Views on the education of women Women in Judaism

1 views on education of women

1.1 bruriah
1.2 rashi s daughters
1.3 maimonides
1.4 haim yosef david azulai, aka hida
1.5 yisrael meir kagan
1.6 joseph solovetchik

views on education of women

from contexts of mishnah , talmud can derived women should not study mishnah. there female tannaitic torah jurists such rabbi meir s wife, rabbi meir s daughter, , daughter of haninah ben teradion haninah s daughter again mentioned sage in non-talmud 3rd-century text tractate semahot verse 12:13. rabbi meir s wife credited teaching him how understand verses isaiah. in mishnah there reference women teaching men torah behind curtain, no man offended.

a yeshiva, or school talmudic studies, exclusively masculine environment because of absence of women these studies.

bruriah

bruriah 1 of several women quoted sage in talmud. wife of tanna rabbi meir , daughter of rabbi hananiah ben teradion, listed 1 of ten martyrs . admired breadth of knowledge in matters pertaining both halachah , aggadah, , said have learned rabbis 300 halachot on single cloudy day (tractate pesachim 62b). parents put death romans teaching torah, carried on legacy.

bruriah involved in halachic discussions of time, , challenges father on matter of ritual purity (tosefta keilim kamma 4:9). comments there praised rabbi judah ben bava. in instance, rabbi joshua praises intervention in debate between rabbi tarfon , sages, saying bruriah has spoken correctly (tosefta keilim metzia 1:3).

her law decisions minor set crucial ancient precedent modern jewish women. mentioned @ least 4 times in talmudic discourse regarding law decrees first babylonian talmud berakhot 10a in tosefta pesahim 62b in babylonian talmud eruvin 53b–54a , babylonian talmud avodah zarah 18b. in 1 case, gave interpretation of religious sense (to paskin din ) of klaustra rare greek word referring door-bolt in talmud. unfortunately, rabbi yehudah hanassi did not believe women credited paskining din . because, saying goes, not speak women (tannah rabbi jesse galilean), credited law rabbi joshua, may considered have been father.

beruryah remembered great respect in talmud lauded have been reputed such genius study “three hundred halachot 3 hundred sages in 1 day” (pesachim 62b). praise in clear contradiction of common injunction against women studying torah.

rashi s daughters

rashi had no sons , taught mishnah , talmud daughters, until knew heart jewish tradition teaches; transferred knowledge of original mishnah commentary ashkenazi men of next generation.

maimonides

when maimonides wrote responsa concerning women, tended elevate status above common practice in middle ages. example, maimonides permitted women study torah despite fact other legal opinions time , before did not.

haim yosef david azulai, aka hida

the hida, wrote (tuv ayin, no. 4) woman should not study mishnah if not want to. cannot force woman learn, boys . however, if wants learn, not may on own, men may teach start, , can teach other women if choose. according hida, prohibition of teaching women not apply motivated woman or girl. other mizrahi rabbis disputed him.

his response detractors indeed, in truth, there prohibition against teaching mishnah student—male or female—who 1 knows not prepared , motivated. response referred talmid she-eino hagun (shulhan arukh, yoreh de ah 246:7). babylonian talmud berakhos 28a relates rabban gam(a)liel announce student not pure enough outer self inner self may not enter study hall. while approach, requiring absolute purity, rejected other ancient rabbis, example not name of god, become name of god , , middle approach adopted jews standard. if 1 has knowledge particular mishnayot student bad may not taught. gam(a)liel claimed seems women there higher standard , must motivated in order have permission learn in response mizrahi tradition.

yisrael meir kagan

a photo of rabbi yisrael meir kagan in old age

one of important ashkenazic rabbanim of past century, yisrael meir kagan, known popularly chofetz chaim , favored torah education girls counteract french finishing schools prevalent in day daughters of bourgeoisie.

appear [these sexist laws] intended earlier generations when dwelt in place of familial ancestral home , ancestral tradition powerful among follow path of fathers... under such circumstances maintain woman not study mishnayos and, guidance, rely on righteous parents, presently, due our myriad sins, ancestral tradition has become exceptionally weak , common people not dwell in proximity family home, , women devote mastering vernacular, surely great mitzvah teach them scripture , ethical teachings of our sages such pirkei avos, menoras ha-ma or , internalize our sacred faith because [if not so] prone abandon path of god , violate principles of [our] faith.

joseph solovetchik

rabbi yoseph solovetchik amended teachings of hafetz haim. rabbi solovetchik taught religious ashkenazi jews exception of hard-line hasidim, not merely should, or solely if show motivation, must teach female children gemarah boy school children. he, among others, institutionalized teaching of mishnah , talmud girls, autobiography on him rabbi mayor twersky called glimpse of rav in r. menachem genack ed., rabbi joseph b. soloveitchik: man of halacha, man of faith, page 113:

halakha prohibiting torah study women not indiscriminate or all-encompassing. there complete unanimity women obligated study halakhot pertaining mitsvot incumbent upon them... prohibition of teaching torah she-ba al pe women relates optional study. if ever circumstances dictate study of torah sh-ba al pe necessary provide firm foundation faith, such study becomes obligatory , lies beyond pale of prohibition. undoubtedly, rav s prescription more far-reaching of hafets hayim , others. difference in magnitude should not obscure fundamental agreement [on changing attitudes halachically].