Shema Yisrael - Women and The Shema

Women and The Shema

In Orthodox Judaism, women are not required to recite the Shema (as a command from the Torah), as with other time-bound requirements which might impinge on their traditional familial obligations, although they are obligated to pray at least once daily without a specific liturgy requirement and many discharge that obligation through prayers like the Shema.

However, the practice among all Jews—women, men, and children—is to recite it. The Mishnah suggests that the time for recitation should not be more than 3rd hour, but if it is after that time, it should still be read, since it contains expressions of the unity of God, belief in a Creator etc.

It is incumbent to teach children to recite the first verse, and subsequent paragraphs as soon as they are able to understand its meaning. Women are not time bound in its recitation and therefore are not required to say it within its time.

Rabbi Ephraim Greenblatt approvingly cites the Rashba, who holds that the last set of Blessings are on the Shema, based on the rulings of Maimonides.

Conservative Judaism generally regards Jewish women as being obligated to recite the Shema at the same times as men.

Reform Judaism and Reconstructionist Judaism do not regard gender-related traditional Jewish ritual requirements, including obligations for men but not women to pray specific prayers at specific times, as necessary in modern circumstances; instead, both genders may fulfill all requirements.