Mishnah
Mishnah

Related%20passage for Berakhot 3:3

נָשִׁים וַעֲבָדִים וּקְטַנִּים פְּטוּרִין מִקְּרִיאַת שְׁמַע וּמִן הַתְּפִלִּין, וְחַיָּבִין בִּתְפִלָּה וּבִמְזוּזָה, וּבְבִרְכַּת הַמָּזוֹן:

Women, bondsmen, and minors are exempt from the Shema and from tefillin. [Even though the Shema is a time-oriented positive commandment (mitzvath aseh shehazman grama), a class of mitzvah from which women are exempt, we would think that it is, nonetheless, binding upon them because it contains the acceptance of the kingdom of Heaven — for which reason we must be apprised otherwise. And the mitzvah of tefillin is a time-oriented positive commandment, for it does not obtain at night and on the Sabbath; but we would think that since it is likened to mezuzah, it is binding upon women. We must, therefore, be apprised otherwise. "Minors": A father is not obligated to train in the recital of the Shema even a minor who had arrived at the age of training; for the son is not always to be found with his father at the time of recital. And a father was not obligated to train a minor in the mitzvah of tefillin, for he cannot be expected to guard himself against expelling air while wearing them.] And tefillah, mezuzah, and the recital of grace are binding upon them. [For tefillah is the imploration of mercy, and a rabbinical ordinance; and it was instituted for women, too, and for the training of minors. "Mezuzah": We might think, since mezuzah is likened to Torah study, that just as women are exempt from Torah study, it being written (Deuteronomy 11:9): "And you shall teach them to your sons" — and not to your daughters, they should, likewise, be exempt from mezuzah, even though it is not a time-oriented positive commandment; we are, therefore, apprised otherwise. "The recital of grace": It is open to question whether the recital of grace is Scripturally binding upon women, it being written (Deuteronomy 8:10): "And you shall eat, and you shall be sated, and you shall bless" — so that it is a non time-oriented positive commandment — or whether it is not Scripturally binding upon women, it being written (Ibid.): "for the good land which He has given you"; and the land was not given to females. The question was not resolved.]

Explore related%20passage for Berakhot 3:3. In-depth commentary and analysis from classical Jewish sources.

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