RedCircle VERIFY_TOKEN_1da26ee9-a7e3-48f4-ad09-cca8af367f2f -- Rendered At Sat, 04 Apr 2026 00:37:55 +0000 Torah Reading by Women? https://redcircle.com/shows/torah-reading-by-women en-GB All rights reserved. Benedict Roth Many members of orthodox synagogues believe that women's Torah reading is forbidden. But the traditional rabbinic sources are more nuanced: they give plenty of room for a community either to permit or to forbid as it chooses. Most rabbis don't teach these sources, but they are oulined in this podcast by Benedict Roth, an informal Jewish educator based in London 1da26ee9-a7e3-48f4-ad09-cca8af367f2f Many members of orthodox synagogues believe that women's Torah reading is forbidden. But the traditional rabbinic sources are more nuanced: they give plenty of room for a community either to permit or to forbid as it chooses. Most rabbis don't teach these sources, but they are outlined in this podcast by Benedict Roth, an informal Jewish educator based in London. All the background sources can be found on www.torahreader.net

]]> episodic no Benedict Roth benedict.roth@me.com no full 1. Anyone may read the Torah for the community! 1. Anyone may read the Torah for the community! 1 1 Benedict Roth The Talmud makes clear that anyone can read from the Torah for the community, even a slave, a child or a woman. This makes public Torah reading completely different from any other "mitzvah". For the source-sheet, go here. For the podcast website, visit www.torahreader.net.

]]> <p>The Talmud makes clear that anyone can read from the Torah for the community, even a slave, a child or a woman. This makes public Torah reading completely different from any other &#34;<em>mitzvah</em>&#34;. For the source-sheet, go <a href="https://torahreadernet.files.wordpress.com/2023/08/aliyot-for-women-sources-1-1.pdf" rel="nofollow">here</a>. For the podcast website, visit <a href="https://torahreader.net/" rel="nofollow">www.torahreader.net</a>.</p> 1c8611fb-7117-4eff-afbb-1b025219bfff https://torahreadernet.files.wordpress.com/2023/08/aliyot-for-women-sources-1-1.pdf Mon, 28 Aug 2023 13:50:00 +0000 755 no full 2. What is "respect for the public"? 2. What is "respect for the public"? 2 1 Benedict Roth Although the Talmud makes clear that, in principle, anyone can read from the Torah for the community, it also states that a woman's Torah reading infringes "respect for the public". In this episode we will look at other examples of "respect for the public" in the world of the Talmud.

For the source-sheet, go here. For the podcast website, visit www.torahreader.net.

]]> <p>Although the Talmud makes clear that, in principle, anyone can read from the Torah for the community, it also states that a woman&#39;s Torah reading infringes &#34;respect for the public&#34;. In this episode we will look at other examples of &#34;respect for the public&#34; in the world of the Talmud.</p><p>For the source-sheet, go <a href="https://torahreadernet.files.wordpress.com/2023/08/aliyot-for-women-sources-2-1.pdf" rel="nofollow">here</a>. For the podcast website, visit <a href="https://torahreader.net/" rel="nofollow">www.torahreader.net</a>.</p> 3cf8bf51-d775-473b-83b9-4edc18f325a2 https://torahreadernet.files.wordpress.com/2023/08/aliyot-for-women-sources-2-1.pdf Mon, 28 Aug 2023 13:45:00 +0000 774 no full 3. Why does a woman's reading "disrespect" the public? 3. Why does a woman's reading "disrespect" the public? 3 1 Benedict Roth The Talmud states that a woman's Torah reading infringes "respect for the public", apparently because a community which relied on women was considered to be made up of men who were illiterate. In this episode we will look at the classic sources and ask whether this factor is still relevant today, when everyone is considered to be "illiterate" for the purpose of public Torah reading. The Talmud states that a woman's Torah reading infringes "respect for the public", apparently because a community which relied on women was considered to be made up of men who were illiterate. In this episode we will look at the classic sources and ask whether this factor is still relevant today, when everyone is considered to be "illiterate" for the purpose of public Torah reading.

For the source-sheet, go here. For the podcast website, visit www.torahreader.net.

]]> <p>The Talmud states that a woman&#39;s Torah reading infringes &#34;respect for the public&#34;, apparently because a community which relied on women was considered to be made up of men who were illiterate. In this episode we will look at the classic sources and ask whether this factor is still relevant today, when everyone is considered to be &#34;illiterate&#34; for the purpose of public Torah reading.</p><p>For the source-sheet, go <a href="https://torahreadernet.files.wordpress.com/2023/08/aliyot-for-women-sources-3-1.pdf" rel="nofollow">here</a>. For the podcast website, visit <a href="https://torahreader.net/" rel="nofollow">www.torahreader.net</a>.</p> ef7de548-7882-450c-bbb5-0932080e49ae https://torahreadernet.files.wordpress.com/2023/08/aliyot-for-women-sources-3-1.pdf Mon, 28 Aug 2023 13:40:00 +0000 1061 no full 4. Could women be called to the Torah on Shabbat without "disrespect"? 4. Could women be called to the Torah on Shabbat without "disrespect"? 4 1 Benedict Roth The Talmud asserts that Torah reading by women infringes the "respect" due to the community. But, today, a member of the community who is called to the Torah does not need to read. The ba'al koreh, the communal Torah reader, will read for them. As such the Shulhan Arukh, the authoritative code of Jewish law, suggests that up to six of the seven community members called to the Torah on shabbat could be women. For the source-sheet, go here. For the podcast website, visit www.torahreader.net. The Talmud asserts that Torah reading by women infringes the "respect" due to the community. But, today, a member of the community who is called to the Torah does not need to read. The ba'al koreh, the communal Torah reader, will read for them. As such the Shulhan Arukh, the authoritative code of Jewish law, suggests that up to six of the seven community members called to the Torah on shabbat could be women.

For the source-sheet, go here. For the podcast website, visit www.torahreader.net.

]]> <p>The Talmud asserts that Torah reading by women infringes the &#34;respect&#34; due to the community. But, today, a member of the community who is called to the Torah does not need to read. The <em>ba&#39;al koreh, </em>the communal Torah reader, will read for them. As such the Shulhan Arukh, the authoritative code of Jewish law, suggests that up to six of the seven community members called to the Torah on shabbat could be women.</p><p>For the source-sheet, go <a href="https://torahreadernet.files.wordpress.com/2023/08/aliyot-for-women-sources-4-2.pdf" rel="nofollow">here</a>. For the podcast website, visit <a href="https://torahreader.net/" rel="nofollow">www.torahreader.net</a>.</p> f4d67c82-d34c-4b09-b987-91320d8a2c7e https://torahreadernet.files.wordpress.com/2023/08/aliyot-for-women-sources-4-2.pdf Mon, 28 Aug 2023 13:34:55 +0000 1442 no full 5. Might the community have the right to waive its "respect"? 5. Might the community have the right to waive its "respect"? 5 1 Benedict Roth If Torah reading by women infringes the "respect" due to the community, might the community have the right to waive its "respect" to allow women to read? Rabbi Josef Karo, the author of the Shulhan Arukh, rules as such and Rabbi Joel Sirkis, the author of the Bayit Hadash, disagrees. For the source-sheet, go here. For the podcast website, visit www.torahreader.net. If Torah reading by women infringes the "respect" due to the community, might the community have the right to waive its "respect" to allow women to read? Rabbi Josef Karo, the author of the Shulhan Arukh, rules as such and Rabbi Joel Sirkis, the author of the Bayit Hadash, disagrees. For the source-sheet, go here. For the podcast website, visit www.torahreader.net.

]]> <p><span>If Torah reading by women infringes the &#34;respect&#34; due to the community, might the community have the right to waive its &#34;respect&#34; to allow women to read? Rabbi Josef Karo, the author of the Shulhan Arukh, rules as such and Rabbi Joel Sirkis, the author of the Bayit Hadash, disagrees. For the source-sheet, go </span><a href="https://torahreadernet.files.wordpress.com/2023/08/aliyot-for-women-sources-5-1.pdf" rel="nofollow">here</a><span>. For the podcast website, visit </span><a href="https://torahreader.net/" rel="nofollow">www.torahreader.net</a><span>.</span></p> 2a5c4989-218d-4dad-8cdd-e327bd0e590f https://torahreadernet.files.wordpress.com/2023/08/aliyot-for-women-sources-5-1.pdf Mon, 28 Aug 2023 13:27:06 +0000 1342 no full 6. Are women included in the community of those who study Torah? 6. Are women included in the community of those who study Torah? 6 1 Benedict Roth Rabbi Eliezer disagrees with Ben Azzai as to whether women should be included in the community of those who study Torah. Echoes of their dispute can still be seen in today's Jewish communities. For the source-sheet, go here. For the podcast website, visit www.torahreader.net. Rabbi Eliezer disagrees with Ben Azzai as to whether women should be included in the community of those who study Torah. Echoes of their dispute can still be seen in today's Jewish communities. For the source-sheet, go here. For the podcast website, visit www.torahreader.net.

]]> <p>Rabbi Eliezer disagrees with Ben Azzai as to whether women should be included in the community of those who study Torah. Echoes of their dispute can still be seen in today&#39;s Jewish communities. For the source-sheet, go <a href="https://torahreadernet.files.wordpress.com/2023/08/aliyot-for-women-sources-6-2.pdf" rel="nofollow">here</a>. For the podcast website, visit <a href="https://torahreader.net/" rel="nofollow">www.torahreader.net</a>.</p> 5d90bf46-b93e-4a0f-93fa-1ae63aba75fa https://torahreadernet.files.wordpress.com/2023/08/aliyot-for-women-sources-6-2.pdf Mon, 28 Aug 2023 12:37:26 +0000 1603 no