Women in Judaism: Challah, Niddah & Shabbos Candles

The Role of Women in Judaism: An Honored Legacy

Women in Judaism hold a special and honored place. The matriarchs Sarah, Rivka, Rachel, and Leah showed us what it means to build a Jewish home. Jewish mothers have kept our traditions alive for thousands of years. The Talmud (Sotah 11b) teaches: “B’zchus nashim tzidkaniyos she’hayu b’oso hador nigalu Yisrael miMitzrayim” (בִּזְכוּת נָשִׁים צִדְקָנִיּוֹת שֶׁהָיוּ בְּאוֹתוֹ הַדּוֹר נִגְאֲלוּ יִשְׂרָאֵל מִמִּצְרַיִם)—”In the merit of the righteous women of that generation, Israel was redeemed from Egypt.” This sacred role continues today through three special mitzvot for women.

These three women’s mitzvot are hafrashas challah (taking challah from dough), taharas hamishpacha (family purity laws), and hadlakas neiros (lighting Shabbos candles). Together, they form the heart of [Jewish women’s spiritual practices → PLACEHOLDER: /jewish-women-spiritual-practices/]. Rabbi Meir Baal Haness Charities, founded in 1799, has helped Jewish women in Eretz Yisroel keep these traditions for over two hundred years. When we learn about the role of women in Judaism and these sacred duties, we join a chain of tradition going back to creation itself.

Understanding the Role of Women in Judaism

The role of women in Judaism starts in the Torah with creation and the lives of our mothers. The Talmud (Yevamos 63a) teaches: “Kol adam she’ein lo isha, sharui b’lo simcha, b’lo bracha, b’lo tova” (כָּל אָדָם שֶׁאֵין לוֹ אִשָּׁה שָׁרוּי בְּלֹא שִׂמְחָה, בְּלֹא בְּרָכָה, בְּלֹא טוֹבָה)—”Any man who has no wife lives without joy, without blessing, and without goodness.” The Gemara there continues: such a man also lacks Torah, a protective wall, and peace. Rabbi Elazar adds that he is not even called “Adam”—a complete person. This shows how important women are to Jewish life. Orthodox Judaism and women share a bond built on respect, different spiritual roles, and working together to serve Hashem.

Jewish women traditions honor the idea of akeres habayis—the foundation of the home. This title means much more than “homemaker.” The akeres habayis is the person the whole family depends on. She turns a house into a holy place where Hashem’s presence can dwell. Rashi tells us about Sarah’s tent (Bereishis 24:67), drawing on Bereishis Rabbah 60:16. Three miracles happened there: a lamp burned from Shabbos to Shabbos, her dough was blessed, and a cloud of glory rested above. These three signs match the three women’s mitzvot that her daughters would keep for generations.

Orthodox Jewish women have guarded these traditions through all of Jewish history. In good times and hard times, in every country, Jewish mothers have lit Shabbos candles, taken challah, and kept family purity. The role of women in Judaism goes beyond just doing mitzvot. It includes passing Torah values to the next generation. This is how Jewish life has survived through the hardest times.

The Three Women’s Mitzvot: Challah, Niddah, and Shabbos Candles

The Mishnah (Shabbos 2:6) was written about 1,800 years ago. It teaches: “Al shalosh aveiros nashim meisos b’shaas leidasan: al she’einan zehiros b’niddah, u’vachallah, u’v’hadlakas haner” (עַל שָׁלֹשׁ עֲבֵרוֹת נָשִׁים מֵתוֹת בִּשְׁעַת לֵדָתָן: עַל שֶׁאֵינָן זְהִירוֹת בְּנִדָּה, וּבַחַלָּה, וּבְהַדְלָקַת הַנֵּר)—”For three transgressions women are vulnerable in childbirth: for not being careful in niddah, challah, and candle-lighting.” These are mitzvos where women have a special role. The Gemara (Shabbos 31b-32a) teaches more about why these three belong together.

We should know that these are not only for women. Men must also do them when needed. As primary caretakers of the home, this mitzvah applies primarily to women. (A man must separate challah if he bakes. A man must light candles if no woman is there.) The Rambam (Hilchos Shabbos 5:3) gives a simple reason why women go first: “Women are told to do this more than men because they are in the home and busy with home matters.” The three women’s mitzvot show how central women are to the Jewish home.

A beautiful tradition connects these mitzvos to the prophetess Chana (Hannah). Her prayer for a child is in Sefer Shmuel. The Talmud (Berachos 31b) records that Rabbi Yose bar Chanina taught: Chana said to Hashem, “Ribono shel olam… shalosh misos barasa b’isha… niddah v’challah v’hadlakas haner. Klum avarti al achas meihen?” (רִבּוֹנוֹ שֶׁל עוֹלָם… שָׁלֹשׁ מִיתוֹת בָּרָאתָ בָּאִשָּׁה… נִדָּה וְחַלָּה וְהַדְלָקַת הַנֵּר. כְּלוּם עָבַרְתִּי עַל אַחַת מֵהֶן?)—”Master of the world… You created three life-related mitzvos for women… niddah, challah, and candle-lighting. Have I ever failed in any of them?” Her prayer was answered with the birth of Shmuel HaNavi. This shows the power of women who do these sacred duties. Some later teachers arrange the first letters of these mitzvos—Challah, Niddah, Hadlakas Neiros—to spell “ChaNaH.” This honors the righteous woman who still inspires Jewish mothers today.

Hafrashas Challah: The Separation of Challah

The meaning of challah is much more than the braided bread we eat on Shabbos. The Torah commands (Bamidbar 15:19-20): “V’hayah b’achalchem milechem ha’aretz tarimu terumah l’Hashem. Reishis arisoseichem challah tarimu serumah” (וְהָיָה בַּאֲכָלְכֶם מִלֶּחֶם הָאָרֶץ תָּרִימוּ תְרוּמָה לַה׳. רֵאשִׁית עֲרִסֹתֵכֶם חַלָּה תָּרִימוּ תְרוּמָה)—”When you eat of the bread of the land, you shall set some aside as a gift to Hashem. As the first of your dough, you shall set aside a challah as a gift.” This is a Torah-level (d’Oraisa) mitzvah obligation that applies when baking bread.

The meaning of challah is that our food comes from Hashem. We make baking into a holy act. The mitzvah applies when you bake dough from wheat, barley, spelt, oats, or rye. You need enough flour—usually about 2.5 to 5 pounds. For a complete guide to this practice, see our article on [separating challah → PLACEHOLDER: /jewish-women-spiritual-practices/challah-separation/].

Long ago, this portion went to the Kohanim (priests). Since the destruction of the Beis HaMikdash (Holy Temple), we are all in a state of spiritual impurity. The Kohanim cannot achieve the level of purity required to eat this sanctified portion. Instead, we take a small piece of dough—traditionally one-sixtieth (1/60) of the batch and burn it. This still fulfills the mitzvah and keeps its spiritual power.

The Midrash (Bereishis Rabbah 17:8) teaches why women have a special connection to this mitzvah. Hashem formed Adam from the earth, shaping him like dough. The Yerushalmi (Shabbos 2:6) says: “Adam haRishon chalaso shel olam hayah” (אָדָם הָרִאשׁוֹן חַלָּתוֹ שֶׁל עוֹלָם הָיָה)—”Adam was the challah of the world.” Women were given the honor of separating challah to connect with this act of creation. Just as Hashem shaped Adam, women shape dough in their kitchens. The meaning of challah ties to tikkun (improvement). It lifts something ordinary into something holy.

Taharas Hamishpacha: The Laws of Family Purity

What is niddah? This refers to the Torah’s laws about married life. These laws create times when husband and wife are apart, followed by coming together again through the mikvah (ritual bath). The laws of niddah come from Vayikra (Leviticus) chapters 15 and 18. Vayikra 18:19 states: “V’el isha b’niddas tumasa lo sikrav” (וְאֶל אִשָּׁה בְּנִדַּת טֻמְאָתָהּ לֹא תִקְרַב)—”Do not approach a woman in her time of separation.” This makes it a Torah-level (d’Oraisa) mitzvah.

Orthodox Jewish women keep the laws of niddah as a key part of their marriage. These laws are not limits. They lift up the marriage by creating times of waiting and renewal. The mikvah stands for spiritual rebirth. It connects a woman to the waters of creation. Many couples who keep taharas hamishpacha say it makes their marriage stronger. It ensures that closeness is never taken for granted.

The Midrash (Bereishis Rabbah 17:8) teaches that women were given the mitzvah of mikvah as a special honor. The Yerushalmi (Shabbos 2:6) explains: “Adam damo shel olam hayah” (אָדָם דָּמוֹ שֶׁל עוֹלָם הָיָה)—”Adam was the blood of the world… women were given the mitzvah of niddah.” Through keeping the laws of niddah, women connect to the life-giving power that Hashem placed within them. The mikvah and its spiritual renewal turn a physical reality into a chance for spiritual growth. Those who want to learn more about what niddah is and how to keep it should speak with a qualified rabbi.

Hadlakas Neiros: Lighting Shabbos Candles

Why do we light the candles on Shabbat? The Shulchan Aruch (Orach Chaim 263:2-3) says that lighting Shabbos candles fulfills kavod Shabbos (honoring Shabbos) and oneg Shabbos (Shabbos joy). Unlike challah and niddah, which are Torah laws, hadlakas neiros is a rabbinic mitzvah (d’Rabbanan). Still, it carries great spiritual meaning. The candles make sure the Shabbos table glows with light. Families can enjoy their meal in warmth and holiness. Many women recite a special prayer when lighting Shabbos candles, asking Hashem for blessings upon their families.

The Rambam (Hilchos Shabbos 5:3) says women have the first right to this mitzvah because “they are in the home.” The Shulchan Aruch HaRav (Kuntres Acharon 263:2) explains further: the husband must make sure candles are lit, but the wife acts on his behalf. The Sages gave her this role as an honor. This is why the woman of the house lights the Shabbos candles. She brings light—both physical and spiritual—into her home.

The Midrash gives us the deepest reason. The verse in Mishlei (20:27) says: “Ner Hashem nishmas adam” (נֵר ה׳ נִשְׁמַת אָדָם)—”The candle of Hashem is the soul of man.” The Yerushalmi (Shabbos 2:6) teaches: “Adam nero shel olam hayah” (אָדָם נֵרוֹ שֶׁל עוֹלָם הָיָה)—”Adam was the lamp of the world… women were given the mitzvah of candle-lighting.” Chava, the first woman, was given a special role in the story of creation. Her daughters were given the honor of kindling lights that bring Shabbos holiness into the world. This is why we light the candles on Shabbat. Women fill their homes with light, just as they fill them with warmth, love, and Torah. Learn more about Shabbos candle lighting customs and prayers.

The Three Pillars of Jewish Womanhood

Challah makes our food holy. Niddah makes marriage holy. Shabbos candles adds to the holiness of Shabbos. Together, these three women’s mitzvot touch every part of Jewish life—what we eat, how we love, and how we mark sacred time. As the Zohar teaches, the Jewish home becomes a small Temple when a woman keeps these sacred duties.

The Deeper Meaning: Spiritual Growth and Legacy

The Yerushalmi (Shabbos 2:6) teaches a powerful idea. It says that Adam was “chalaso shel olam, damo shel olam, v’nero shel olam” (חַלָּתוֹ שֶׁל עוֹלָם, דָּמוֹ שֶׁל עוֹלָם, וְנֵרוֹ שֶׁל עוֹלָם)—”the challah of the world, the blood of the world, and the lamp of the world.” Each of the three women’s mitzvot connects to part of Adam’s original wholeness. Women, by keeping these mitzvos, take part in tikkun olam—fixing the world and making it more complete.

The Zohar (I:48b) teaches that the three mitzvos match the vessels of the Beis HaMikdash (Holy Temple). Shabbos candles are like the Menorah in the Sanctuary. Challah is like the Lechem HaPanim (Showbread) on the Table. Taharas hamishpacha is like the inner holiness of the Kodesh HaKodashim where Hashem’s presence dwelt. Through these special mitzvot for women, the Jewish home becomes a place for the Shechinah (Divine Presence).

Jewish women traditions around these mitzvos pass from mother to daughter across many generations. A young girl watches her mother take challah in honor of Shabbos, saying quiet prayers for her family. She sees the candles being lit as Shabbos comes in. The soft glow turns the home into a palace of peace. These moments stay with her forever. They create a chain of keeping Torah that nothing can break. The role of women in Judaism includes not just doing mitzvos but teaching them. This makes sure future generations receive these traditions whole.

Orthodox Jewish Women and Daily Spiritual Practice

Orthodox Judaism and women share a bond marked by deep respect for tradition and the needs of modern life. Orthodox Jewish women today keep the three women’s mitzvot just as their great-grandmothers did. Many also work, help their communities, and raise families. These mitzvos can be done anywhere—in a New York apartment, a Jerusalem neighborhood, or a small town anywhere in the world.

Beyond these three mitzvos, Jewish women traditions include many other practices. Women must pray, though the rules differ from men’s. Many say techinot (personal prayers) written just for women’s spiritual needs. Rosh Chodesh, the new moon, has special meaning for women. Many communities hold women’s Rosh Chodesh gatherings and learning groups on this day. Orthodox Jewish women also study Torah deeply. Women’s seminaries, classes, and learning programs grow in communities around the world.

The idea of tznius (modesty) is another part of women’s spiritual life in Orthodox Judaism. Tznius is not just about clothing. It shows an inner dignity that puts what is inside above what is outside. Married women cover their hair as a sign of their special status and their bond with their husbands. Orthodox Judaism and women share a full spiritual life. It covers thought, speech, action, and appearance—all aimed at serving Hashem and building Jewish homes of blessing.

Supporting Women Who Preserve Jewish Tradition

Jewish women in Eretz Yisroel today face real challenges. Many are widows trying to care for their children. Others are mothers of large families with little income. Still others have faced illness, tragedy, or loss. These righteous women keep lighting Shabbos candles, taking challah, and keeping family purity even when life is hard. They preserve the traditions of Jewish womanhood under the toughest conditions.

Rabbi Meir Baal Haness pledged to intercede in Heaven for anyone who gives tzedakah (charity) to the poor of Israel in his memory. This sacred promise has been honored for centuries. It creates a strong connection between those who give and those who receive. When you help Jewish women and families through Rabbi Meir Baal Haness Charities, you take part in the same spiritual pattern as the three women’s mitzvot. You lift physical resources into tools of holiness. You create merit through good deeds. You strengthen the chain of Jewish tradition.

The link between tzedakah and blessing runs deep in Jewish thought. Just as taking challah separates a portion of your dough for Hashem, charity gives a portion of your earnings to holy purposes. Just as niddah laws create renewal, giving to those in need renews your own spiritual merit. Just as Shabbos candles bring light to the home, helping needy families brings the light of hope to their lives. The role of women in Judaism and the mitzvah of tzedakah work together. Each one builds a world of holiness and kindness.

Join a 200-Year Legacy of Giving

Rabbi Meir Baal Haness Charities, founded in 1799, is one of the oldest Jewish charities in the world. For over two hundred years, it has fulfilled Rabbi Meir Baal Haness’s sacred promise. The charity gives funds to Torah scholars, widows, orphans, and needy families throughout Eretz Yisroel. It works with complete honesty and care. Donations reach those who need them most.

Throughout the generations, righteousJewish women have meticulously kept the three women’s mitzvot despite great hardship. Your help enables struggling women anf families to continue their sacred work. You help preserve Jewish tradition for future generations.

Support Jewish Women & Families in Need

Your Tzedakah Creates Lasting Impact: Every donation to Rabbi Meir Baal Haness Charities helps Jewish families keep Torah traditions in Eretz Yisroel. In the merit of Rabbi Meir Baal Haness, your giving creates a zechus (merit) for blessing in your own life. It also brings light and hope to those in need.

Frequently Asked Questions About Women in Judaism

Preserving the Sacred Traditions of Jewish Womanhood

The role of women in Judaism has always been about building. Building homes of Torah. Building the next generation. Building bridges between Heaven and earth. Through the three women’s mitzvot of challah, niddah, and Shabbos candles, Jewish women have filled this sacred role across every era of Jewish history. These traditions connect each woman to her ancestors going back to Sarah, Rivka, Rachel, and Leah. They connect her to the countless righteous women who kept Judaism alive through the darkest hours.

By giving tzedakah through Rabbi Meir Baal Haness Charities, you help Jewish mothers, widows, and families who continue these traditions in Eretz Yisroel today. Your giving lets women facing great hardship light their Shabbos candles, take their challah, and keep family purity with dignity. In this merit, you become a partner in preserving Jewish tradition for future generations.

In the merit of Rabbi Meir Baal Haness, may you be blessed with peace in your home, joy in your children, nachas from your family, and success in all you do. May the light you help kindle through your tzedakah brighten your path with bracha and hatzlachah.