{"id":8679,"date":"2010-02-11T11:00:04","date_gmt":"2010-02-11T09:00:04","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/ph.yhb.org.il\/en\/?p=8679"},"modified":"2017-07-16T11:23:42","modified_gmt":"2017-07-16T08:23:42","slug":"05-11-11","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/ph.yhb.org.il\/en\/05-11-11\/","title":{"rendered":"11. The Prohibition on Women Doing Work"},"content":{"rendered":"

Jewish women have preserved a special custom to refrain from working while the \u0124anuka candles are burning. Some women do not work the entire holiday, especially on the first and eighth days. In practice, though, the custom is to avoid work only while the candles are lit, and even then only during the first half-hour, which is the minimum time that the candles must be lit to fulfill the mitzva.<\/p>\n

Two reasons are given for this custom. First, so they do not use the light of the \u0124anuka candles accidentally. Since women were more likely to make this mistake, only they must refrain from work while the candles are lit. The second reason is based on the sanctity of \u0124anuka, when we recite Hallel<\/em>, indicating that it is similar to \u0124ol Ha-mo\u2019ed<\/em> and Rosh \u0124odesh. This sanctity is revealed when the candles are lit. Only women observe this custom because they have a special merit on \u0124anuka, since the courage of Yehudit and other women set the miracle in motion.<\/p>\n

The custom is that women refrain from forms of work that are prohibited on \u0124ol Ha-mo\u2019ed<\/em>, like laundering, sewing, and the like. However, cooking and frying are permitted.[13]<\/a><\/sup><\/p>\n

Upon close examination, we find that there are often two reasons given for customs that apply specifically to women. The first is that women were generally less astute and are thus were more likely to use the light of the \u0124anuka candles mistakenly. The second is that they have a certain special virtue, and therefore the sanctity of the day manifests itself in them to a greater extent.[14]<\/a><\/sup><\/p>\n

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\n[13]<\/a>. Shibolei Ha-leket<\/em> and Tur<\/em> 670:1 cite a custom that women do not work all eight days of \u0124anuka, and they conclude that one who has such a custom should not be lenient. Beit Yosef<\/em>, however, states that since there is no prohibition to work on \u0124anuka, this custom is inappropriate. \u0124akham Tzvi<\/em> \u00a789 goes so far as to say that one may not remain idle all day long, since idleness leads one to sin. mb 670:5 concurs. ma states that some women refrain from working as long as the candles are burning in the synagogue, which is until midnight, while other women avoid working the entire first and eighth day. mb ad loc.<\/em> 4 rules that women should only stop working for a half-hour. Sefer \u0124asidim<\/em> \u00a7121 states that it would be appropriate for men to refrain from working as well, but this is not common practice. See also Kaf Ha-\u0125ayim<\/em> 670:9. According to the first reason stated in the main text, it would seem that cooking and frying should be prohibited during the first half-hour like all other forms of work. Nonetheless, we are lenient in this matter, perhaps because the primary idea is to treat certain acts as forbidden just as a reminder that one may not benefit from the light of the candles. Still, some maintain that a family that is stringent in practice should continue in its ways. See Ben Ish \u0124ai<\/em>, Vayeshev 27; Kaf Ha-\u0125ayim<\/em> 670:9. Also see Peninei Halakha: Festivals<\/em> 11:7, which states that one may iron clothes on festivals for the purpose of wearing them during the festival; the same certainly applies to \u0124anuka.<\/p>\n

[14]<\/a>. The Sages say that women must hear the Megilla<\/em> on Purim, drink the four cups on Pesa\u0125, and light the \u0124anuka candles, because \u201cthey too participated in that miracle\u201d (Megilla<\/em> 4a, Pesa\u0125im<\/em> 108b, Shabbat<\/em> 23a). Tosafot<\/em> and many other Rishonim maintain that these mitzvot<\/em> are primarily incumbent upon men, while women are also obligated because they too were saved from Egypt, Haman, and the Greeks. Rashi and Rashbam (Pesa\u0125im<\/em> 108b) maintain that a woman\u2019s obligation in these mitzvot<\/em> stems from the fact that women played a major role in the miracles that took place. After all, the Gemara (Sota<\/em> 11b) states that we were redeemed from Egypt by virtue of the righteous women of that generation, who had faith in God and encouraged their husbands to procreate despite the harsh decrees. The Purim miracle as well came about through Esther, and the \u0124anuka miracle was precipitated by Yehudit. From this perspective, these mitzvot<\/em> are more pertinent to women than they are to men. Therefore, only they are meticulous and refrain from working while the candles are lit.<\/p>\n

See above, 1:7, regarding Rosh \u0124odesh, which is more significant to women than it is to men, because women were not involved in the sin of the Golden Calf, and they also donated toward the construction of the Mishkan<\/em>. Perhaps this is also why women have a higher connection to \u0124anuka, because the Hasmoneans rededicated the Temple at that time, just as the Israelites completed the construction of the Mishkan<\/em> in the wilderness. In addition, the element of the Oral Torah, which we mentioned above, is connected to the attribute of kingship (malkhut<\/em>), which has a feminine aspect. See Ben Ish \u0124ai<\/em>, Vayeshev 27. See also Peninei Halakha:<\/em> Laws of Women\u2019s Prayer<\/em> 6:2, regarding the berakha <\/em>of She-asani Ki-rtzono<\/em>; 7:1, regarding Torah study; and ch. 3, which discusses the respective virtues of both men and women and the ways in which these virtues are manifested.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Jewish women have preserved a special custom to refrain from working while the \u0124anuka candles are burning. Some women do not work the entire holiday, especially on the first and eighth days. In practice, though, the custom is to avoid work only while the candles are lit, and even then only during the first half-hour, […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":10,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[21],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-8679","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-05-11"],"yoast_head":"\n11. 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