The Unique Role of Jewish Women: Women First
Each year, just prior to Shavuos, the Rebbe personally addressed the annual convention of Chabad’s Women and Girls Organization (Neshei U’bnos Chabad). He explained the significance behind the convention’s timing: At Sinai, the Jews’ preparations to receive the Torah specifically began with the women! G-d had instructed Moshe to prepare the Jewish people by first addressing the women – and only afterwards, the men! This is not mere historical detail. Rather, since this fact is recorded in the Torah, it serves as an eternal directive to follow suit in our own Shavuos preparations each and every year.
That is why the convention that addresses Jewish women and girls is held just prior to Shavuos…
Women Lead the Preparation
The superiority of Jewish women is emphasized in connection with the Giving of the Torah. The Torah itself relates that when G-d instructed Moshe to prepare the Jews to receive the Torah, He told him, “So shall you say to the House of Yaakov, and relate to the Sons of Israel.” The seemingly repetitive description of the Jews as the “House of Yaakov” and “Sons of Israel” is explained by the Sages: The first phrase, “House of Yaakov,” refers to the Jewish women – to them Moshe was commanded to “say” (amirah), i.e., speak “in a soft tongue.” Only after that was Moshe to address the Jewish men (“Sons of Israel”).
To clarify: The Torah itself was presented to all Jews – men, women, and children – at the same time… nevertheless, when it came to the preparation for the Torah, Moshe was told to address the women before the men.
Positive Influence
Why was this necessary? One explanation is that this magnified the effect of Moshe’s message (to prepare for Matan Torah) on the men. For as we clearly see for ourselves, it is human nature for the conduct of the entire household to depend upon the woman. She is the “mainstay” and foundation of the home, and she influences the entire household – sons and daughters, and her husband as well… This she does by using the unique skill and talent with which women are endowed – the art of influencing others in a gentle, persuasive manner, with feeling and warmth, ensuring that her words are accepted and absorbed within the inner hearts of those around her, having a long lasting effect.
…Therefore, we should prepare afresh each year, taking the same approach used for the Giving of the Torah at Sinai… with an emphasis on the superiority of the Jewish woman, each one of whom is the “mainstay” of her home; through her, the entire household is prepared and made fit to receive the Torah.
