The Talmud makes clear that anyone can read from the Torah for the community, even a slave, a child or a woman. This makes public Torah reading completely different from any other "mitzvah". For the source-sheet, go here. For the podcast websit

2. What is "respect for the public"?

Aug 28th, 2023 12m 54s

Although the Talmud makes clear that, in principle, anyone can read from the Torah for the community, it also states that a woman's Torah reading infringes "respect for the public". In this episode we will look at other examples of "respect for

3. Why does a woman's reading "disrespect" the public?

Aug 28th, 2023 17m 41s

The Talmud states that a woman's Torah reading infringes "respect for the public", apparently because a community which relied on women was considered to be made up of men who were illiterate. In this episode we will look at the classic sources

4. Could women be called to the Torah on Shabbat without "disrespect"?

Aug 28th, 2023 24m 2s

The Talmud asserts that Torah reading by women infringes the "respect" due to the community. But, today, a member of the community who is called to the Torah does not need to read. The ba'al koreh, the communal Torah reader, will read for them.

5. Might the community have the right to waive its "respect"?

Aug 28th, 2023 22m 22s

If Torah reading by women infringes the "respect" due to the community, might the community have the right to waive its "respect" to allow women to read? Rabbi Josef Karo, the author of the Shulhan Arukh, rules as such and Rabbi Joel Sirkis, th

6. Are women included in the community of those who study Torah?

Aug 28th, 2023 26m 43s

Rabbi Eliezer disagrees with Ben Azzai as to whether women should be included in the community of those who study Torah. Echoes of their dispute can still be seen in today's Jewish communities. For the source-sheet, go here. For the podcast web

Rate