Women and Tefillah: What Is Our Obligation?

When a woman is busy caring for her children, what is she actually obligated to daven?

And when time is limited, which part of tefillah should take priority?

Women are exempt from mitzvas aseh shehazeman grama —time-bound mitzvos—such as tefillin, tzitzis, and sukkah. Yet the Mishnah (Berachos 20a) teaches that women are still obligated in tefillah. Why is tefillah different, and what does this obligation really entail?

The answer depends on a fundamental disagreement among the Rishonim regarding the nature of tefillah.

Is Davening a Time-Bound Mitzvah? 

The Rambam holds that tefillah is a mitzvah min haTorah. According to the Torah, a person is obligated to daven once a day, in any formulation, as long as it includes three basic elements: praise, request, and thanksgiving (shevach, bakashah, hoda’ah). Later, Chazal instituted the Shemoneh Esreh and established fixed times for davening three times a day.

According to the Rambam, while women are exempt from these later, time-bound rabbinic requirements, they remain obligated in the basic min haTorah mitzvah, which is not time-bound.

Rashi, Tosafos, and the Ramban disagree. They maintain that there is no mitzvah min haTorah to daven at all; rather, the entire obligation of tefillah is d’Rabbanan. However, when Chazal instituted tefillah, they made no distinction between men and women, obligating everyone equally. The Rishonim explain that tefillah differs from other time-bound mitzvos because it is a plea for mercy, and everyone—men and women alike—needs mercy.

According to the Rambam, a woman can say Birchas Hashachar, which contain all three elements of tefillah, and that would be enough to fullfill her obligation. According to the Ramban a woman is fully obligated in Shemoneh Esreh.

Most poskim follow the Ramban’s opinion. At the same time, many point out that Ma’ariv was never formally instituted as an obligation. While men accepted it upon themselves as obligatory, women did not. Accordingly, women are obligated in Shacharis and Minchah, but not in Ma’ariv.

Yet many women do not daven Shachris and Minchah. Already the Magen Avraham noted that the common minhag seems to rely on the Rambam, that women are not obligated in tefillah. Later poskim explain that women who are occupied with raising children and managing the home often lack the time and focus needed for lengthy tefillah, and therefore may rely fully on the Rambam’s position. It is important to note that even according to the Rambam, a short tefillah such as Birchos Hashacher remains obligatory. 

All of the above applies specifically to Shemoneh Esreh.

What about the rest of davening?

According to most poskim, women are obligated to recite:

• Birchos Hashachar (including Al Netilas Yadayim, Asher Yatzar, and Elokai Neshamah)

• Birchos HaTorah

There is disagreement among the poskim regarding whether women are obligated to recite:

• Pesukei D’zimrah

• The berachah after Kriyas Shema.

• Musaf

Women are not obligated to recite:

• Kriyas Shema

• The berachah preceding Kriyas Shema

That said, it is praiseworthy to recite the first pasuk of Shema, together with Baruch Shem, since it includes kabbalas malchus Shamayim.

So What Should You Do?

Ideally, women should daven the full Shachris and Minchah. While there is room to rely on leniencies, most poskim agree that women are obligated in tefillah, and it is important to try to fulfill this obligation. Beyond obligation, tefillah is a central part of our relationship with Hashem. Even, and perhaps especially, during the busiest stages of life, making space for tefillah helps bring Hashem’s presence into our day.

If time is limited, women are still obligated to recite Birchos Hashachar and Birchos HaTorah. 

• If there is more time, add Shemoneh Esreh.

• If you have extra time, add Pesukei Dezimrah (at least Baruch She’amar, Ashrei, and Yishtabach), the first pasuk of Kriyas Shema with Baruch Shem, the berachah after Kriyas Shema, and Musaf when applicable.

• If time allows, add the rest of Pesukei Dezimrah.

When davening the complete tefillah, always follow the order of the siddur, rather than in order of importance.

A Note for Sefardim

Many Sephardim follow the Rambam and daven only once a day. They should still try to daven the full Shemoneh Esreh and recite Kriyas Shema. Some poskim are stringent and do not permit women to recite Pesukei Dezimrah and Emes Veyatziv, since Sephardi women generally follow the Shulchan Aruch and do not recite berachos on mitzvos asei shehazman grama. Other poskim disagree and permit their recitation.