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Mishnayos Brachos Perek 3 Mishnah 3

ברכות פרק ג׳ משנה ג׳

3

Women, slaves and minors are exempt from the recitation of Shema and from phylacteries, but are obligated in prayer, mezuza and Grace after Meals.

נָשִׁים וַעֲבָדִים וּקְטַנִּים פְּטוּרִין מִקְּרִיאַת שְׁמַע וּמִן הַתְּפִלִּין, וְחַיָּבִין בִּתְפִלָּה וּבִמְזוּזָה, וּבְבִרְכַּת הַמָּזוֹן:

ג׳
Bartenura

נשים ועבדים פטורים מקריאת שמע – Even though it is a “positive, time-bound commandment”, and women are exempt from all “positive time-bound commandments,” you may possibly think we say (i.e., you may be misled to interpret) that [women] should be required, since there is [mention concerning the recitation of the Shema of] the “sovereignty of heaven,” it comes to teach us [that women are nevertheless exempt]; for [the wearing of] Tefillin is a “positive time-bound” commandment, but the nighttime and the Sabbath (and Festivals) are not times [for the wearing of Tefillin] and that since there is a juxtaposition between the [commandments of] Tefillin to that of the Mezuzah (which women are obligated to observe -see especially Deuteronomy 6:8-9) that women should be obligated [in the Mitzvah of Tefillin], it comes to teach us that this is not the case.

קטנים – [A minor] who has arrived at the age of where he can be educated, they [the Rabbis] did not place upon his father the obligation to teach him to recite the Shema since he is not always with him at the times when the Shema is recited (morning and evening) and neither with Tefillin since [even] a normal minor does not know how to guard his Tefillin [properly] so that he would not [desecrate the Tefillin] by breaking wind in them.

וחייבין בתפילה – Since Tefillah/prayer [The Amidah] is [a request] for mercy, and it is Rabbinic (as opposed to Biblical in nature), and the Rabbis established that even women [are obligated in Tefillah] and to educate their young in praying.

ובמזוזה – For you might have said that since there is a juxtaposition between it [Mezuzah] and [the commandment to] study Torah (see especially Deuteronomy 11:19-20), that just as women are exempt from [the commandment of] studying Torah, as it is written (Deuteronomy 11:19), “and teach them to your children” – and not your daughters, so also here that they [women] would be exempted from [the commandment of [putting up a] Mezuzah, even though it [the commandment concerning the Mezuzah] is a “positive commandment which is NOT time-bound,” nevertheless, it comes to teach us [that women are required to observe the commandment of Mezuzah].

ובברכת המזון – We must ask if women are obligated [in the recitation of] the Blessing After the Meal/Birkat HaMazon from [the perspective of] the Torah-law, since it is written (Deuteronomy 8:10) “When you have eaten your fill, give thanks to the LORD your God for the good land which He has given you],” this is a “positive commandment that is not time-bound” or possibly, [women] are not Torah-bound obligated to recite the Prayer after the Meal/Birkat HaMazon because it is written (Deuteronomy 8:10), “for the good land which He has given you,” but the land was not given to females, and it has not been [adequately] deduced.

נשים ועבדים פטורים מקריאת שמע. אע״פ שהיא מצות עשה שהזמן גרמא, וכל מצות עשה שהזמן גרמא נשים פטורות, סד״א לחייבן הואיל ואית בה מלכות שמים, קמ״ל. ותפילין מצות עשה שהזמן גרמא הן, דלילה ושבת לאו זמן תפילין נינהו, וסד״א הואיל ואתקש תפילין למזוזה, נשים נחייבו, קמ״ל:

קטנים. אפילו קטן שהגיע לחינוך לא הטילו על אביו לחנכו בקריאת שמע, לפי שאינו מצוי תמיד אצלו בעונת ק״ש. ולא בתפילין, משום דסתם קטן אינו יודע לשמור תפיליו שלא יפיח בהן:

וחייבין בתפלה. דתפלה רחמי היא, ומדרבנן היא, ותקנוה אף לנשים ולחנך בה הקטנים:

ובמזוזה. דמהו דתימא הואיל ואתקש לתלמוד תורה, כי היכי דנשים פטורות מתלמוד תורה דכתיב (דברים י״א:י״ט) ולמדתם אותם את בניכם ולא את בנותיכם הכי נמי נפטרו ממזוזה אע״פ שהיא מצות עשה שלא הזמן גרמא קא משמע לן:

ובברכת המזון. מיבעיא לן אי חייבות בברכת המזון מדאורייתא כיון דכתיב (שם ח) ואכלת ושבעת וברכת הויא ליה מצות עשה שלא הזמן גרמא, או שמא אין חייבות מדאורייתא משום דכתיב (שם) על הארץ הטובה אשר נתן לך והארץ לא נתנה לנקבות ולא אפשיטא: