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A "partnership minyan" is a prayer group that is both committed to maintaining halakhic standards and practices and is also committed to including women in ritual leadership roles within the boundaries of Jewish Law. This means that the minyan is made up of ten men (and in some congregations a quorum of ten women is also required for those parts of the service that require a minyan), men and women are separated by a mehitza, and the traditional liturgy is used. However, women may fully participate in kriyat ha'Torah, including layning and receiving aliyot, and may lead parts of the prayer service such as psukei d'zimra and kabbalat Shabbat. Click here for a list of partnership minyanim in various locations throughout the world.
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Shapiro, Mendel
"Qeri'at ha-Torah by Women: A Halakhic Analysis," Shapiro, Mendel. The Edah Journal, 2001.
Synopsis: R. Mendel Shapiro offers a comprehensive review and analysis of the halakhic issues raised by women's participation in qeri'at ha-Torah (public Torah reading) in a traditional minyan (quorum) of men. The author argues that the only tenable halakhic objection to women's aliyyotin such a service is the one raised by the Talmud that the practice violates kevod ha-tsibbur (the dignity of the congregation) and that there are certain circumstances where women's aliyyot should be permitted. This document was originally published by The Edah Journal and Edah has granted copyrights to JOFA to post this document on this website.
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Sperber, Daniel
"Congregational Dignity and Human Dignity: Women and Public Torah Reading," Sperber, Daniel. Edah Journal, 3:2, Elul 5763.
Synopsis: Synopsis: Since the principle of kevod ha-beriyot overrides that of kevod ha-tsibur in classic halakhic argumentation, this article argues that in congregations where women genuinely wish to have greater participation in the synagogue service and an inability to do so causes them hardship, women should be called to the Torah and read from it should they desire.
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Hartman, Tova
Feminism Encounters Traditional Judaism: Resistance and Accommodation. Hartman, Tova. Brandeis University Press, 2007.
Synopsis: In five essays, Dr. Tova Hartman explores the relationship between contemporary feminist thought and aspects of Jewish tradition. Dr. Hartman discusses three feminist analyses of Freudian psychology for reading Jewish texts; modesty and the religious male gaze; the backlash against feminism by traditional rabbis; the male imagery in liturgy; and Orthodox women and purity rituals. The story of the creation and ongoing development of "partnership minyanim" in Jerusalen ane elsewhere anchors and ties the book's five essays together.
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ADDITIONAL READING
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Bar-Asher Siegal, Elitzur and Michal
"Guide for the Halachic Minyan," Bar-Asher Siegal, Elitzur and Michal. , 2008.
Synopsis: This guide's goal is to indicate parts of the prayer service that women are halakhically permitted to lead. The guide is an outgrowth of deliberations conducted in the various prayer groups that have made it their aim to increase women's participation in services.
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Broyde, Michael; Wolowelsky, Joel
"Further On Women As Prayer Leaders & Their Role in Communal Prayer," Broyde, Michael; Wolowelsky, Joel. Judaism, 42:4, 1993, 387-395.
Synopsis: Professor Broyde presents arguments againt Professor Judith Hauptman's assertion that women can serve as sh'lihot tzibbur (communal prayer leaders) including for the sh'moneh esre (the eighteen benedictions). Following this article is a shorter communication from Dr. Joel Wolowelsky, also in response to Professor Hauptman. Professor Hauptman's article can be linked to from this page.
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Friedman, William
"Women as Shelihot Tzibbur for Hallel," Friedman, William. Milin Havivin, 1, 2005, 84-94.
Synopsis: In this halakhic article, the author explains that the recitation of hallel on Rosh Hodesh is a minhag (established custom) and that neither men nor women have a fundamental obligation to recite it. Therefore, in those communities in which women have adopted the custom to recite it, they are on a par with men for whom it is also customary, and share the same responsibilities and privileges that stem from that obligation. The author concludes that a woman’s recitation fulfills the obligation of each individual man as well as that of the tzibbur (the congregation), so that women can also serve as the leader for hallel on Rosh Hodesh.
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Friedman, William
"A Response to Debby Koren," Friedman, William. Milin Havivin, 2, 2006, 189-194.
Synopsis: In response to William Friedman's article (referenced on this page) "Women as Shelihot Tzibbur for Hallel," Dr. Debby Koren wrote a halakhic article in Hebrew, published in Milin Havivin Volume 2, that explains that for almost all congregational customs prevalent today, as has been the case for over a millenium, the leader of hallel does not fulfill the obligation for the congregation but only leads them in song to enhance the recitation of hallel. Therefore, a woman may lead any hallel, whether she is obligated in it or not. Dr. Koren's article can be found in the Hebrew section of Milin Havivin Volume 2, which is available by clicking here. In this second article by William Friedman, the author summarizes Dr. Koren's article, comments on it, and provides further discussion of her points.
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Hauptman, Judith
"Some thoughts on the nature of halakhic adjudication: women and minyan," Hauptman, Judith. Judaism, 42:4, September, 1993.
Synopsis: Professor Hauptman responds to Professor Broyde and to Dr. Wolowelsky, who both critiqued her previous article. Professor Broyde's and Dr. Wolowelsky's critique are available on this page (in one link), as is Professor Hauptman's original article.
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Hauptman, Judith
"Women and prayer: an attempt to dispel some fallacies," Hauptman, Judith. Judaism, 42:1, January, 1993, 94-103.
Synopsis: Professor Hauptman explains how we learn from a close reading of rabbinic and post-rabbinic texts that from the time of the Mishnah and onward, women have been obligated to say the sh'moneh esre (the silent devotion) two or three times daily and that an obligation to pray does not, in and of itself, entitle a woman - or anyone else - to serve as shaliah tzibbur (prayer leader), but rather additional requirements must be met.
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Henkin, Rabbi Yehuda Herzl; Kanefsky, Rabbi Yosef; Katz, Dr. Ben Tzion; Rosthstein, Rabbi Gidon; Shapiro, Rabbi Mendel
" Communications: Women's Aliyyot in Contemporary Synagogues," Henkin, Rabbi Yehuda Herzl; Kanefsky, Rabbi Yosef; Katz, Dr. Ben Tzion; Rosthstein, Rabbi Gidon; Shapiro, Rabbi Mendel. Tradition, 40:1, Spring 2007, 102-121.
Synopsis: R. Henkin. R. Kanefsky, Dr. Katz, and R. Shapiro respond to R. Gidon Rothstein, who wrote the original article by that title (referenced on this page). R. Rothstein responds to those communications. The dialog presented by these communications is a continuation of the discussion about aliyyot for women.
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Henkin, Yehuda Herzl
"Qeri'at Ha-Torah by Women: Where We Stand Today," Henkin, Yehuda Herzl. The Edah Journal, 1:2, 2001.
Synopsis: This essay is a response to and analysis of the arguments presented in the article, "Qeri'at ha-Torah by Women: A Halakhic Analysis" by Mendel Shapiro. The author articulates practical and theoretical conclusions on the questions of women's aliyot and Torah readings.This document was originally published by The Edah Journal and Edah has granted copyrights to JOFA to post this document on this website.
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Isaacs, Alick
"Kevod Hatzibbur: Towards a Contextualist History of Women's Role in Torah Reading," Isaacs, Alick. Nashim, 12, Fall, 2006, 261-288.
Synopsis: This article suggests a novel approach to the problem of how the Talmudic concept of kevod hatzibbur (the dignity of the community) should be understood and applied in contemporary Jewish law.
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Korff, Rabbi Y.A.; Wolowelsky, Dr. Joel B.
"Communications: Uncommon Aliyyot," Korff, Rabbi Y.A.; Wolowelsky, Dr. Joel B.. Tradition, 41:1, Spring 2007, 122-123.
Synopsis: R. Korff expresses his displeasure with Dr. Wolowelsky's essay by that title (referenced on this page). Dr. Wolowelsky responds to R. Korff's criticism.
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Rosenak, Avinoam
"'Dignity of the congregation' as a defense mechanism: a halakhic ruling by Rabbi Joseph Messas," Rosenak, Avinoam. Nashim, 13, Spring, 2007, 183-206.
Synopsis: This article seeks to cast light on a halakhic responsum of Rabbi Joseph Messas, one of the great halakhic authorities of the twentieth century in North Africa. The responsum deals with the reasons for a barrier between men and women in the synagogue, and why the practice of "calling up" women to the Torah was discontinued by the Sages. Through analysis of this responsum, the author maps out various views and understandings of "the dignity of the congregation" and looks at R. Messas's position through the prism of contemporary gender research.
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Rothstein, Gidon
"Women's Aliyyot in Contemporary Synagogues," Rothstein, Gidon. Tradition, 39:2, Summer 2005, 36-58.
Synopsis: R. Rothstein presents a critique of R. Mendel Shapiro's halakhic article, published in Edah (referenced on this page), in which he argued that women may receive aliyyot in contemporary synagogues where the congregation is interested in permitting this. R. Rothstein opposes R. Shapiro's conclusion, and presents technical, halakhic justifications for his claim. He also relates to R. Henkin's response to R. Shapiro, also published in the Edah Journal (and also referenced on this page).
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Wolowelsky, Dr. Joel B.
"On Kohanim and Uncommon Aliyyot," Wolowelsky, Dr. Joel B.. Tradition, 39:2, Summer 2005, 59-65.
Synopsis: Dr. Wolowelsky broaches the subject of women being called for aliyyot to the Torah in a mixed minyan, sharing some thoughts on this issue.
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Bar-Asher, Elitzur Avraham, Dr. Alanna Cooper, and Michal Bar-Asher Siegal
"Beyond Women's Issues: Partnership Minyanim Engage Orthodoxy," Bar-Asher, Elitzur Avraham, Dr. Alanna Cooper, and Michal Bar-Asher Siegal. JOFA 6th International Conference. 2007.
Synopsis: In forming partnership minyanim, creative efforts to include women generate discussions about broader issues facing Orthodoxy today. Questions about conversion, defining religious authority, and articulating parameters for contemporary ideological religious commitment are necessarily confronted in the quest to construct a more inclusive tefillah environment. In this session, these issues will be explored from sociological, halakhic and philosophical perspectives.
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Mintz, Rabbi Adam, Lisa Schlaff, Rabbi Mendel Shapiro
"Two Halves of Equal Value: The New Minyanim," Mintz, Rabbi Adam, Lisa Schlaff, Rabbi Mendel Shapiro. JOFA 4th International Conference. 2002.
Synopsis: This panel offers an overview of the halakhic and social issues that arise from new minyanim in both the United States and Israel which offer women opportunities to receive aliyyot and read from the Torah in a mehitzah minyan.
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