35
votes
Does Judaism consider women inferior?
This is a fair question. You are far from the only person who feels this way.
As an Orthodox woman who respects the traditional prohibition on Talmud study for women, as well as the many other Jewish ...
- 19.6k
32
votes
Does Judaism consider women inferior?
In addition, women are exempt and even discouraged from a large number of mitzvas that are central to Jewish practice, such as praying three times a day and laying tefillin.
This is close to ...
- 97.4k
27
votes
Accepted
Is it forbidden for a woman to learn Gemara?
It doesn't seem that anyone attempted to address this in a comprehensive manner, so I will try. There might be slight overlap with some of the other answers here, and with my answer to this question. ...
- 49.1k
17
votes
Accepted
Is a female Torah scholar accorded the same honors as a male?
R. Yehuda Aiash (Shut Beit Yehuda YD 28) rules that in general any honour which one must accord a male (such as standing up for an older man), one must accord an equivalent female as well:
פשוט דכל ...
- 35.4k
17
votes
Accepted
Why sell chametz to a woman?
R. Hershel Schachter has discussed this issue a number of times, and explains it thus:
It is based on technicalities of kinyanim. One of the kinyanim that is used for selling chametz is a kinyan ...
- 49.1k
17
votes
Accepted
Historically, were women trained for obligatory wars? Or did they serve some other military function?
In his commentary to Rambam's codification of this law (Hilchot Melachim 7:5), R. David Ibn Zimra asks: “Is it the way of women to wage war?” And he cites the verse (Psalms 45:14) "All glorious ...
- 49.1k
16
votes
Can a woman write a megillah?
There is a long list of decisors who permit a woman to write a Megillah
R Eliezer Melamed, author of Peninei Halakha, (here, note 10) writes
The Aĥaronim debate whether a woman may write a Megilla.
...
- 47.9k
15
votes
Accepted
Why can't a woman demand a divorce?
The woman can ask but the torah specifies that the man must write (order the writing of) the divorce document and deliver it to her. There are cases in which the court can order the man to write the ...
- 42.9k
15
votes
Where in the Tanakh is the subject of head-covering or hair-covering for females taught or hinted?
The Talmud in Ketubot 72a cites Numbers 5:18 as a Scriptural source/derivation:
ראשה פרוע דאורייתא היא דכתיב ופרע את ראש האשה ותנא דבי רבי ישמעאל אזהרה לבנות ישראל שלא יצאו בפרוע ראש
[Is not the ...
- 49.1k
14
votes
How Do Modern Orthodox Women Typically Dress?
There is a wide variety out there. I'd recommend Googling some synagogues that you might visit post-pandemic, and often there are photos there of its members. That should give you some sense. If you ...
- 131k
13
votes
13
votes
Accepted
Hormonal manipulation: Taharas hamishpacha vs. the woman's health
If I understand correctly, your argument goes something like this:
A.) The Halacha is to always wait (>=5) + 7.
B.) Doing so on a natural routine can be inconvenient, e.g. for vacations.
C.) ...
- 131k
12
votes
Why don't brides (always) cover their hair for their weddings?
The answer is that the Mishna (Ketubbot 2:1) says that a Betula goes to the Chuppah with her hair uncovered. So what is there to talk about?
Well, there's a responsum (#9) of Mahari HaLevi (the Taz's ...
- 97.4k
12
votes
Accepted
Is there a constant Mitzvah for women?
There are six commandments applicable to males at all times:
Know there is God.
Don't believe in other gods.
Belief in unity of God.
Love God.
Fear God.
Don't be lead astray by your eyes and heart.
...
- 35.4k
12
votes
Why is a Torah written by a woman not considered a kosher Torah?
The Talmud (Gittin 45b) says:
תני רב המנונא בריה דרבא מפשרוניא ס"ת תפלין ומזוזות שכתבן אפיקורוס עובד כוכבים ועבד אשה וקטן וכותי וישראל מומר פסולין שנאמר וקשרתם וכתבתם כל שישנו בקשירה ישנו בכתיבה ...
- 97.4k
12
votes
Accepted
Can a woman be a Nazir?
Yes! It says so explicitly in the Torah.
Numbers: 6:2
דַּבֵּר֙ אֶל־בְּנֵ֣י יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל וְאָמַרְתָּ֖ אֲלֵהֶ֑ם אִ֣ישׁ אֽוֹ־אִשָּׁ֗ה כִּ֤י יַפְלִא֙ לִנְדֹּר֙ נֶ֣דֶר נָזִ֔יר לְהַזִּ֖יר לַֽיהוָֽה׃
Speak ...
- 12k
11
votes
Accepted
Are women allowed to write a commentary on a book of Tanakh in Orthodox Judaism?
Women are indeed able to teach and write commentaries on Tanakh. There are many such examples. One of the most famous is Nechama Leibowitz who taught Torah for more than 55 years and was awarded the ...
- 47.9k
11
votes
May a woman be appointed as CEO of a Jewish company or principal of a Jewish school
There has been heavy discussion on the proper understanding of the Rambam you start with. I will bring a number of opinions, from rishonim to aharonim, who strongly limit its scope and thereby explain ...
- 47.9k
11
votes
Accepted
Does a pregnant or nursing woman fast on a postponed Tish'ah B'Av?
The Tosefta (Taanit 2:12) cited in part in the Bavli (Pesachim 54b) says that pregnant and nursing women must fast on Tisha Bav (in contrast to other minor fast days). No distinction is made for a ...
- 97.4k
11
votes
Historically, were women trained for obligatory wars? Or did they serve some other military function?
Yachin there:
אשה לאו בת מלחמה. רק לספק מזון ולתקן הדרכים אף היא יוצאת.
A woman is not able to combat, she did only provide food and repair roads.
- 22.7k
11
votes
Accepted
Why is it that you are not allowed to be intimate with your wife during niddah, but you are allowed to eat food prepared by a niddah?
You have correctly identified the flawed premises in your argument.
Premise 2 is technically incorrect. One who is intimate with a niddah has the status of an av hatum'ah (source of impurity) on a ...
- 41.8k
10
votes
Accepted
Is there a feminine equivalent of Zt"l?
If you search Google for "Mrs. * ZT-L", you'll find many instances of this honorific used for couples, and a few for women. Here are some examples of it used for women by various Jewish news or public ...
- 47.8k
10
votes
Why is wearing a sheitel not marit ayin?
Per this analysis:
R. Moshe Feinstein responds to the maris ayin argument in multiple
ways:
1. A woman covering her hair is an obligation, not a prohibition (it is an issur aseh)
2. Someone, ...
- 19.6k
10
votes
Would a woman be permitted to write a sefer Torah?
The Shulchan Aruch (YD 281:3) writes that a woman who writes a Torah scroll invalidates it:
ספר תורה שכתבו מסור, עבד, אשה, קטן, כותי, ישראל מומר פסולין.
The Aruch Hashulchan (YD 281:1) writes the ...
- 41k
10
votes
Accepted
Why the lack of hesitance to wear pads on the sabbath?
At Yoatzot.org here, they answer as follows:
If the sole purpose is to protect the woman's clothing, the sanitary napkin should not be worn. But generally speaking, most women are also concerned ...
- 20.9k
10
votes
Accepted
How was the concubine of givah killed
On verse 19:26 the Metzudat David states that she died from the exhaustion of the multiple raping.
ותפול. מחמת חולשת רוב הבעילות נפלה בפתח ולא הוסיפה לקום, ושכבה עד אור הבוקר, ומתה:
He says ...
- 42.8k
10
votes
Bat mitzvah - I'm female aged 50. Never been taught or had a bat mitzvah
Welcome and congratulations on your search and efforts!
First and foremost you should approach the rabbi in a local synagogue or Chabad house.
Beyond that, there is a wonderful organization called ...
- 47.9k
9
votes
Accepted
a girl marrying against her parents wishes
Tzitz Eliezer 14:73 spells this one out very explicitly: it's identical for sons and daughters -- the parents can't force them to marry or not-marry someone if they don't want to. (Though he adds that ...
- 131k
9
votes
Is there a female equivalent of Z"l?
You ask what's appropriate. I don't see why z"l (or ז״ל) would be inappropriate. Nonetheless, I have often seen a"h (or ע״ה) for a woman where the same text included z"l (or ז״ל) for a man.
- 73.6k
9
votes
Accepted
Are Tallis and Tefillin considered beged ish?
The Targum Yonasan to the verse prohibiting a woman to wear men's gear says specifically it includes Tallis and Tefilin. However, that doesn't seem to be the prevailing opinion. The Aruch HaShulchan ...
- 131k
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