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Laws of Religion

Laws of Judaism Concerning Women and Men

from the Biblical Books of Moses (Torah),

the Code of Maimonides (Mishneh Torah)

and the Shulchan Aruch

 

1. Introduction to the Laws of Judaism Concerning Women and Men

 

 

Our summaries of the Laws of Judaism concerning women and men include topics related to sexuality and relations between the sexes.

 

Each topical section is divided into three parts. The first summarizes what is said about the topic in the Torah (the first five books of the Bible, often called the “Books of Moses,” namely, Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers and Deuteronomy). The second part is based on the Mishneh Torah, the code of Jewish law written by Moses Maimonides in the 12^th century. The third part of the page for each topic is based on the Shulchan Aruch of Joseph Caro, written in the 16^th century, with the comments of Moses Isserles noted, as appropriate. The reasons for selecting these three sources, and the methods we used to prepare our summaries based on them, are explained on the page Source Texts Used for Laws of Judaism.

 

There is no attempt in this work to explain contemporary interpretations of any of the passages or how they are applied in the practice of Judaism today except that we have included what Maimonides or Joseph Caro wrote concerning whether particular laws apply everywhere or only within the Land of Israel and whether such laws apply at all times or only, for example, when the Temple in Jerusalem is standing. These summaries are emphatically not intended for use as guidance for religious practice. This work is simply a summary of what the cited texts say in the English translations referred to.

 

In some places we attempt to clarify what is written in the original texts by offering an interpretation of the meaning. Such comments are always placed in parentheses and are usually introduced with “Editor’s note.” The reader should have no problem recognizing these occasional comments by us.

 

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