Daily Practice - Deracheha

Dedicated in Loving Memory of Helen Kaplan

Learning Torah

Deracheha is all about women learning Torah. Here we look at what, why, and how.

What is the mitzva of learning Torah? Does it apply to women? Exemption
What Torah does a woman have to learn? Obligation
How and why did text study open up to women? Openings to Study
What texts should women study and why? What to Study

Daily Prayer

Day-to-day, what prayers do women really need to say? Why?

What is the mitzva of prayer? Are women obligated to pray? Obligation
Do women have to recite Shemoneh Esrei? How often? Shemoneh Esrei
What should women say after waking up? What about birchot ha-Torah? Upon Arising
Must women recite birchot ha-shachar? 100 berachot a day? Birchot Ha-shachar
Why do we say “She-lo asani isha” or “She-asani kirtzono?” She-lo Asani Isha, She-asani Kirtzono
What are korbanot and Pesukei De-zimra? Should women say them? Korbanot and Pesukei De-zimra
What is the mitzva of Keri’at Shema for women? Keri’at Shema
Should a woman say Birchot Keri’at Shema? Birchot Keri’at Shema
What’s left to say after Shemoneh Esrei? End of Shacharit
When time is limited, what prayers take priority? Priorities in Prayer

Tzitzit and Tefillin

Why are women taught not to fulfill these mitzvot?

Is wearing tzitzit a violation of the prohibition of cross-dressing? Tzitzit: Keli Gever
What else might be at issue when a woman wears tzitzit? Tzitzit: Yuhara
What is the mitzva of tefillin? Why are women exempt from it? Tefillin I: Exemption
What does guf naki mean? How is it connected to tefillin and to women laying tefillin? Tefillin II: Guf Naki
May a woman choose to lay tefillin? What are the practical halachic rulings on this? Tefillin III: In Practice

Kol Isha

What are the halachot related to a woman’s voice?

How does Halacha view song in general? What is of specific concern with kol isha? When and to which type of voice does kol isha apply? Kol Isha I: Halachic Basis
What are men’s and women’s responsibilities with respect to kol isha? May a woman freely listen to a man sing, or sing herself? Kol Isha II: Mutual Responsibility

Dress

What does Halacha have to say about clothing?

What purposes does clothing serve? How does this relate to tzeniut and Halacha? Dress I: The Basics
What are the more specific halachic parameters for women’s clothing? Dress II: The Details
How do the laws of erva shift in interpersonal settings? How does this affect the laws of women’s clothing? And what are the halachot concerning skirts and pants? Dress III: More Details

Mechitza and Gender Separation

What is gender separation in and out of prayer about?

What purpose does the mechitza serve? Mechitza I: Purpose
What are the structural requirements for a women’s section? Does structure have a halachic effect on the prayers within? Mechitza II: Structure
When do we need a mechitza or gender separation outside of prayer? Mechitza III: Separation in Society

Sefer Torah

How should a Sefer Torah be treated?

May women handle a Sefer Torah? Contact with a Sefer Torah

Read on to see what else we’re planning for this section of the site–and let us know if you have a topic to suggest.

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Public Prayer

The Talmud teaches that God takes special heed of prayer in a minyan. Some parts of the synagogue service are only recited when a minyan is present. What is the significance of public prayer? And what is the relationship of women to it?

Birkat Ha-mazon

Is there a distinction between men and women reciting birkat ha-mazon, the grace after meals? How does the grouping together of people of differing halachic obligations affect zimmun, the invitation to birkat ha-mazon?

Self-Presentation

Self-presentation is a matter of how we relate to God and to ourselves, not just to each other. What are the halachic parameters for appearance in public and in private?