The Woman’s Role in Judaism
In a Jewish home, a woman is seen as the pillar of the home. In other words, she is the most important element in the home, she determines the essence of the home, its spirit and atmosphere.
God wants every Jewish home to have a Jewish atmosphere, not only on Shabbat and holidays, but on ordinary days as well, during daily routines.
The unique character of a Jewish home – at its core – derives from its day-to-day management according to the Torah’s instructions. In this home holiness is felt every day of the week, not only at times of prayer and Torah study, but during mundane activities like eating, drinking, and the like. As it says, “In all of your ways shall you know Him.” One should take advantage of mealtime, not only for eating, but for serving the Creator with purity. For example, every item or act that is connected to food or drink must be elevated – by washing our hands before a meal or reciting a blessing before eating and Grace after Meals when the meal is finished.
In such a home, the relationship between a husband and wife is based on love and purity, with the complete recognition of the third “partner” in their lives – the Holy One, He is the one who creates new life from within them.
Above all, the parents’ central obligation in the home is to instill in their children from an early age the belief in the Creator of the World, love of God, fear of God, and the joyful fulfillment of the God’s commandments. Beyond their desire to bestow on their children all that is good in the physical world, they must understand that their true and eternal legacy is to teach their children that Torah and its commandments are the true source of life and the absolute purpose of life itself.
All this creates a clear picture of the Jewish woman who is truly one of a kind. She is the one who imbues the home with the true spirit of Judaism, she is charged with keeping the kitchen kosher, it is she who accepts Shabbat each Friday night at candle lighting. In her merit the entire household, her husband, and children as one, will achieve a life of peace and happiness.
None of this is meant to imply that a woman’s place is only in the home, or that she cannot develop other areas of her life. Rather, we want to strengthen the awareness of a woman’s role in the home. She is the mainstay of the home, and first and foremost, she must concentrate on her nuclear family – the very nucleus of the Jewish people.
In recent years, even modern psychology has reached the decisive conclusion – a conclusion already imbedded in Torah truths – that love, warmth, and solid moral and honest values are the essential building blocks of a healthy society. Therefore, any task that comes at the expense of a woman’s privileged requirements in the home is undesirable.
