by R. Yitzchak Blau
One of the pioneering articles about women and Judaism appeared in Tradition in the fall of 1973 (link – PDF). Among other significant questions, Rabbi Saul Berman discusses the rationale for women’s exemption from various mizvot. He denies that the explanation can be related to being bound by time since there are so many exceptions to that halakhic rule of thumb. R. Berman suggests an alternative explanation that was subject to critique in subsequent issues. See Rabbi Yitzhak Frank’s letter in the Fall 1974 issue (link – PDF) and page 62 of Rabbi Moshe Meiselman’s rejoinder in the Fall 1975 issue (link – PDF). Though I am highlighting one specific subject, Rabbi Berman’s article explores a range of important topics.