by Haviva Krasner-Davidson
I am one of a small number of observant Jewish women who have taken upon themselves the mitzvot aseh shehazman g’rammah, the category of positive “time-bound” commandments that have traditionally been required only of men: the wearing of t’fillin [phylacteries], tallit [prayer shawl], tzitzit [fringed undergarment] to name a few. These mitzvot are called “time bound” because they are performed only during the day, not in the evening or at night. The reason I have chosen to observe them is that, contrary to popular belief, there are no prohibitions against women doing so; their observance makes Judaism more meaningful to me; and, performing these mitzvot helps me work towards challenging women’s place in Judaism.
by Robin Zieger
by Haviva Krasner-Davidson
by Sally Berkovlc