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 ...
- 19.5k
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 ...
- 96.1k
26
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. ...
- 48.4k
25
votes
A wife wants to stop going to the mikva. What does that mean for the husband?
Halachically, you transgress a biblical commandment if you knowingly have relations with a niddah, and the punishment is karet. See this answer, which cites Rambam Laws of Prohibitions on Relations 4:...
- 56.1k
19
votes
A wife wants to stop going to the mikva. What does that mean for the husband?
I am impressed by the gravity of your inquiry and your care in the matter in that you are seeking real answers to a complicated question. May Hashem help the two of you and anyone else in need of this ...
- 10.6k
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 ...
- 35.1k
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 ...
- 48.4k
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.
...
- 44.5k
16
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 ...
- 48.4k
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 ...
- 42.6k
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 ...
- 48.4k
14
votes
Can someone have a soul of the opposite gender?
The Zohar writes that the Patriarch Yitzchok had the soul of a female (Pikudei 257a). The Seder HaDoros (Elef HaRishon) says that it was the soul of Chava.
- 57.8k
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 ...
- 128k
13
votes
12
votes
Why are there few female circumcisers these days?
You've already cited the relevant source, but maybe it's worth seeing the Shulchan Arukh (YD 264:1) inside:
הכל כשרים למול אפי' עבד אשה וקטן וערל ישראל שמתו אחיו מחמת מילה ואם יש ישראל גדול שיודע ...
- 96.1k
12
votes
Accepted
Why don't Israeli women fast?
Note 10 in Rav Eliezer Melamed's article on the "lighter fasts" states as follows:
וכיום ההוראה הרווחת לנשים אשכנזיות שלא לצום. ועיין בפסקי תשובות תקנ,
א, שהביא דעות מופלגות להיתר, שכל ...
- 46.5k
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.
...
- 35.1k
12
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.) ...
- 128k
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 ...
- 96.1k
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 ...
- 11.9k
11
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 ...
- 96.1k
11
votes
What is the difference between Maharat and Yoetzet Halacha?
A Yo'etzet Halakhah is there to answer questions that are going unasked because some women are understandably embarrassed to raise them with a male rabbi. They can also find answers that wouldn't ...
- 9,115
11
votes
Can someone have a soul of the opposite gender?
Kaf Hachaim Orach Chaim 38:9 says that Michal bas Shaul had a male Neshama.
Haichal Habracha - Bamidbar 27:7 says that the Bnos Tzelafchad had male Neshamos.
- 138k
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 ...
- 96.1k
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.
- 22.5k
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 ...
- 39.8k
10
votes
Can someone have a soul of the opposite gender?
The Ashel Avraham (Pri Migadim 23:2 ) writes that one should not wear tzitzs out next to a kever of a child because maybe his neshama is that of a gadol. He also mentions that in a case of a woman it ...
- 40.2k
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 ...
- 47.3k
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, ...
- 19.5k
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 ...
- 40.2k
Only top scored, non community-wiki answers of a minimum length are eligible