From the Rav’s Desk: Can women make a Zimun if they are ten?

Post Views: 1,182
  1. Question: [Monday, 13th MarCheshvan, 5783]

If we are having an only lady’s meal on Shabbos, can we make as Zimun with 3/10 women?

Answer:

While from the letter of the law women may make a Zimun without Eloikeinu if they are ten or three women who ate together, practically, the custom for many generations is not to do so.

Explanation: The law is as follows: Women may not join two other men for a Zimun of three. However, if there are three men making a Zimun and she ate with them, then she must answer for the Zimun. Now, regarding three women who ate together, then they are allowed to do a Zimun on their own although, if they did not eat together with three men, then they are not obligated to do a Zimun. Practcially, the Achronim record that the custom today is not do so. If however they ate with three men, then they are obligated in Zimun and can either answer the men’s Zimun or make their own. However, women cannot make a Zimun with Elokeinu even if there are 10 women present.

Sources: See regarding letter of law: Admur 199:6; Michaber 199:7; Brachos 45b; Rosh Brachos 7:4 and Shut Rosh 4:16; See regarding custom: Biur Halacha 199; Aruch Hashulchan 199:2; Piskeiy Teshuvos 199:4 footnote 16

About The Author

Rabbi Yaakov Goldstein is a 6th generation descendent of the famous Chief Rabbi of Izhmir, Rav Yehoshua Avraham Krispin, who authored a number of Sefarim, and was a colleague of Rav Chaim Falagi, and father in-law of the Pesach Hadvir. He currently lives with his wife Shayna, and twelve children K”H, in Tzfas, Israel. Rabbi Goldstein received Semicha from Rabbi Schneur Zalman Labkowski of the Tomchei Temimim headquarters in 2005 and served as a chaplain in the Lotar/Kalatz and K9 unit of the IDF from years 2005-2008. He is also a certified Shochet, and has performed Hashgacha work in slaughterhouses. Rabbi Goldstein is the director of Shulchanaruchharav.com, the world’s leading web-based Halacha database, and is the director of the Home Study Semicha Program, a self-study web-based Semicha program. He is a prolific author of over 50 Sefarim studied by a wide range of readers throughout the world, which is used regularly in Semicha programs around the globe. He is a world renowned Posek, answering questions to a web-based market, and serves as a local Posek, Rav, and Lecturer, in the Tzemach Tzedek community Shul in Tzefas, Israel. His many classes can be heard both from his website, Vimeo and YouTube channel. Students can join live to classes given in the Tzemach Tzedek Shul, through the “בית חבד צפת Chabad Tsfat” YouTube channel.

Leave A Comment?

You must be logged in to post a comment.