Introduction
The article you are in is small but is of great importance as a guide for the Jewish woman.
It is a single volume, the one and only volume of Yahaduton that is intended for you – while many have been prepared for the opposite sex.
And no, this is not (only…) because men require drawn out explanations, and not, God forbid, because women are seen as less worthy. In fact, just the opposite.
The number of requirements that God has of women is much fewer than those He has of men – and that means that men need more guidance. Many of the Torah’s mitzvahs do not obligate women at all.
Why not?
The reason is simple. God bestowed upon the woman a special mission. In addition to her career and personal life – which are led by her personal choices – a woman is also meant to be the center of the home: to raise her children, to nurture them, to feed them and provide for their emotional needs. Women are so busy – they’re simply not available for anything else – they have no time for additional requirements above those they already have. How much more can they be asked to do on top of homework and bath time, cooking, laundry, etc.?
Even more so, God gave women fewer mitzvahs, not only because they lack the time to fulfill them, but because they do not need those mitzvahs in order to serve Him.
A woman’s service in the home, raising her children – the investment, the care that a Jewish mother puts into her children – are her holy work. That is how she connects with her Creator. She has no need for the “male-version” of the mitzvahs when she is busy with a different kind of holy task every day of her life.
Judaism has three main commandments for the woman:
- Challah
- Family Purity
- Shabbat candles
Discussions of these mitzvahs constitute most of this volume. Later we will touch on other commandments as they relate to women.
The importance of behaving in the spirit of the Torah is even greater for women, in some ways, than for men – because the effect of a woman in her home is like a stone that is thrown into a pond.
If we throw a stone into a pond of water, the ripples extend much further than the area of the stone itself. Just like the stone, a woman at the center of her home influences the many circles or spheres around her. Behavior that is worthy in the eyes of God will not only bring you to personal completion, to a place where God is proud of you and rewards you – it will have a valuable impact, spread positive energy into the spheres around you: your husband, your children, your home, and all that surrounds you.
Thus, this volume that you hold in your hands has the potential to influence, not only yourself and your personal life, but also your husband, your children, and your environment. In a way, this is your guide to achieving a peaceful home, to educating your children so they will bring you pride, to finding joy in your life.
So, in the time that you do have: on a lunch break, when the kids are at a friend’s house or asleep at night – open this guide, leaf through it, and most importantly, implement as much as you can…
Good luck!
