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) Women who cannot daven the entire Tefilah, yet can do more than a simple Tefilah Ketzarah, should keep in mind that certain parts of Tefilah are bigger obligations for them than other parts and therefore should say the more important parts first.
Women who can daven are obligated in Birchos HaTorah, Birchas HaShachar and Pesukei D’Zimrah from Baruch SheAmar through Yishtabach.
2) Women are exempt from the Brachos before and after Krias Shema, as well as from reciting the entire Krias Shema (as there is a specific time for these to be said, and they are thus Mitzvas Asei SheHazman Gerama).
However, they should recite the first Pasuk of “Shema Yisroel...” and “Baruch Sheim...”, as they are definitely obligated in Kabolas Ol Malchus Shamayim (accepting upon themselves the yoke of Hashem’s Kingdom)
Women are obligated in remembering our exodus from Mitzrayim (Egypt) each day and therefore are obligated in saying “Emes V’yatziv...” after Krias Shema. (See Mishna Berura Siman 70 S"K 2 and Sefer ishei Yisroel Perek 7 Siman 10-15 for more details)
3) Women who daven Shemona Esrei (which according to many Poskim, is also an obligation for them) should also be careful to say Shemona Esrei immediately after saying the Bracha of “Ga’al Yisrael” (L’Hasmich Geula L’Tfilah)
4) A woman who cannot daven Shemona Esrei in the morning, due to a valid reason, is still obligated in davening Mincha, if she isn’t otherwise busy with the children etc. at that time.
The prevalent Minhag is for women not to daven Ma’ariv (though Rabeinu Yonah and many other Poskim maintained that they are obligated).
5) A woman who accepted upon herself to daven (one, two or all the Tefilos), every day and did not stipulate that the acceptance was “bli neder- without the stringency of a vow” is obligated to always daven (those Tefilos that she accepted).
If she needs to renege on this obligation, Hataras Nedarim (nullification of her vow) is required.
6) However, if a woman didn’t accept upon herself to daven daily, and rather started davening with the intention that she would do so whenever she had the opportunity to do so, she isn’t obligated to daven on days that she is otherwise occupied etc. (even if she davened every day for weeks or months already, and once in a while a day comes along when she legitimately can’t)
7) A woman who accepted upon herself to daven daily is subject to all the laws of Tefilah that apply to men.
If she forgot something in Tefilah that would require repeating the Tefilah for men (e.g. Mashiv HaRuach, Ya’aleh V’yavo etc.) it will require her to repeat as well.
8) Similarly, if she forgot or was unable to daven one of the Tefilos, she is required to daven two Shemona Esreis (one regular and one as a Tashlumin, a make-up Tefilah, at the next Tefilah.
9) A woman who usually davens Shacharis and Mincha, but not Maariv (as is the custom of many women), may still daven Maariv twice, if she forgot or was unable to daven Mincha.
She may not, however, skip Maariv (as is her custom) and then daven twice at Shacharis, as the “make-up Tefilah” must be the Tefilah immediately subsequent to the Tefilah that was missed. (Ruling of Rav Shlomo Zalmen Auerbach Zatzal).
(Regarding a woman who always Davens Maariv, and forgets, there is a dispute among the Poskim if she may, must, or may not daven twice at Shacharis. A Rav should be consulted for Halacha L’Ma’aseh)
10) A woman who doesn’t usually daven, or only davens when she is able, does not repeat anything that she inadvertently forgot while davening (e.g. Mashiv Haruach, Ya’aleh V’Yavo ) and does not daven a “make-up” Tefilah ever.
...To be continued B’Ezras Hashem next week
