13 Shvat: Women First

WOMEN FIRST Moses ascended to God, and the Lord called to him from the mountain, saying, “So shall you say to the house of Jacob and tell the sons of Israel.…” (Shemos 19:3) “The house of Jacob” refers to the women. Say it to them gently. “The sons of Israel” refers to the men. Tell it to them with all of the harsh details and laws. (Mechiltah, Rashi, ibid.) When G-d gave the Torah, He told Moses to teach the women first and only afterwards to teach the men. This is a lesson for every one of us, men and women alike. When we learn Torah, we must begin by focusing on its gentle side, emphasizing its beauty and its blessings. Similarly, we should not focus too much on the harshness of exile, but instead on the beauty and goodness of Redemption. Mechiltah, Rashi, ibid