עברית
Women
How was it permissible for Rashi's daughters to put tefillin?
Question
Why did Rashi's daughters wear tefillin? Isn't this considered "lo yilbash"? Thank you very much in advance.
Answer
Shalom Rav,
It seems there is no reliable source stating that Rashi's daughters wore tefillin.
However, we find in the tractate Eruvin (54a, and Rashi there) that Michal, the daughter of Shaul, wore tefillin and the sages did not protest against her.
This raises a question based on the translation of Yonatan ben Uziel (Deuteronomy 22:5), which states that a woman who wears tefillin transgresses the prohibition "a man's garments shall not be upon a woman," so why did the sages not protest against her?
This is addressed by the responsum of Rabbi Meir Shick (Yoreh De'ah 186) who explains that the sages knew her intention was pure, for the sake of fulfilling a mitzvah, and not for any other purpose, therefore they did not protest.
Nevertheless, it is important to note that according to halacha, it is forbidden for women to wear tefillin in any case, as the Ramah (Orach Chaim 38:3) writes in the name of the Kol Bo that if women wish to be stringent and wear tefillin, they are prevented from doing so.
Best regards,
Hillel Meirs
