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The role and status of women

The sacred scriptures of Judaism (the and the ) describe different roles for men and women.

Traditionally women have a sacred role - they bear children, run the home and take responsibility for their children’s Jewish upbringing. The woman passes on Jewish values.

While Jewish law excuses women from some religious duties (eg they don’t have to wear the and ), there are some duties that women are obliged to carry out. One of these duties is the lighting of the candles.

Image caption,
A Jewish woman lights Shabbat candles

Some people say that Judaism is . Men and women sit separately in services and women cannot take an active part in this worship. Some Jewish women today accept these limitations, but they are as well-educated as men and choose to combine a career with family responsibilities.

Progressive Jews (which includes Jews of both and traditions) treat women equally in all respects, so women too can become if they choose to do so.