Leviticus 12

Exodus 23

This week’s double portion begins with an explanation of a period of time of contamination for a woman gives birth to a child .during this period of time of the blood of purity,  33 days for the birth of a boy, 66 days for the birth of a girl, a woman may not touch anything holy or enter the temple (tabernacle.) This instruction given by Hashem to the children of Israel at first glance may create a machloket a scriptural dilemma.

In Exodus 23, we see the instruction given to the children of Israel that they are to bring sacrifices before the Lord. 3 times a year. This instruction is given to Israel. B’nai Israel may be translated either as the children of Israel, or the sons of Israel. So, who is commanded to come before Hashem. 3 times a year? Is it all the children of Israel, or is it only the sons of Israel?

In this week’s portion, Tazriah, we see that when a woman gives birth. She is forbidden to come to the sanctuary for a minimum of 33 days. What happens when one of the 3 festivals, falls during this period of time of the blood of purification for a woman? She is both commanded to do something and commanded not to do the same thing.

Exodus 23:17 clarifies the commandment. Then they Israel, in this case, refers to the sons of Israel only, not the daughters. Women are not required to go to the temple. 3 times a year and make a sacrifice. Only the men are required to make the sacrifice. This solves the machloket. Since women are not required to make the sacrifice. 3 times a year, if a woman is not allowed to enter the temple during her time of the blood of purity, she is not sinning.

The sages use this idea as an instructive point of Torah. Whenever Hashem issues a positive, time-related mitzvah to B’nai Israel, the commandment is meant for males only. Because there are times when women may not fulfill a positive, time-related mitzvah, for instance, when a woman is in the blood of purification. Therefore, positive, time-related mitzvah are obligations of men, but not obligations of women.

This does not mean that women are not allowed to perform these mitzvot. It means that women are not obligated to perform these mitzvot, rather, they are obligations of only men. There are synagogue prayer, which are obligatory. They are obligations of men, not of women. Why? Because synagogue services are positive, time-related mitzvah. They are to be performed (positive.) And, they are to be done at specific times. Therefore, women are not obligated. Though there are not obligated, women are not only allowed to pray synagogue services they are encouraged to do so. It’s just that they are under no obligation to do so. Shabbat shalom.