Torah Study for Women: ACCORDING to the LUBAVITCHER REBBE ZT”L
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RABBI AARON Editor, Torah Tidbits GOLDSCHEIDER Torah Study for Women: ACCORDING TO THE LUBAVITCHER REBBE ZT”L t a special gathering at 770 in the man, to inculcate love of Torah in the Crown Heights the Lubavitcher children. Therefore, he writes: “Due to ARebbe, Menachem Mendel this role a mother should pray when she Schneerson zt”l, (1902-1994) spoke to a kindles her Shabbat candles that in the packed hall of women. He highlighted merit of the Shabbat flames, her children the unique qualities of the Jewish woman should merit the illumination of Torah, and addressed a woman’s integral part in which is also likened to flames” (R’ Bachya, Hashem’s plan for mankind. When Torah Shemot 19:3). was first given, remarkably Hashem The Rebbe continued in this talk to relay instructed Moses to speak to the women that a Jewish woman or girl is granted first and explain to them its greatness, by Hashem a distinctive gracefulness in thereby strengthening the rest of people’s her approach; a pleasant, soft, peaceful acceptance of it as well. Moreover, said manner through which she influences the Rebbe, when the Tabernacle was her environment and her family in all first built, Jewish women and girls were matters of goodness. When she utilizes this the first to donate; only afterwards, and special pleasantness and peacefulness she inspired by their example, did the men increases the success of Hashem’s plan in contribute further (27 Tishrei 5742, From ways that no man can, and turns her home ‘Living Torah’ Volume 106, Program 424). and her environment into a “Tabernacle” of which Hashem can say: “I shall dwell in The Rebbe’s words echo a comment of their midst.” Rabbeinu Bachya, written some seven hundred and fifty years ago. At the giving Let us seek to analyze the precise obligation of the Torah, Moshe first speaks to the of women with respect to the mitzvah of ‘House of Jacob’, a reference to the women Talmud Torah. The discussion is rooted in of Israel. Rabbenu Bachya writes that the a pasuk in this week’s parsha: “And you woman sets the tone of the home and that shall teach your sons” (Devarim 11:19). it is she that is responsible, more so than The Talmud, basing itself on the precise 36 TORAH TIDBITS / EIKEV 5780 choice of language in the pasuk, is quick to comment that there is an obligation to teach Torah to males but not females. The dictum is established that men have The Next Generation of Dentists an obligation to study Torah and women are not obligated; this is not debated (Kiddushin 29b) Ozone Gum & Dental Therapy Although this law is unambiguous, great • Non- surgical approach sages throughout the generations have • Restore gum health offered nuance and deep analysis in • Good for mild to severe cases explicating the nature of this injunction. • Prevent gum recession We gain a glimpse of one important • Prevent bad breath perspective offered in the Chassidic world • Prevent tooth extraction • Prevent root canal treatments of Chabad.1 • Better healing of implants In an address given in 1970 by Rebbe Menachem Mendel Schneerson zt”l Located in Call us now at: (Likutei Sichot, Chelek 14, pages 37-44), the Jerusalem city center 02-6503208 Rebbe broadens the halachic implications 054-9894707 of the laws related to a woman’s Torah study. The Rebbe began his discourse by citing the laws codified by the first Rebbe of Lubavitch, Rebbe Shneur Zalman of Liadi (1745-1812) in his classic halachic work, Shulchan Aruch HaRav (Hilchot Talmud Torah 1:14). Shulchan Aruch HaRav: Laws of Talmud Torah for Women Women are not obligated in the mitzvah of Talmud Torah. And because a woman is not obligated in the mitzvah of Torah study Moving Packing Storage in of itself, she is not obligated to teach her 1 The goal of this piece is to elucidate the 0537272815 ma’amar of the Rebbe. This analysis is not suggestive that this is the position or should on-line box shop be the position in other communities in Klal www.premiummoving.co.il Yisrael. OU ISRAEL CENTER 37 children and she is not required to pay Rebbe makes a comparison to the halachic tuition for them. framework implanted in the mitzvah of bearing children, peerya ve’rivya. He However, when she assists her son or quotes the noted position of the RaN, husband in Torah study or in support of Rabbienu Nissim of Gerona (14th century Torah study, she shares the merit with Talmudist), that although it is the man’s them and the merit is great because they obligation to have a child the woman’s were commanded and they did it through engagement or partnership in the act of her assistance. intimacy and giving birth, results in her In any case, women are obligated to study sharing equally in the mitzvah. the halachot that are related to the mitzvot Although an initial reading of the Talmud they must do and are obligated to know indicates that a woman has no obligation their details. in the mitzvah of Talmud Torah per se, The Rebbe closely analyzes the words the Rebbe boldly posited that by actively of his forebear, the Alter Rebbe. It goes facilitating their learning she actually without saying that not a word or phrase becomes an equal partner and she in Shulchan Aruch HaRav’s formulation shares the reward with the one who is is accidental. Even the order in which the commanded; she shares the status of a laws are laid out is essential. metzuveh ve’oseh. The Rebbe opens with the following The Rebbe has now answered his first inquiry: “Why did the Alter Rebbe not put question: Namely, the Alter Rebbe first the Torah Study that all Jewish women quoted the halacha of a woman assisting must engage in - to know the halachot they one’s husband or son to learn Torah in order are responsible for - first?” After all, helping to highlight the fact that her engagement one’s husband or son is optional, and affords her an equal share in the mitzvah additionally one may not have a husband of Talmud Torah. The subsequent halacha or son, but all women are responsible for of the Alter Rebbe - her Torah learning for the mitzvot that apply to them. So why this the sake of observing the law - does not, at order? its core, have the same elevated status. We will see why. An Equal Share in the Mitzvah of Talmud Torah Torah Learning Towards Mitzvah Observance The Rebbe suggested that a woman who engages in assisting her husband or son Technically speaking, the general in learning Torah is not simply engaged understanding of the halacha is that a in an act of chesed; her involvement is not woman learning Torah in order to obtain measured as a generic act of performing the knowledge to effectively perform the a mitzvah of helping others - rather the mitzvot, that Torah learning is viewed as woman shares in the actual mitzvah. The ‘preparatory’ or as a means to an end. Torah 38 TORAH TIDBITS / EIKEV 5780 OU ISRAEL CENTER 39 learning of this type, although she engages the sacrifice, it disqualifies the sacrifice. In in direct study, does not achieve the level of other words, the preparatory act contains full fledgedTalmud Torah. This is due to the within it vital importance and in a certain fact that her engagement in Torah learning way becomes a mitzvah in and of itself. is not focused on Torah learning per se, but The Rebbe valiantly advocates that when rather on her effectiveness to fulfill mitzvot a woman is learning Torah in preparation in the most wholesome and complete way. for performing the mitzvot - she attains a While certainly praiseworthy, the goal is close connection to the mitzvah of Talmud different. Torah itself. Although the goal of her study is to gain knowledge to properly perform Her learning should be mitzvot, perforce her Talmud Torah has viewed not as incidental, value itself due to the fact that through the Torah she studies deepens her relationship rather, her study is ennobling to Hashem and is uplifting spiritually. and uplifting - it has intrinsic A Woman Reciting Birchot HaTorah worth Why does a woman recite daily the blessings on the Torah if she does not have Advancing Torah to a Loftier Level an obligation of Talmud Torah? The Rebbe, however, was not content with The Rebbe answered: The enhanced categorizing this type of Torah learning as spiritual level a woman attains in her merely a ‘hechsher mitzvah’, an act which Torah study is the reason why a woman is purely preparatory to performing a recites Birchot HaTorah, the blessings on mitzvah. He points to the fact that there the Torah, each morning. Her learning are other examples in Jewish law in which should be viewed not as incidental, rather, the ‘preparatory act’ takes on immense her study is ennobling and uplifting - it has meaning and is transformed into a self intrinsic worth. contained mitzvah. He cites a decisive As an added proof to this notion, the position of the ‘Rogatchover Gaon’, Rabbi Rebbe cited the case in which a woman Yosef Rosen (1858-1936), an eminent has mastered all the knowledge needed Talmudic genius of the last century, who to flawlessly observe the mitzvot. He points to a case in the Temple service. then asked,”Would she still continue to When the kohen offers a sacrifice on the recite the blessings?” Yes. Because her altar, the procedure of walking up the altar engagement in study has more value than is on the face of it purely preparatory; is it solely a practical purpose; her Torah study not only the offering of the sacrifice that is has personal meaning and intrinsic value.2 essential? And yet, the Talmud states that if there is ‘illegitimate intent’’ during the 2 Although there is great value in this phase of holacha, ascending the ramp with type of learning, it is rooted halachically in 40 TORAH TIDBITS / EIKEV 5780 Halachic Breakthroughs the domain of Torah study mirrors, in a spiritual sense, the partnership of Klal In sum, the Rebbe makes two bold Yisrael and the Almighty.