Weekly Living Torah Video: The Women First

The Jewish woman plays a crucial part in G-d’s plan for mankind.

When Torah was first given, G-d instructed Moses to speak to the women first and explain to them its greatness, thereby strengthening the rest of people’s acceptance of it as well.

When the Tabernacle was first built, Jewish women and girls were the first to donate; only afterwards, and inspired by their example, did the men contribute further.

A Jewish woman or girl is granted by G-d a distinctive gracefulness in her approach; a pleasant, soft, peaceful manner through which she influences her environment and her family in all matters of goodness. When she utilizes this special pleasantness and peacefulness — combining it with firm discipline where appropriate — she increases the success of G-d’s plan in ways that no man can, and turns her home and her environment into a “Tabernacle” of which G-d can say: “I shall dwell in their midst.”