Questions about Judaism by Rabbi Zelizer -- October 23, 2009

Frequent questions to the Rabbi about Judaism. His answers will be appearing as Cyberthoughts over time.

Q. Why do the Orthodox in Shaharit thank God for 'Not making me a woman'?

A. The answer is that the prayerbook values the possibility of performing all the mitzvot rather than just some of the mitzvot. Women are exempt from mitzvot which are 'time dependent' and therefore do not have that privilege of carrying out all the mitzvot. So the classical Siddur - still said by the Orthodox - is acknowledging that great privilege which is not incumbent on women. Because that BERACHAH and the other one thanking God for not making one a 'Goi' (Gentile) have derogatory undertones, the Conservative Siddur changes it to the positive - 'thank God for making me an Israelite' - Which, in the classical Siddur some of the commentators such as the Vilma Gaon - 18th century Poland - suggested as the proper wording for that Berachah. Therefore, in our Siddur we have revived that formula over the discriminatory formula.