עברית
Women
Which prayers is a woman obligated to pray each day?
What parts of Shacharit are required for women?
Question
Hello, Rabbi. I want to start praying one prayer a day, with a preference for Shacharit, but it is a long prayer. Which parts are obligatory in this prayer, and is it preferable to Mincha or Maariv?
Thank you
Answer
Greetings,
1. Ashkenazi girls are obligated to pray Shacharit and Mincha every day (Mishnah Berurah, siman 106, seif katan 4). Sephardi girls are obligated to pray only one prayer a day, and it is preferable that they choose Shacharit (Yabia Omer, part 6, Orach Chaim, siman 17).
2. The order of Shacharit for Ashkenazi girls is: Birkot HaTorah, Birkot HaShachar, and in place of the blessing Shelo Asani Isha, they should recite She'asani kirtzono with Hashem's name and kingship, and it is proper that they say the first verse of Shema and Baruch Shem etc. and Emet Veyatziv. After that they should pray the Shemoneh Esrei, and it is proper that they say afterward Aleinu l'shabeach (see Michah Eliyahu, part 1, simanim 11-20). And Sephardi girls who choose to pray Shacharit, the order is: Birkot HaShachar, and in place of the blessing Shelo Asani Isha they should recite She'asani kirtzono without Hashem's name and kingship. If they wish, they may also recite Birkot HaTorah. After that it is proper that they say Shema Yisrael and Baruch Shem etc. Then they should pray Shemoneh Esrei. However, they are not permitted to recite, with Hashem's name and kingship, the blessings Baruch Sheamar, Yishtabach, and Birkot Keriat Shema (Halacha Berurah, part 5, page 452).
With blessing, Hillel Meirs
