Derasha 1 on Kedoshim 19:03

Parashas Kedoshim · Passuk 19:03

The Complete Passuk

אִ֣ישׁ אִמּ֤וֹ וְאָבִיו֙ תִּירָ֔אוּ וְאֶת־שַׁבְּתֹתַ֖י תִּשְׁמֹ֑רוּ אֲנִ֖י יְהֹוָ֥ה אֱלֹהֵיכֶֽם׃

Chabad.org — English translation + Rashi

Source Citation

Torah Temimah · Toras Kohanim / Bavli.

Core Text of Chazal

Core Text
אִישׁ — אֵין לִי אֶלָּא אִישׁ, אִשָּׁה מִנַּיִן? כְּשֶׁהוּא אוֹמֵר תִּירָאוּ הֲרֵי כָּאן שְׁנַיִם. אִם כֵּן מַה תַּלְמוּד לוֹמַר אִישׁ? אִישׁ סֵפֶק בְּיָדוֹ לַעֲשׂוֹת, אִשָּׁה אֵין סֵפֶק בְּיָדָהּ לַעֲשׂוֹת מִפְּנֵי שֶׁרְשׁוּת אֲחֵרִים עָלֶיהָ.

English: “Ish” — I have only a man; whence a woman? When it says “tirau” (plural), both are included. Why then say “ish”? A man has the capacity to fulfill; a woman may lack capacity because another’s authority is upon her.

Type of Learning

Inclusion of ishah; capacity under another’s reshut

What Is Learned

Both men and women are obligated in mora av va-em. A married woman’s practical capacity may be limited by her husband’s authority; if widowed or divorced she returns to full obligation.