Note: These Halachos are just as important for men to learn and know, as they are for women.
...Continued from previous week
1) Women are not obligated in the recital of Hallel, being that it is a time-bound Mitzvah, Mitzvas Asei She'Hazman Grama, except for the first night of Pesach, as being that they too were part of the miracle of redemption, they are obligated in saying praise to Hashem for it. (See Talmud Pesachim 108b and Mogen Avraham Siman 422:5)
However, even on the days when they are not obligated to recite the Hallel, they still may do so if they so desire.
2) According to some Poskim they may even recite a Bracha on the Hallel in the event that they do choose to recite it. This is the prevalent custom of Ashkenazi women to indeed recite a bracha when performing any time bound Mitzvah. (See Biur Halacha Siman 422, end of Dibur Hamaschil Hallel where he cites two reasons. See also Rama Orach Chaim Siman 589:6 )
Women who follow the Sephardic tradition and follow the rulings of the Bet Yosef, don't recite Brachos on any time-bound Mitzvos, and should also refrain from reciting a Bracha on Hallel any time except on the first night of Pesach. (See Rambam Hilchos Tzitzis Perek 3:10, Shulchan Aruch Orach Chaim Siman 589:6 and Shu"t Yabia Omer Vol. 1 Siman40 and 42)
3) Women and men are equally obligated in the Mitzvah to honor their parents.
However, a married woman's obligations (Shibud) to her husband supersede her obligation to honor her parents in situations where she must choose between the two. (See Shulchan Aruch Yoreh Deah Siman 240:17)
4) Single girls, as well as married women whose husbands do not have an issue with them choosing to honor their parents even at the husband's expense, must follow all the halachos of Kibud Av V'Eim just like males. (See Shach to Shulchan Aruch ibid. Os 19)
5) Although when it comes to positive commandments women are exempt due to the rule of "Mitzvos Asei SheHazman Grama", they are not exempt from Mitzvos Lo Ta'aseh, negative commandments, and must not transgress them the same way men may not.
6) There are, however, three exceptions to the aforementioned Halacha:
- a) Females are not prohibited from using a razor to shave their sideburns (Bal Takif; Vayikra 19:27)
- b) Females are not prohibited from using a razor to remove any of the five "corners" of their beards (Bal Tashchis; Vayikra 19:27)
- c) Female Kohanim are not prohibited from coming in contact with bodies of the deceased.(Bal Titamei L'Meisim; Vayikra 21:1) (See Rambam Hilchos Avoda zarah Perek12 Halacha 3)
7) A divorced woman may not get married to a Kohen. (Vayikra 21:7)
In the event that a Kohen does go ahead and marry a divorcee, he as well as she both transgresses the biblical commandment against such nuptials. (See Talmud Yevamos 84a)
8) Approximately 1,000 years ago, a great sage, Rabbeinu Gershom, known as "Me'or Hagola, the light of the diaspora" issued a series of Cherems and Takanos, bans and restrictions regarding various areas of Jewish law and life, including a ban against polygamy, a ban against divorcing a woman against her will, a ban against the unauthorized reading of another person's mail and other items which were accepted by large segments of the Jewish world, and are still adhered to until today, by virtually all Jews across the world. (See Shulchan Aruch and Rama Even HaEzer Siman 1:10)
There is a debate among the Poskim if these rulings of Rabbeinu Gershom apply equally to men and women or if they were addressed to men only and thus are not incumbent on women to follow. (According to many opinions, the express purpose of these edicts was for the benefit of women, to protect them and ensure respect for them. See Darchei Moshe Even HaEzer Siman 1:10. See also Shu"t Chasam Sofer Vol. 6 Siman 52 and Otzar haPoskim Siman 1:4)
...To be continued B’Ezras Hashem next week
