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 woman is not obligated in the Mitzvah of "Pru U'Revu", the Mitzvah to procreate and have children. (See Mishna Yevamos 65b and Shulchan Aruch Even HaEzer Siman 1:13. See also Meshech Chachma Parashas Noach Perek 9:7 for an interesting explanation of this ruling)
2) However, since she assists her husband in fulfilling this great Mitzvah of having children, she receives reward for doing so. (See Ran beginning of the second Perek of Kidushin)
3) Even though a woman has no obligation to have children of her own, it is still proper for women to try their best to get married as voluntarily staying single can lead to false accusations about living counter to the Torah's way of life. (See Rama Even HaEzer Siman 1:13)
4) Besides for the Mitzvah of Pru U'Revu, there is another Posuk (Yeshaya 45:18) of "Lo Tohu Bera'ah Lasheves Yetzara, He [Hashem] did not create it [the world] a waste, but formed it for habitation]".
There is a debate among the Poskim if this Posuk is a commentary on the Mitzvah of Pru U'revu, and thus women aren't obligated, or if it is an independent Mitzvah in which they are indeed obligated to help populate the world. (See commentary of the Torah Temima to Bereishis 1:28. See also Shu"t HaElef Lecha Shlomo Even HaEzer Siman 2)
5) A Jew fortunate enough to be living in Eretz Yisroel should not leave to Chutz L'Aretz unless there is a pressing need to do so.
A girl who is seeking to get married may leave Eretz Yisroel for the purpose of finding a suitable marriage partner in Chutz L'Aretz. (See Tosefos Avoda Zara 13a Dibur Hamaschil Lilmod and Shu"t Tzitz Eliezer Vol. 10 Siman 42)
6) If a girl chooses a suitable mate and her parents protest her choice and try to persuade her against it, she has no Halachic obligation to listen to them. (See Rama Yoreh Deah Siman 240:25 and Shu"t Tzitz Eliezer Vol. 13 Siman 78. That being said, it is surely advisable for children to objectively listen to the opinions of their parents and take their concerns into serious consideration before making any final decisions about this important life decision)
7) A daughter of a Kohen may marry a Ger, a convert to Judaism. (See Rambam Hilchos Isurei Biah Perek 19:14)
8) According to the Tzava'ah (will) of Rav Yehuda HaChasid (the 12th century kabbalist and Jewish leader, author of the Sefer Chasidim), a man should not marry a woman whose name is identical to that of his mother. (Tzava'ah 23)
However, if one of them adds an additional name, or changes something about their name (e.g. Rivka to Riva) then there is no problem. (See Sefer Likutei Halachos on the Tzava'ah, by Rav Shabsi Vigder, for a lengthy discussion about this.)
Many authorities are of the opinion that the entire Tzava'ah is only binding on his descendants and not on all of Klal Yisroel. (See Shu"t Noda B'Yehuda; Mahadura Tinyana; Even HaEzer Siman 79)
9) For the purposes of finding a suitable marriage partner, a female may undergo plastic surgery to enhance her appearance, if this is deemed truly necessary.
10) The reason for this is that even though it is forbidden to intentionally cause harm to one's own body, if done for medical or health reasons, even non-essential ones, it is permitted and thus this too would be deemed a valid health reason. (See Shu"t Chelkas Yaakov Vol. 3 Siman 11. See also She'arim Metzuyanim B'Halacha's commentary on the Kitzur Shulchan Aruch Siman 190:4)
...To be continued B’Ezras Hashem next week
