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Seriously, as a woman and one with knowledge, training and experience, I still wish I could be who I am yet have learned what men have learned so I can have that Torah knowledge at my fingertips. It is such a gift.
Areis -You can learn all areas of the Torah which apply to women.
And believe you me – these areas are vast.
And there is some support to learn whatever you want. As long as it’s not flaunted it will be just for yourself.
Rambam says that a woman who learns Torah, though not obligated, peforms a mitzvah for which she is rewarded. It’s clear from the context that this refers to all parts of the Torah, including Gemara. (It’s just that men are not allowed to teach women.)
Aries – You didn’t understand my post. I’ll explain -woman have to keep Shabbos -so any Torah regarding Shabbos they can and should learn. Not limited to, but including Mikra, Mishna, Gemorah and the Halachos pertaining to Shabbos.
Men not teaching women is the Diyyuk of the Drishah that many rely on nowadays. The more interesting reading of the Poskim claims that you just can’t force-teach a woman, but once she expresses a desire to learn it’s okay to teach her. I am very hesitant about that because it’s a huge Chiddush. See Y”D 246 with the Prishah and other Nos’ei Keilim.
There are many many books out there that discuss all areas of Hashkafa and Halacha. Also, you can always run your advise through a Rav to make sure it’s in line with the Torah’s view.
Sam2 – Is that all Torah or just what she is Mechuyav in?
Sam: What is a huge chiddush?
The huge Chiddush is that if a woman chooses on her own that she wants to learn all of Torah then you are allowed to teach them. The Drishah’s Chiddush that they can learn whatever they want on their own is big enough.
I personally have never refused to answer a woman’s question (not Lema’aseh) because there is definitely whom to rely upon. However, I would not feel comfortable saying Lechatchilah that a woman can learn from someone.
Sam2 -“However, I would not feel comfortable saying Lechatchilah that a woman can learn from someone.”
You’re talking about things that they aren’t Mechuyav in?
Health, I don’t think that’s true about Mishna and Gemara. There is a Chiyuv to learn Halacha, but other than that, the reasoning and Pilpul of how the Halacha came about, is not included.
Sam2, I don’t find the learning on their own to be such a Chiddush. The Gemara Mentions teaching your daughter, which souds like unsolicited teaching. Bruria had to have learned it somehow. If I remember correctly, the Drisha’s mother was a Melumedes.
The only thing is Shitas Rebbi Eliezer, that he didn’t even want to answer a woman in learning. Perhaps she was not a Melumedes on her own, and he was worried about Hizharu Bedivreichem. What went on in Beis Medrash was kept a secret from anyone.
I’ve always wanted to learn. In elementary and HS, my favorite Hebrew subjects were Chumash and Navi. I feel like there’s a whole side to Judaism I’m not part of because women are not allowed to learn.
If a woman picks up a gemara and starts reading on her own, is that assur? Let’s say I steal (ehem, borrow) my father’s Artscroll gemara?
aries, what a beautiful story. Just know that I think you have an incredible amount of knowledge in how to live the way G-d wants us to, and even though this “gift” of learning is viewed as only for men, you have your own gift, which is using your sensitivity, perception, kindness, and of course your knowledge, to help me and so many others in so many areas and ways. And that is not a very common gift.
Queen Bee, I’m sure every situation is different, but I was told by my family’s Rabbi that I can learn Torah with my mother. And I do. I learn with her every Friday night after the shabbos meal.
MiddlePath, that’s so amazing! If I ever get married, I’d like to learn with my husband (if that’s allowed…)
aries2756, I second MiddlePath.
Let me restate things. The Drishah had a Chiddush that it’s Davka teaching which is problematic. This is talking about anything. Many Poskim don’t accept this Drishah. Everyone agrees that you have to teach her what she is obligated in (at the very least the basic Halachos). The modern Chiddush is to limit it even further and say that unsolicited teaching is Assur.
Honestly, I expected more anti-learning on the “Yeshivah” world. I was once on a Yeshivish site where a “Posek” told a girl that it’s better for her to watch TV than to learn Gemara. There are many to whom I would recommend the modern adaptation of the Drishah’s Shittah. I just didn’t think that I would find anyone like that in here.
aries -“It is so obvious that it was all orchestrated and I was just a player”
Exactly, so when you needed to say the right thing, Hashem helped you. Being learned doesn’t mean you’ll have more Siyata Dishmaya than s/o whom isn’t!
Health: I think a good number of people hold that it does actually.
Seriously? A girl should rather watch TV than learn gemara? Is there something they’re trying to hide from us women? (I’m not trying to be argumentative, just really???)
Sam2 – What you can’t teach them things even if they are Mechuyav in them?
Health: Many people (I don’t know Poskim, but people) read the Shulchan Aruch as saying that you can only teach them the Halachos that are pertinent and no background. I have heard stronger Shittos but have no source whatsoever to back them up. Then there is the famous line from the Maharil that “It is Assur for a woman to open a Sefer.”
Aries, could it be a little of the other side of the fence is greener. There is SO much Torah that you can learn and be able to quote when you need to.
Rebbetzin Deena Weinberg, almanah of the late R”Y of Aish HaTorah, R’ Noach Weinberg, used to teach and probably still does that there is so much to learn about keeping the mitzvos women have to keep, like the 6 constant mitzvos. She recommended learning EVERYTHING you can about what you do have to do and then if you have time after that, well, you can imagine.
There are tons of seforim out there and a lot of what you probably want is in the medrash and other non-problematic seforim on hashkafa, etc. The issues of learning mishna/gemara by women may not seem so large when you look at how much is actually out there that we can learn.
Great story, Aries.
Please share with us some more,if you can.
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