Editing Woman (Isha) (section)

== Women's Obligations in Mitzvos ==
Women are obligated in all positive time-bound mitzvos and all negative commandments, but are exempt from most positive time-bound mitzvos.

In the morning blessings of Shacharis, men bless "who has not made me a gentile", "who has not made me a slave", and "who has not made me a woman" (while women bless "who has made me according to His will" or, according to Chabad custom, don't recite this blessing at all). A common interpretation is that the many mitzvos placed on men are the reason for this blessing.

There are mitzvos primarily fulfilled by women, which hint at the pillars upon which the Jewish home stands, hinted at in the word ChaN (letters ChaNaH): Challah - hints at all kashrus laws, Niddah - hints at all family purity laws, and Shabbos candle lighting - hints at all Shabbos observance. These three mitzvos are the foundations of the Jewish home.

There are special customs for women, such as refraining from work on Rosh Chodesh and others.

Regarding tefillin, the Talmud states that women are exempt and it's not proper for them to fulfill this mitzvah. However, Chazal tell of Michal bas Shaul who wore tefillin and the Sages did not protest.