Jul 8, 2019
Voluntary Mitzva Performance I
May a woman perform mitzvot voluntarily? The test case is Smicha or *_semikhah_* (Hebrew: סמיכה, "leaning [of the hands]"), also _smichut_ (סמיכות, "ordination"), _smicha lerabbanut_ (סמיכה לרבנות, "rabbinical ordination"), or _smicha lehazzanut_ (סמיכה לחזנות, "cantorial ordination"), is derived from a Hebrew word which means to "rely on" or "to be authorized".
">semicha, leaning on a sacrifice, a ritual from which women are exempt. We;ll also discuss the halachic meaning of voluntary performance, whether it can become like obligation, and whether voluntary mitzva performance is encouraged.