May a woman perform mitzvot voluntarily? The test case is Smicha or semikhah (Hebrew: סמיכה‬, "leaning [of the hands]"), also smichut (סמיכות‬, "ordination"), smicha lerabbanut (סמיכה לרבנות‬, "rabbinical ordination"), or smicha lehazzanut (סמיכה לחזנות‬, "cantorial ordination"), is derived from a Hebrew word which means to "rely on" or "to be authorized".

In our last podcast we discussed the general value of voluntary mitzva performance. This week we're discussing whether it's appropriate to make a beracha when voluntarily performing a mitzva. We'll discuss the purpose of a birkat hamitzva, the possible concerns with reciting one in this case, and the differences in practical halacha for Ashkenazim and Sefardim.

Read the full article here: https://www.deracheha.org/beracha-on-voluntary-performance/

Challa, candle-lighting and nidda are three mitzvot in which women's performance takes precedence over men's. Taken together, what do they teach us about women and halacha?

In this podcast, the first of our series on women's prayer, we'll identify prayer as "rachamei", seeking divine mercy. We'll discuss the various opinions about whether the obligation to pray daily is Biblical or Rabbinic, and how that relates to women's obligation in prayer.

To see all the sources referenced in this episode, check out the article on our site here: https://www.deracheha.org/prayer-1-obligation/

Last week we spoke about women's obligation in prayer in general. This week we'll focus on shemoneh esrei specifically. Do women have an obligation to recite Shemoneh Esrei? How many times a day? Are there justifications for women who recite fewer than two shemoneh esreis a day? We'll discuss all the different halachic approaches to this question, taking into account the different lived experiences of women at different periods in their lives.

To see all the sources referenced in today's podcast, check out the full article on our site here: https://www.deracheha.org/prayer-2-shemoneh-esrei/

This episode continues our eight part series on prayer. We've already discussed the general obligation of women in prayer, including shemoneh esrei, and now we're going to start from the beginning, discussing the prayers we say immediately upon waking up. In this episode we will discuss why we start our day the way we do, and the specific question of whether women are obligated in the birchot hatorah.

To see all the sources referenced in today's podcast, check out the full article on our site here: https://www.deracheha.org/prayer-3-upon-arising/

This week is the fourth installment in our series on prayer. We've already discussed the general obligation of women in prayer, including shemoneh esrei, and the prayers we say immediately upon waking up. In this week's podcast we are going to talk about what follows the initial berachot, namely, the recitation of bikot hashachar.

To see all the sources referenced in today's podcast, check out the full article on our site here: https://www.deracheha.org/prayer-4-birchot-ha-shachar/