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What Is a Woman’s Role in Judaism?

Special mitzvahs of Jewish women and what they mean to us

Bronya Shaffer
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What Is a Woman's Role in Judaism?: Special mitzvahs of Jewish women and what they mean to us

The unique role of the Jewish woman is described in terms of three archetypical mitzvahs—Shabbat candles, family purity and kosher. How do traditional ideas of Jewish femininity compare to modern feminist ideas about the role of women in society?
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Mrs. Bronya Shaffer is a noted globetrotting lecturer on Jewish women's issues, and serves as a personal counselor and mentor for women, couples and adolescents. Mrs. Shaffer, a responder for Chabad.org’s Ask the Rabbi service, lives with her ten children in Crown Heights, Brooklyn.
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anonymous March 2, 2023

"The future world, however, will be a time when all is Sabbath, and as the prophet foretold, "The light of the moon will be like the light of the sun" (Isaiah 30:26). At that time, the inequality between man and woman will likewise be eradicated.
We are rapidly approaching the Messianic Age, when the curse associated with Adam's sin will be removed. Once the curse is eliminated, woman's status will also change profoundly. Our sages thus teach us, "All will be healed, except for the serpent." This change in woman's status. may be alluded to in the prophecy "For G-d will create a new thing, a woman shall court a man" (Jeremiah 31:22)." -Quoted from Immortality, Resurrection, and the Age of the Universe: A Kabbalistic View, by Aryeh Kaplan Reply

Binyamin Jerusalem April 2, 2020

I really like this. I've always found it hard to find a reasonable stance in feminism from an orthodox perspective, but I can stand by this Reply

Anonymous Galveston March 2, 2019

I can not find any where about women over 50 years of age. I am a convert and need to know what my role in life is now. My children are grown and my husband and i are still very lively in our life. My husband's role is clear but as an older woman , what is my role? Please help me. i have asked this question many times with no answer. Reply

louise e leon PA March 4, 2019
in response to Anonymous:

Hi Galveston woman.....I'm a retired Pennsylvanian that needed to find satisfying activities to fill my days. I turned to volunteerism and now totally enjoy volunteering at both our local library and our local elementary center. Since I don't have grandchildren to help raise, I help "raise" the cutest kindergartners and first graders. This is my fifth year and I hope to continue for years to come ! Reply

Alicia Madrid March 5, 2019
in response to Anonymous:

Dear Anonymous, Just a few lines to express my ideas and admiration for your blessed converted life. Your role is deep inside youself to be realized by your carefully watching and peacefully observation in inner talk to G.d, But you might have many different roles, like recipes for the same food. People say "just do not give up in doing your best". Sincerely, Alicia from Spain. Reply

Hannah Heil Oxford January 28, 2019

Mrs Shaffer, Thank You!
Am moved and inspired by the clarity you provide and the illumination you share, I look forward to more joy and purity towards a life I intend to live more holy-ly - Thank You for that too.
Hannah Reply

Avigayil Chana Stoughton, MA December 7, 2016

Wonderful This is a very important video. Thank you, Mrs. S! Reply

Gerard Ezinwoke Toronto September 24, 2016

Thanks very much Mrs Shaffer! Mrs Shaffer,

I can't fully express how inspired your video has made me but I really do appreciate it, as a man looking to get married your video has inspired me to live a more holy life, continue to have Emuna in Hashem and grow in my love for Hashem, Jewish people and Israel...

May your days continue to be fruitful.

Reply

Bracha Meshchaninov New Hempstead October 21, 2015

loved listening to you Bronya, wonderful talk!! Reply

Diane Fertig Eugene, Oregon August 22, 2015

A blessing to you! Thanks so much for sharing this awesome history and truths. You are so smart, funny and delightful! I wish I still lived in Brooklyn, would love to speak with you. I'm 60 so I remember much of the 70s and learning about my Jewish roots. Be well and happy! Looking forward to learning more about you and our faith. Reply

Alicia Madrid August 18, 2015

Sarah was a mother Dear "nontraditional" friend,

I am glad that you tell your story because mine is similar. I feel like a Jew and my behavior and studies are according since years ago but I have not taken the Mikve yet. I have not been blessed yet in generosity to have a child or a husband, but every day I keep alive my hope of being a wife and a mother and I am working on that. I will raise them as Jews. The wife of Abraham, Sarah, was a mother at very late age. Reply

artisanrox August 16, 2015

wonderful and I love how this really speaks to me despite being very "nontraditional"...I'm childfree and single (and sorta kinda not Jewish either, but have been learning Jewish for a long time) and even all that and in my late 30's, I loved this teaching. Thank you for making something relevant to women like me because it doesn't revolve totally around reproduction and marriage! Reply

louise leon PA, USA August 10, 2015

The woman warrior
A lovely video.
Since Israeli women are required to serve in the IDF, It seems timely to consider the importance of the woman's role in protecting Eretz Yisrael as do male soldiers.
Chanah Senesh has always been my inspiration for her heroism and fearlessness as a female paratrooper decades ago. Reply

Anonymous Amsterdam, The Netherlands August 10, 2015

Dear Mrs. Shaffer,
Thank you so much ! Very, very nice and easy to follow and understandable . Reply

Lisa Aubert Long Beach, CA August 7, 2015

question regarding confirmation of life Thank you so much for this valuable lecture. I have a question regarding the women's cycle being a confirmation of life. What does it mean spiritually for a woman to have extremely severe painful cramps during these cycles throughout her entire lifespan especially if she never been pregnant? Reply

Cala South Africa August 7, 2015

How beautiful....this touch my heart so deeply... Oh that all the women in the world may hear this message!
Thank you for this video! Reply

Alicia Madrid August 4, 2015

I like those functions very much Such a beautiful speech for a cultivated mother and woman. Definitively after her talk once realized how holily could be living consciousness as Jew. She lighted candles all around and that is certainly clarity to avoid rocks and trees... Thanks Reply

Anonymous merion Station August 3, 2015

Mrs. Shaffer,
You are an inspiration and the ultimate role model of the jewish woman. Thank you for being there!!! May Hashm bless you with all of the brachot! Reply

Anonymous July 29, 2015

I greatly appreciated this lecture; Mrs. Shaffer. It was very inspiring and insightful. Thank you so much! :) Reply

JDV April 7, 2015

You are a smart lady. Are you still in Brooklyn? I would like to meet you. Reply

Anonymous Berlin May 19, 2013

Thank you very much for your talk. Very clear and touching. Reply

Rachael Medellin Dunker Hitchcock, Tx. July 11, 2012

This teaching I so thank you, I better understand what I am supposed to be doing. I will do the things I must do. This has really help me so much. Thank you again Reply

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