Kohens’ blessing for women who stay home
Question
It says that one who can come to the synagogue, but doesn’t come, is not included in the Kohens’ blessing. Are women also included in this? If a woman could come to the synagogue and did not come, does that mean that she didn’t get blessed?
Answer
Dear …!
No, this does not include women for several reasons:
- The author of Turei Zahav holds that the whole blessing of the Kohanim is in masculine gender. The words “may he bless you” and “may he guard you” are in masculine gender (in the Holy Tongue these words sound different depending on gender). Therefore, the women aren’t included in this.
- He also writes that the women get blessed through the men.
For these two reasons women have no obligation to go to the synagogue, even though they are included in the blessing that is bestowed by the Kohens, as is stated in tractate Sotah (38b).
Source
The Turei Zahav commentary to the Shulchan Oruch, section Orach Chaim, chapter 128, §22.
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