The Maharil (Rav
Yaakov ben Moshe Levi Moelin, Germany, d. 1427), in discussing the laws of the
daily recitation of Birkat Ha'Torah (the blessing over Torah study), writes
that women are required to recite this blessing, despite the fact that they are
not bound by the Misva of Talmud Torah (Torah study). He explains that although women are not
obligated to learn Torah, they are required to read portions of the Torah, such
as the Korbanot (the section of the morning prayer service that discusses the
various sacrifices that were offered in the Bet Ha'mikdash). Therefore, they must recite Birkat
Ha'Torah. It is clear that according to the
Maharil, women are required to recite Korbanot each day just like men.
However, a number of later Poskim – the Hida (Rav Haim Yosef
David Azulai, 1724-1806) and Rav Yaakov Emden (Germany, 1697-1776) – ruled that
women are not required to recite the daily Korbanot section. Rav Haim Palachi (1788-1868), in Lev Haim,
concludes that women should recite the Korbanot, though they are not required
to recite the section of the daily Tamid.
Regardless, the accepted practice is that women do not
recite the Korbanot, but a woman who has the time and the desire to recite this
section each morning should certainly be encouraged to do so.
