Hm, the women have a choice in the role they play which is nice. ----- Original Message ----- From: "Judith Dinowitz" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: "CF-Community" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Sent: Thursday, April 04, 2002 7:35 PM Subject: Re: Egypt: Land of the Gods
> Women are not exempt from prayer -- just from prayer in a Minyan, which is > a positive, time-bound mitzvah (commandment). They are supposed to pray, > but are not obligated to do so at a specific time. > > Women are exempt from all positive, time-bound mitzvot. A positive mitzvah > is a commandment where you are doing something positive (as opposed to one > you accomplish by inaction, such as "Thou shalt not murder.") Some examples > include prayer, giving charity, having three meals on the Shabbos. A > time-bound mitzvah is one that must be done at a specific time. > > There are some exceptions to the exemption of positive, time-bound mitzvot, > including: > > 1. drinking four cups of wine at the Pesach seder > 2. lighting Chanukah candles > 3. all the mitzvot of Purim > > (These mitzvot are obligations because they involve commemorations of > special miracles in which women were included and, in some cases, > especially involved.) > > Why are women exempt from all positive, time-bound mitzvot? This has > certainly been used to attack Halachic Judaism, mainly from a > misunderstanding of the different roles of men and women creating an > "inequality". I will quote from Rav Yitzchak Yaakov Fuchs _Halichos Bas > Yisrael_, a two-volume set on Jewish laws as pertaining to women published > by Targum Press: > > "Many commentators offer reasons why the Torah exempts women from > time-bound mitzvoth. The Avudraham notes that it is the woman who assumes > responsibility for managing the household, attending to the physical needs > of the Jewish family, and playing a major role in rearing and educating > young children at home. Because many of these responsibilities must be > attended to at unpredictable times, the Torah exempts women from > obligations which must be performed at set times." > > Note: Women _MAY_ fulfill any mitzvoth from which they are halachically > exempt, except those specifically restricted to men. Once a woman takes on > a mitzvah on a regular basis, she is obligated to continue doing it. > > Also: There are positive mitzvot that are specifically given to women -- > the three I've always seen cited are the mitzvah of marital purity > (niddah), Challah (taking a portion of the challah you bake out for tithe > to the priest in the Temple), and candle-lighting for Shabbos. > > This is a hugely complex topic, and I could bring more information if > you've got questions. > > Judith > > >I'm going to leave the exact answer to that for Judith. My understanding > >is that they either have to or should pray during the day but are not > >required to do all that men have to (we're talking over an hour total a > >normal day for men). My understanding is probably not 100% correct as I'm > >not learned in what women must do prayer-wise. Luckily, I have a wife who > >IS learned in that. (she'll feel good with me praising her publicly and > >that's one of my jobs). > > > > > > > Really? > > > > > > So orthodox jewish women can pray but dont' have to? Except over food? > > > > > > ----- Original Message ----- > > > From: "Michael Dinowitz" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> > > > To: "CF-Community" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> > > > Sent: Thursday, April 04, 2002 6:41 PM > > > Subject: Re: Egypt: Land of the Gods > > > > > > > > > > For Christians this is true but for Jews its different. Before the meal > > > there's a blessing on the food to be eaten and after there's thanks for > > what > > > was eaten and all. During holidays (and Shabbos) the meals are more formal > > > deals with a blessing over wine (or grape juice), then a washing of the > > > hands and a blessing over bread (or Matza during Pesach). This 'covers' the > > > meal, which is usually more than one course. Some fish, some soup, some > > > meat, etc. After the grace is said. During non-holiday eating a simple > > > blessing and grace is said based on what's being eaten. > > > > As a side note, the requirement to say a blessing before and after eating > > > is for all Jews regardless of gender. > > > > > > > > > > > > > >my daughter 'serving' me with a small pitcher to wash my hands > > > > > before we said the grace after >meals. > > > > > > > > > > after meals? > > > > > forgive my ignorance, i thought grace was said before meals > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > ~~ > > > > > Stephenie > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > ______________________________________________________________________ Your ad could be here. Monies from ads go to support these lists and provide more resources for the community. http://www.fusionauthority.com/ads.cfm Archives: http://www.mail-archive.com/[email protected]/ Unsubscribe: http://www.houseoffusion.com/index.cfm?sidebar=lists
