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Women's
Obligations on Sukkot
Time
Bound Positive Commandments
Women are not responsible for the time-bound positive commandments,
including among others: dwelling in the sukkah, the four species,
shofar, tefillin, and many more.
a)
Women have, however, taken some of these commandments, such as
shofar, upon themselves.
b)
The Torah does not obligate people to perform mitzvot that they
will not be able to fulfill on a consistent basis. Because of
a woman's role as child-bearer and initial nurturer, the Torah
recognizes that a woman will often not be able to perform time-bound
mitzvot at very specific times, and, therefore, exempted all women
from these mitzvot. However, the halacha (Jewish law) allows women
to fulfill these mitzvot on a voluntary basis.
c)
When performing mitzvot for which one is not obligated, there
is a disagreement whether the blessing over the mitzvah is recited.
According to Ashkenazic opinions, women may say the blessing
when performing these mitzvot.
According to Sephardic opinion, women should not say the blessing
when performing these mitzvot.
The
Mitzvot of Sukkot and Women
a)
Dwelling in the sukkah
Because dwelling in the sukkah is required only during the holiday
of Sukkot, it is a positive time-bound mitzvah.
Many women try to eat in the sukkah whenever possible.
i)
Because the mitzvah of lulav and etrog may only be performed
during the day, thus making it a positive time-bound mitzvah,
women are not obligated to perform the mitzvah of the four species.
Many women, however, choose to perform this mitzvah.
i)
Women are not obligated to pray in a minyan (a quorum of 10
men) and are therefore not obligated to attend services at the
synagogue, although attendance is strongly recommend for those
who are in a position to do so.
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