Judith, (and everyone)
Thank you for these postings. I find them fascinating. I wonder why the public school system here in the US doesn't spend a little time on teaching about religion, in a comparative religion-type course. Kind of taking the current "countries around the world" festival, where the kids bring in foods and products from around the world (which would inevitably include Swedish meatballs, "french fries" and English muffins) and expand it a little bit into these other areas. Celebrate the differences while enjoying the similarities. I think if we understood the different religious and cultural practices here in this wonderful melting pot, we might respect each other a little more, and be better able to understand those differences without wondering "what the heck did I just say?" when we make an unknowing faux-pas. Jerry Johnson >>> [EMAIL PROTECTED] 04/04/02 11:35PM >>> Women are not exempt from prayer -- just from prayer in a Minyan, which is a positive, time-bound mitzvah (commandment). They are supposed to pray, but are not obligated to do so at a specific time. Women are exempt from all positive, time-bound mitzvot. A positive mitzvah is a commandment where you are doing something positive (as opposed to one you accomplish by inaction, such as "Thou shalt not murder.") Some examples include prayer, giving charity, having three meals on the Shabbos. A time-bound mitzvah is one that must be done at a specific time. There are some exceptions to the exemption of positive, time-bound mitzvot, including: 1. drinking four cups of wine at the Pesach seder 2. lighting Chanukah candles 3. all the mitzvot of Purim (These mitzvot are obligations because they involve commemorations of special miracles in which women were included and, in some cases, especially involved.) Why are women exempt from all positive, time-bound mitzvot? This has certainly been used to attack Halachic Judaism, mainly from a misunderstanding of the different roles of men and women creating an "inequality". I will quote from Rav Yitzchak Yaakov Fuchs _Halichos Bas Yisrael_, a two-volume set on Jewish laws as pertaining to women published by Targum Press: "Many commentators offer reasons why the Torah exempts women from time-bound mitzvoth. The Avudraham notes that it is the woman who assumes responsibility for managing the household, attending to the physical needs of the Jewish family, and playing a major role in rearing and educating young children at home. Because many of these responsibilities must be attended to at unpredictable times, the Torah exempts women from obligations which must be performed at set times." Note: Women _MAY_ fulfill any mitzvoth from which they are halachically exempt, except those specifically restricted to men. Once a woman takes on a mitzvah on a regular basis, she is obligated to continue doing it. Also: There are positive mitzvot that are specifically given to women -- the three I've always seen cited are the mitzvah of marital purity (niddah), Challah (taking a portion of the challah you bake out for tithe to the priest in the Temple), and candle-lighting for Shabbos. This is a hugely complex topic, and I could bring more information if you've got questions. Judith >I'm going to leave the exact answer to that for Judith. My understanding >is that they either have to or should pray during the day but are not >required to do all that men have to (we're talking over an hour total a >normal day for men). My understanding is probably not 100% correct as I'm >not learned in what women must do prayer-wise. Luckily, I have a wife who >IS learned in that. (she'll feel good with me praising her publicly and >that's one of my jobs). > > > > Really? > > > > So orthodox jewish women can pray but dont' have to? Except over food? > > > > ----- Original Message ----- > > From: "Michael Dinowitz" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> > > To: "CF-Community" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> > > Sent: Thursday, April 04, 2002 6:41 PM > > Subject: Re: Egypt: Land of the Gods > > > > > > > For Christians this is true but for Jews its different. Before the meal > > there's a blessing on the food to be eaten and after there's thanks for > what > > was eaten and all. During holidays (and Shabbos) the meals are more formal > > deals with a blessing over wine (or grape juice), then a washing of the > > hands and a blessing over bread (or Matza during Pesach). This 'covers' the > > meal, which is usually more than one course. Some fish, some soup, some > > meat, etc. After the grace is said. During non-holiday eating a simple > > blessing and grace is said based on what's being eaten. > > > As a side note, the requirement to say a blessing before and after eating > > is for all Jews regardless of gender. > > > > > > > > > > >my daughter 'serving' me with a small pitcher to wash my hands > > > > before we said the grace after >meals. > > > > > > > > after meals? > > > > forgive my ignorance, i thought grace was said before meals > > > > > > > > > > > > ~~ > > > > Stephenie > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > ______________________________________________________________________ This list and all House of Fusion resources hosted by CFHosting.com. The place for dependable ColdFusion Hosting. Archives: http://www.mail-archive.com/cf-community@houseoffusion.com/ Unsubscribe: http://www.houseoffusion.com/index.cfm?sidebar=lists
