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Why aren't men and women obligated to do the same Mitzvahs?

by Rabbi Tzvi Freeman

  

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In essence, a woman has every obligation of a man, and a man every obligation of a woman.

True, man and woman are separate bodies, and appear to have different Mitzvahs. The Torah, however, doesn't know of man and woman as separate beings. They are a single whole, whether they are cognizant of one another or not. Each act is performed once through a single entity. Either a masculine body, or a feminine body, but a body that in our world may appear as two, whereas to the Torah it is seen as one.

This is actually a statement of Rabbi Isaac Luria, the greatest of the Kabbalists, known as Arizal. He explains that the man and woman are a single entity--and that is how they are considered in Halachah, as well. So, for example, a woman also puts on Tefillin--only that she puts them on with her male body. If everything is working right, that should be her husband.


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COMMENTS

The equality of men and women

Posted by: I. M. Confused, Bala Cynwyd, PA on Jan 18, 2005

I was extremely confused by this article. Men do NOT have the same obligations as women, and women do not have the same obligations as a man. It is a known fact that a woman is exempt from time-bound mitzvot. Women are NOT obligated to recite the kriat shema, b/c it's a time dependent mitzvah.

Furthermore, the article leads to a lot of questions and confusion. For example, someone might ask, "what if a lady is not married?" etc. 

In my opinion, the article should explain how even though men and women have different obligations, they are still beloved before God, or even explain that the reason that women have less mitzvot than men is b/c they are more spiritualy up there and stuff like that.

Editor's Comment

1. This article is not talking about practical obligations, instead it conveys the mystical perspective. For an alternative explanation see "Why are women exempt from time related Mitzvot?"

2. Every person -- even one who never actually marries -- is created with a matching soul mate, who fulfills mitzvot also on behalf of his/her other half.

3. To understand the value in different roles see "Does Judaism view men and women as equals?" .

What if there is no husband?

Posted by: Maria, Milwaukee, WI on Oct 14, 2007

What if there is no husband? Does the woman do what the man would normally do? I don't have a husband; having a hard time finding a single, honest, caring Jewish man.

Editor's Comment

Good question. In fact, your 'other half' is already doing your 'male' mitzvahs for you, and he has always done them since he's a baby. The reason that you can say in Birkat HaMazon [Grace after Meals] 'You have sealed it in our flesh' - a reference to circumcision - is because your husband-to-be did this mitzvah for both of you. Likewise, you do all his 'female' mitzvahs, even tho you have yet to marry. G-d willing, I hope you meet your soulmate in the very very near future and may it be an easy and joyous process.
Torah
Torah is G–d’s teaching to man. In general terms, we refer to the Five Books of Moses as “The Torah.” But in truth, all Jewish beliefs and laws are part of the Torah.
Halachah
Jewish Law. All halachah which is applicable today is found in the Code of Jewish Law.
Tefillin
Black leather boxes containing small scrolls with passages of the Bible written on them. Every day, aside for Sabbath and Jewish holidays, the adult Jewish male is required to wrap the Tefillin--by means of black leather straps--around the weaker arm and atop the forehead.
Isaac
Second of the three Jewish Patriarchs, son of Abraham and Sarah. Lived in Canaan (Israel); b. 1712 BCE, d. 1532 BCE.
Arizal
Rabbi Isaac Luria, the 15th Century founder of Modern Kabbalah.