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When Can Women Serve as Witnesses?
Women are entrusted with the most crucial roles in Jewish life. Raising and educating children, ensuring the standard of kashrut and a stringent observance of family purity are central to preserving Jewish families and communities – and these mitzvot rely on the reliability and dedication of women. Why, then, are there cases in which women…
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Wigs and Avoda Zara
How a woman covers her hair after marriage is a deeply personal decision. An array of options exist, and each carries with it various social and cultural messages. One form of head covering, common in many communities around the world, is the use of a wig, or sheitel. In this article we will examine some
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Ervah: Definition, Implications and Meaning
The concept of boundaries is emphasised throughout the Torah; what we can and can’t eat, whom we can and can’t marry, when and how to bring offerings, and the list goes on. At first glance, it’s a rather restrictive lifestyle filled with stringent rules. Upon deeper inspection, however, we find that the halachic framework set…
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Teaching Daughters Torah: A Folly?
Is women learning Torah muttar, recommended, maybe even required?..
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Unveiling the Mystery of the Sotah
The Sotah is the classic Torah source for the mitzvah of hair covering…
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Kinyan and Ketuba: Is the Wife the Property of Her Husband?
The Ketuba takes pride of place under every Jewish chuppa throughout history. Yet, it is often misunderstood as a declaration of love or a Jewish version of wedding vows. In truth, the Ketuba is essentially an insurance contract which forms the legal basis of the Jewish marriage. The ketuba lists the husband’s obligations towards his…
