Note: These Halachos are just as important for men to learn and know, as they are for women.
When Reading in Shul, DO NOT Read During Davening or Krias HaTorah
...Continued from previous week
1) A married woman who wants to eat something [before she herself davens] on Shabbos morning, before her husband finishes davening in Shul is permitted to do so without first reciting Kiddush. (Ruling of Rav Moshe Feinstein Zatzal in Igros Moshe Orach Chaim Vol. 4 Siman 101:2. See at length for the reasoning)
However, once davening is over in Shul, even if the husband lingers and isn’t home yet, she must recite Kiddush before eating anything.
2) The above applies to married women only. Single girls who want to eat something before their fathers come home from shul, even if it is before they themselves davened, require Kiddush first. (ibid.)
3) M’Ikar Hadin, Krias Shma, Tefila and all Brachos may be recited in any language that one understands, not just the original Lashon Kodesh. (See Shulchan Aruch Orach Chaim Siman 62:2)
However, nowadays the prevalent ruling is to require it be said in the original Lashon Kodesh as it is written in the Torah. (See Mishna Berura ibid. S”K 3 for the reason)
4) The Mishna Berura, however, is lenient for women and allows them to recite Krias Shma, and all Tefilah and Brachos in any language that they understand, if for whatever reason they cannot recite it in its original Hebrew form. (See Mishna Berura Siman101 S”K 18)
5) Single girls who are not obligated cover their hair when they are in public, as married women are (See Mishna Berura Siman 75 S”K 10) may daven with their hair uncovered as well, according to the ruling of Ashkenazic Poskim.
6) Some Sephardic Poskim (including HaRav Ovadia Yoseph Zatzal, in Shu”t Yabia Omer Vol. 6 Siman 15) rule that it is proper for single girls to cover their heads when davening Shemona Esrei.
For Halacha L’ma’aseh each girl should consult with her Rav.
7) The Rama (Siman 88:1) writes that the custom is that women during the time when they are in an active state of Niddah should not enter a Shul, gaze at a Sefer Torah or even daven privately or otherwise recite the name of Hashem. (See also Kitzur Shulchan Aruch Siman 193:16)
The Bais Yosef (Siman 88) and the Mishna Berura (Siman 88 S”K 5) cite Rabbeinu Yerucham who disagrees and declares this a Minhag Ta’us, an erroneous custom. (See Shu”t Yad Haleivi Orach Chaim Siman 12)
The prevalent ruling nowadays indeed is for women to always daven, recite brachos and attend Shul regardless of their Niddah status. (See Chayei Adam Klal 13:38 and Mishna Berura Siman 88 S”K 7)
However, they should indeed refrain from gazing at the open Torah scroll while they are in a state of Niddah and refrain from visiting a cemetery until after they have been to the Mikvah. (Mishna Berura ibid.)
8) If a woman wants to be stringent and refrain from entering Shul during her time of impurity, she may abide by this stringency. However, she must continue to daven and recite brachos privately. (See Mishna Berura Siman 88 S”K 6 quoting Shu”t Binyamin Zev Siman Siman 153. See also Shu”t Yechaveh Da’as Vol. 4 Siman 4)
During the Yamim Noraim and days of Selichos, all agree that women may attend Shul regardless of their personal state of impurity, and they shouldn’t even try and be stringent during this time. (Rama ibid. See also Mateh Ephraim Siman 181:25)
...To be continued B’Ezras Hashem next week
