Sunday, 17 January 2016

halacha - What is the meaning of "guf naki" regarding prohibitting women to wear tefillin?


I wish to preface that I know that there are various concerns both pro and against women wearing tefillin, and for some, this is a "hot" issue. For purposes of my question, please dispel personal bias, if you can, and answer only as it relates to the concern / reason, here.


Tosfot in Eruvin 96a (excerpt):



ונראה לפרש דטעמא למ"ד דלא הוי רשות משום דתפילין צריכין גוף נקי ונשים אין זריזות ליזהר




My translation (please edit if inaccurate):



It seems that the according to the one that states that it (mitzvah of tefillin) is not optional, states this because the wearing of tefillin requires a clean body, and women are not fastidious (regarding this).



Refer also to Yam Shel Shlomo Kiddushin 1:64 (it's about midway in the right column where he explains the situation of Michal daughter of Saul who wore Tefillin). He states the same thing but adds that the reason the rabbis did not object to Michal wearing tefillin is that she was the daughter of a king, a highly righteous woman, and could not have children.


Neither commentary explains exactly what the real concern with women not being able to keep their body clean. Was it specifically related to menstruation / oozing blood, or were there other concerns? I'm, basically, trying to get an understanding of what the definition of "guf naki" really means, and what specifically would discourage women from being able to wear tefillin because of this problem.




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