Questions tagged [women]
Questions about or that apply specifically to women.
622
questions
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232 views
Where in the Tanakh is it derived that females are to cover their heads when praying?
Where in the Tanakh is it extrapolated that females are to cover their heads or hair when praying or reciting the name of HaShem?
I form this question upon reading the following: Women and girls ...
3
votes
1answer
98 views
Is a man allowed to say a bracha for a woman if it is a mitzvat aseh shehazman grama and he has already fulfilled his mitzvah?
The Rama in Orach Chaim 589:6 states that a man may not say a bracha on the shofar for women who have not yet heard it, if he has already fulfilled his obligation. Why wouldn't the concept of arvut ...
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5answers
1k views
Why does the Torah not make more concessions to the evil inclination?
The Torah says:
When you take ... your enemies ... captive, and you see among them a woman of beautiful form, and you desire her, you may take her to yourself as a wife. [Deuteronomy 21:11]
But the ...
2
votes
2answers
419 views
Where in the Tanakh is the subject of head-covering or hair-covering for females taught or hinted?
Where in the Tanakh is the subject of head-covering or hair-covering for females taught or hinted?
(I have researched MiYodeya and the similar questions or answers are based on non-Tanakh passages. I ...
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1answer
144 views
How could anyone think Rashi's daughters wore Tefillin?
There is a widely-held theory that Rashi's daughters wore Tefillin.
Rashi here seems to say there is a Bal Tosif (prohibition to add on a commandment) if a women does a Mitzvat Aseh Shehazman Grama (...
0
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1answer
32 views
bran in the bathhouse for use as a cleanser
In Mishna Pesahim (2:7)
MISHNA: A woman may not soak coarse bran to bring by
hand to the bathhouse for use as a cleanser; however, she may rub
coarse bran on her dry skin.
Where can we find ...
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0answers
69 views
Gendered text for Gomel
related to Bentching Ha-Gommel after a Birth
Do women bentch gomel less often?
According to some opinions, a woman can say the thanksgiving blessing ("bentch gomel")
The text that one says ...
1
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1answer
89 views
How could Abba Ḥilkiyya do that?
In the Gemara in Berochos daf 61 it says that one may not walk behind ones wife.
So how is it that Abba Ḥilkiyya in Tananis daf 23 went after his wife into the house, even if he didn't want to check ...
-3
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2answers
145 views
G-D’ Instructions: Why didn’t G-D teach the ancient Israelites to have more respect for women? [closed]
Why didn’t G-D teach the ancient Israelites to have more respect for women. HE never reproached men for have multiple wives and concubines. He never reproached people for giving their children away to ...
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0answers
124 views
Why no women beards? [closed]
Since the Zohar (1:205b) explains everything in the physical world mirrors everything in the spiritual world, what is the Torah reason why the Creator didn't have women grow beards too? (I can't ...
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1answer
98 views
Ben Ish Chai against taking photos of females?
I heard that the Ben Ish Chai was very against having women in photos, so much so that a woman would even be taken out of Gan Eden a hundred years after her photo was taken if someone looks at it. Is ...
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0answers
62 views
Does Chabad teach Talmud to girls? [duplicate]
What is Lubavitch teaching on Talmud study for girls? Is it done in Lubavitch schools? (How much? Why or why not?)
0
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1answer
85 views
Is it acceptable to ask in reverent prayer for a BOAZ to come into one’s life? [closed]
Is it acceptable for a widow to ask in reverent prayer for a BOAZ to come into her life?
1
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4answers
197 views
Source for women being on higher spiritual level?
What is the source for the concept that women are on a higher spiritual level to start than men?
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2answers
210 views
What is the antidote for a woman's yetzer hara?
The Gemora in Kiddushin 30b says
כך הקב"ה אמר להם לישראל בני בראתי יצר הרע ובראתי לו תורה תבלין ואם
אתם עוסקים בתורה אין אתם נמסרים בידו
So said Hashem to Israel, "My children, I created the ...
5
votes
1answer
157 views
Who exactly is the “kedesha” according to Rambam's interpretation?
I am an Italian noahide.
My question expresses a purely intellectual curiosity, concerning the Jews and not the Gentiles.
I cannot understand what is the exact definition of "kedesha" by Rambam , as ...
1
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1answer
65 views
Does the law not to say G-d's name without a head covering apply to woman? [duplicate]
Does the law not to say G-d's name without a head covering ( Relationship between wearing a kippa and reciting a blessing ) apply to woman?
Source?
If not, why not?
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0answers
68 views
Wearing a birthstone or simply a gemstone as a man
Is a birthstone or any gemstone for that matter kosher for a man to wear (e.g: around the neck) according to the Rabbis or is it prohibited as 'You shall not wear a woman's garment as that is a ...
3
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4answers
3k views
Do women need to marry to be fulfilled?
The Talmud says:
Rabbi Tanhum stated in the name of Rabbi Hanilai: A man who has no wife lives without joy, without blessing, and without goodness. (Yevamot 62b)
Is there a parallel quote anywhere ...
2
votes
1answer
138 views
Are women less generous with guests than men?
Bava Metzia 87a:
The verse states: “Make ready quickly three measures of flour, fine flour” (Genesis 18:6). The Gemara questions the apparent redundancy. It is written: “Flour,” and it is also ...
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0answers
63 views
Do Women Look at Fingers for Havdala?
At least in some communities, women haven't been seen looking at their fingers during havdala for the bracha on fire. (Badei Hashulchan (96:12) – לא ראיתי שנשים יביטו בצפרנים אחר בומ״ה) Is it just me ...
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3answers
220 views
Was there a tradition that Jewish girls desired to be the mother of the messiah?
Are there any Jewish historical traditions that young Jewish girls often hoped and desired to be the mother of the messiah?
For this question, I am interested in the historical time period of the 1st ...
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3answers
161 views
Source for “no Yetzer Harah when a Torah Scroll is opened/read”?
Following my question on "separation of men and women on Hakhel",
in this Drashah (thanks Lee) R' Uri Sherki (Mercaz Harav) explains the lack of separation of men and women on Hakhel by the fact ...
2
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1answer
142 views
Was Hakhel performed in separation of men and women?
Mitzvat Hakhel requires the presence of men, women, and children in the Azara (135x135 Ama incl. 4 Lishachot), with a tremendous density (for 600K grown-up men it's around 4M people per 4,000 sq.m.), ...
1
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1answer
86 views
Why did the Rambam poskin that a Woman can’t be a King of Yisrael or Moshiach?
We know that many woman were Prophets, Judges, & Warriors, all qualities necessary to rule, so why did the Rambam determine that a girl cannot become a King or Moshiach? What’s the logic behind ...
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2answers
101 views
What is the official title for the wife of a Jewish king?
The Rambam in Hilchos Melachim U'Milchamot 1:5 writes:
אֵין מַעֲמִידִין אִשָּׁה בְּמַלְכוּת שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר (דברים יז טו) "עָלֶיךָ מֶלֶךְ" וְלֹא מַלְכָּה.
We may not appoint a woman to the ...
3
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3answers
168 views
What is Rambam's source that the Sages issued a command to not teach your daughter Torah?
The Mishnah in Sotah (3:4) states:
אם יש לה זכות היתה תולה לה יש זכות תולה שנה אחת יש זכות תולה ב' שנים יש זכות תולה ג' שנים מכאן אומר בן עזאי חייב אדם ללמד את בתו תורה שאם תשתה תדע שהזכות תולה לה ר&...
3
votes
3answers
396 views
Annulment of women's nedarim
Can vows made by women nowadays still be annulled by father or husband (until sunset of the same day), as described in this week's parshah (mattos), or is this a practice of biblical/talmudic times ...
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0answers
86 views
What is the prohibition in women attending immodest parties?
Although females are not subject to the same prohibition as men, I am assuming that attending a party in which there are others immodestly dressed should also be a questionable environment for women. ...
2
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1answer
218 views
Why were women doing Brit Milah to their sons?
Unintentionally bumped into this verse (Macabbees A) that appears to be historically authentic:
והנשים אשר מלו את בניהן הומתו על פי המלך.
(And women who circumcised their sons were executed)
Do ...
4
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1answer
233 views
Is it permitted to learn Torah with one's wife?
Is it permitted to learn Torah with one's wife?
And if so, are there any special recommendations for what to study with her?
Generally speaking I understand that men don't take women as Chavrutas, ...
0
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1answer
91 views
Did Beruriah add to, “Women are light-headed,” to say, “…except Beruriah”?
I'm seeing a couple of secondary sources which suggest, without citing a primary source, that Beruriah may have supplemented her husband's teaching "Women are light-headed", either orally or in ...
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1answer
168 views
Are women allowed to have an alternative lifestyle haircut?
Is it permissible for a woman have a haircut where they shave half of her hair off and leave the other side of her hair untouched - a style strongly associated with lesbians, bisexuals, transgender ...
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1answer
105 views
Are women allowed to have a boy short haircut?
According to halacha, are women permitteed to have their hair styled in a man-typical way?
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0answers
35 views
Women answering “amen” to a bracha over a man's mitzvah [duplicate]
Can/should a woman answer "amen" to a bracha a man makes over a mitzvah specific to men? For example, tzitzis, tefillin, etc.
2
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1answer
75 views
Obligation and being included in a minyan
According to this answer, if six men are davening and ten men are present, the six can recite Kaddish and Kedushah. The case discussed is if the other four are not obligated because they already ...
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votes
1answer
97 views
What is meant by “congregational honor” regarding disallowing women reading the Torah publically?
The Talmud Bavli (Megillah 23a) says that while, if a woman read from the Torah it counts towards the required 7 aliyot, the chachamim disallowed it because of kavod hatzibbur - the respect for the ...
8
votes
1answer
88 views
Why use a gendered MiShebeirach for sick people?
During leining, many synagogues have someone recite a prayer on behalf of sick people. The version I grew up with was for cholim (males) with the language including a reference to רמ"ח איבריו ושס"ה ...
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0answers
72 views
May a woman be a Ba'alat Kriah (Torah reader) if no men know how? [duplicate]
I am a bit unclear regarding the full applications of kavod hatzibbur as it regards women being involved in certain aspects of prayer. I gather that one application of this rule disallows women from ...
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1answer
1k views
Why the lack of hesitance to wear pads on the sabbath?
Shulchan Aruch, Orach Chayim 301:13, and commentaries state that if a woman wears something only in order that her clothes don't get dirty from her menstrual blood, then that thing is not considered ...
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0answers
149 views
Do women have to have long hair according to Jewish law?
Does it say anywhere in the Oral Torah that women have to have long hair?
0
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1answer
192 views
Women-only Kabbalat Shabbat
Does anyone know how women-only Kabbalat Shabbat prayer came about? I have only come across it in newspapers from about the late 2000s in some United Synagogues. Have there been cases way before this? ...
2
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1answer
70 views
Permissibility Of Unneeded Hysterectomy
Is it halachically ok for a woman have a hysterectomy if there is no medical need? If not, is it permissible as a form of contraceptive?
2
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1answer
106 views
Women standing for their husbands when called up for an Aliyah
I have noticed women in several sefardic communities to stand while their husbands are called up to the synagogue. Yalkut Yosef in Hilkhot Shavuot brings down the halakha of a child or a student ...
1
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1answer
63 views
What Torah verses (and Talmudic chapters) provide the basis for banning women rabbis? [duplicate]
I am trying to find the logical basis for why women cannot be Rabbis in most Orthodox communities. Some people seem to pin it on "Tziut" but there doesn't seem to be a clear biblical basis for that ...
2
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1answer
92 views
Women's prayer books in Yiddish/English
Does anyone know of a good siddur/prayer book designed for women that is in Yiddish and English?
13
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2answers
2k views
Historically, were women trained for obligatory wars? Or did they serve some other military function?
Sotah 8:7 says that for obligatory wars all go out to fight, "even a bridegroom from his chamber and a bride from her canopy". Historically, was this in fact our practice? Did women participate in ...
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0answers
39 views
Why verbally hurting one's wife is found in Choshen Mishpat?
צריך ליזהר באונאת אשתו לפי שדמעתה מצויה:
(C"M 228)
I understand that the whole chapter is about fraud (הונאה) and לשון נופלת על לשון, but the question is:
Does the fact that haMechaber listed ...
7
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1answer
115 views
Who are “the women who twist yarn by the moon”?
Sotah 6:1 talks about when a man who hears about his wife violating his warning divorces her rather than invoking the sotah test:
Someone who warned his wife [against being secluded with a certain ...
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1answer
114 views
Is there anything in the Tanakh or Talmud about co-wives helping raise the child of other co-wives upon widowhood (or absence of husband)?
I just met an Israeli woman, who said that she became a widow when her first and only child was five years old.
She said that if it wasn't for her husband having more than one wife, with whom she ...
