are not to be prevented from blowing the shofar’; from which it follows that women are to be prevented; and any anonymous Mishnah represents the view of R. Meir. ‘Nor does R. Judah hold the same view as R. Jose’, since it was taught: Speak unto the children of Israel ... and he shall lay, only the sons of Israel ‘shall lay’ but not the daughters of Israel. R. Jose and R. Simeon ruled: It is optional for women to lay. Now who is the author of all anonymous statement in the Sifra? R. Judah. [Soncino]

Talmud Yerushalmi - תלמוד ירושלמי מסכת ברכות ב:ג ומקבילו מסכת ערובין י:א (Brachot 2:3 and Eruvin 10:1)

הרי מיכל בת כושי הית' לובשת תפילי' ואשתו של יונה הית' עולה לרגלי' ולא מיחו בידיה חכמ' ר' חזקיה בשם ר' אבהו אשתו של יונה הושבה מיכל בת כושי מיחו בידיה חכמ'‏

Behold Michal the daughter of the Kushite wore tefillin and the Sages did not attempt to prevent her, and the wife of Jonah attended the festival pilgrimage and the Sages did not prevent her. Rabbi Chizkiya [said] in the name of Rabbi Abahu: the wife of Jonah was sent back; the Sages did attempt to prevent Michal the daughter of the Kushite.

Rema - שו"ע או"ח לח:ג (Shulchan Aruch Orech Chaim 38:3)

DoubleAA already quoted this source. I'll just add that the Rema is quoting the Kol Bo's language, which besides noting women's exemption, also mentions problem with cleanliness.

כתב הר"ם נשים פטורות מתפילין מפני שהוא מצות עשה שהזמן גרמה שהרי אין מניחין אותן בשבת ויום טוב ואם רצו להניח אין שומעין להן מפני שאינן יודעות לשמור עצמן בנקיות ע"כ

The Maharam [whose students, like the Kol Bo, wrote his teachings] wrote that women are exempt from tefillin because they are positive time-bound mitvot since they are not worn on Shabbat or Yom Tov. And if they want to wear tefillin, one does not listen to them because they do not know how to maintain cleanliness.

Because of the Rema is the foremost Ashkenazic authority of halakha, the great modern Askenazic poskim (R. Moshe Feinstein-Igrot Moshe IV OC #9, Chafetz Chaim-Mishnah Berura OC 38:3, Arukh HaShulchan-OC:38) have similarly ruled against it. Sephardic opinions and other poskim who have explicitly allowed it deserves its own question.

  • Regarding Tallit

Like tefillin, there are time-bound and other issues (male clothing, arrogance, etc.) that concern its permissibility. However, there is no story of women wearing it in the gemara, and there is generally a more stringent opinion against women wearing tefillin than tallit (perhaps because there isn't a requirement to buy a tallit and it's not obvious if it's time-bound). The discussion of women and tallit in the gemara is here:

Talmud Bavli - מנחות דף מג עמוד א (Menachot 43a)

ת"ר: הכל חייבין בציצית, כהנים, לוים וישראלים, גרים, נשים ועבדים; ר"ש פוטר בנשים, מפני שמצות עשה שהזמן גרמא הוא, וכל מצות עשה שהזמן גרמא נשים פטורות. אמר מר: הכל חייבין בציצית, כהנים, לוים וישראלים. פשיטא, דאי כהנים לוים וישראלים פטירי, מאן ליחייב? כהנים איצטריכא ליה, ס"ד אמינא, הואיל וכתיב: אלא תלבש שעטנז צמר ופשתים יחדיו גדילים תעשה לך, מאן דלא אישתרי כלאים לגביה בלבישה הוא דמיחייב בציצית, הני כהנים הואיל ואישתרי כלאים לגבייהו לא ליחייבו, קמ"ל, נהי דאישתרי בעידן עבודה, בלא עידן עבודה לא אישתרי. ר"ש פוטר בנשים. מאי טעמא דר"ש? דתניא: בוראיתם אותו - פרט לכסות לילה

Our Rabbis taught: All must observe the law of zizith, priests, Levites, and Israelites, proselytes, women and slaves. R. Simeon declares women exempt, since it is a positive precept dependent on a fixed time, and women are exempt from all positive precepts that are dependent on a fixed time. The Master said, ‘All must observe the law of zizith, priests, Levites, and Israelites’. Is not this obvious? For if priests and Levites and Israelites were exempt, then who would observe it? — It was stated particularly on account of priests. For I might have argued, since it is written, Thou shalt not wear a mingled stuff, wool and linen together, and [it is followed by,] Thou shalt make thee twisted cords, that only those who are forbidden to wear mingled stuff must observe the law of zizith, and as priests are permitted to wear mingled stuff20 they need not observe [the law of zizith]; we are therefore taught [that they, too, are bound], for although while performing the service [in the Temple] they may wear [mingled stuff] they certainly may not wear it when not performing the service. R. Simeon declares women exempt’. What is R. Simeon's reason? — It was taught: That ye may look upon it: this excludes a night garment. [Soncino]

Rema - שו"ע או"ח יז:ב (Shulchan Aruch Orech Chaim 17:2)

נשים ועבדים פטורים, מפני שהיא מצות עשה שהזמן גרמא. הגה: ומ"מ אם רוצים לעטפו ולברך עליו הרשות בידן כמו בשאר מצות עשה שהזמן גרמא (תוס' והרא"ש והר"ן פ"ב דר"ה ופ"ק דקדושין), אך מחזי כיוהרא, ולכן אין להן ללבוש ציצית, הואיל ואינו חובת גברא (אגור סימן כ"ז) פי' אינו חייב לקנות לו טלית כדי שיתחייב בציצית. ולקמן בסימן י"ט אמר כשיש לו טלית מארבע כנפות (ולבשו).

Women and slaves are exempt [from wearing tzitzit] because it is a time-dependent commandment. Rem"a: And if they wish to wrap [in tzitzit] and say the blessing on them it is up to them to do so as with all positive time-dependent commandments... Yet, it appears arrogant and therefore women should not wear tzitzit, since it is not an obligation of the person, meaning a man isn't obligated to buy a tallit for himself in order to observe the mitzvot of tzitzit. they are doing it to appear more observant than others in which case they may not wear them since they are not required as men are.

Halakha considers the whole gamut of opinions, which are too numerous to cite here, but this is what the gemara and the rema have to say on the subject.

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  • Thanks for all the information! Regarding your final paragraph under t'filin, asked. Commented May 12, 2013 at 20:44
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Rabbi Yonason Ben uziel the Targum Yonason on parshas ki teitzei 22:5 explains the passuk of the prohibition of men wearing womens clothing and vice versa that the prohibition includes women wearing tzitzis and teffilin.

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    Does that mean that the Rema didn't write that women need to bless when they put on Tefillin, or that the Gemara doesn't mention those two women putting on Tefillin and Talit?
    – SIMEL
    Commented May 12, 2013 at 17:24
  • @IlyaMelamed The gemara does mention Michal wearing tefillin (not a tallis, if I recall), though the Talmud Yerushalmi maintains that the sages did object to her actions. I don't know of a source for Bruria wearing tefillin, though I've heard a lot of people mention that she did. The Rema did write that a woman who wears a tallis should recite a blessing, but he said that women may not wear tefillin. (The Rema and some other poskim seem to disregard the Targum Yonasan's rationale regarding cross dressing).
    – Fred
    Commented May 12, 2013 at 17:33
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    This is not written by Yonason ben Uziel, and is full of incredibly strange and not followed opinions. Not the best source for a practical question.
    – Double AA
    Commented May 12, 2013 at 17:41
  • Michal is a different case if you access to the seder Mrafsin Igri inyanim alef pg 17 it explains the diff.
    – sam
    Commented May 12, 2013 at 17:41
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    @sam Who says otherwise with basis?
    – Double AA
    Commented May 12, 2013 at 17:43
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One orthodox adjudicators' view

The Ben ish chai in chukay noshim chapter 43 (below) says woman can do all time bound mitsvot exept tefilin and tissis

In his shut Rav poalim part 1(end), soid ishorim 12 he gives a kabolistik source/explanation for them not having permission to do them.
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enter image description here

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    The question was really about the Talmud and Rema. This answer presents neither...
    – mevaqesh
    Commented Jan 10, 2016 at 5:09

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