Women in Judaism - Talmudic Times

Talmudic Times

Classical Jewish rabbinical literature contains quotes that may be seen as both laudatory and derogatory of women. The Talmud states that:

• Greater is the reward to be given by the All-Mighty to the (righteous) women than to (righteous) men
• Ten measures of speech descended to the world; women took nine
• Women are light on raw knowledge — i.e. they possess more intuition
• A man without a wife lives without joy, blessing, and good; a man should love his wife as himself and respect her more than himself
• When Rav Joseph heard his mother's footsteps he would say: Let me arise before the approach of the divine presence
• Israel was redeemed from Egypt by virtue of its (Israel's) righteous women
• A man must be careful never to speak slightingly to his wife because women are prone to tears and sensitive to wrong
• Women have greater faith than men
• Women have greater powers of discernment
• Women are especially tenderhearted

While few women are mentioned by name in rabbinic literature, and none are known to have authored a rabbinic work, those who are mentioned are portrayed as having a strong influence on their husbands, and occasionally having a public persona. Examples are Bruriah, the wife of the Tanna Rabbi Meir; Rachel, the wife of Rabbi Akiva; and Yalta, the wife of Rabbi Nachman. Rabbi Eliezer's wife (of Mishnaic times) counselled her husband in assuming leadership over the Sanhedrin.