A talk regarding the obligation on women in the education and study of Torah

Though from a Halachic point of view, the obligation to teach Torah is on the father, nonetheless from a pragmatic point of view, firstly, the tone, spirit of the home is often set by the mother – also bearing in mind she is more with the children – especially as the nature of women is to educate in a loving way – which particularly in the latter generations, this has proven to be the effective mechanism.

When a mother learns with her children, asking them question on what they learned in school, thus giving them excitement in these studies, not only is this exceptional, but it increases their own Torah study.

It is appropriate to emphasize that firstly women have a Torah obligation to study the laws that apply to them, such as the laws of Kashrus, niddah, yichud (to not be alone with a man unless it’s a husband etc.)

Secondly and more importantly, they must study Chassidus which is the fundamental Mitzvahs to know, love and revere God.

In addition women should study all of Torah, for though there were statements of the sages in the past that this is not laudatory – firstly, we do find there were unique women (like the daughters of Rashi and the family of the Rebbe) who were great scholars – in addition as in any event in the previous generation the rabbis saw that women were getting influenced by secular thinking so the mitzvah not only to study, but study in depth, which gives people greater joy, is now on women.

This in fact is one of the positive outcomes in later generations – and part of the reason is, as we approach the feminine era of Moshiach, hence this positive result.

This of course as mentioned, assists in their mitzvah to educate their children.

The bottom line is, following an international gathering of Jewish women, positive resolutions in this regard should be undertaken.