Woman’s Wisdom

To carry out the holy and life-critical mission of the Jew requires wisdom and understanding – which G-d granted the Jewish People by giving them His Own wisdom, the Torah, as a guide. Through Torah, Jews are the “Wise and understanding nation.” But Torah draws a distinction within Jews themselves: “Greater understanding was granted to woman than to man,” enabling them to perceive better and deeper, and to apply this perception in daily life.

When G-d fashioned Eve, the first woman, the verse states: “Vayiven – G-d built woman from Adam’s rib.” The word ‘Vayiven – Built’ shares the same root as ‘Binah – Understanding.’ When two meanings are combined in the same Hebrew word it is because they share an intrinsic connection. When it comes to the greater understanding granted to woman, the verse itself reveals the purpose of her understanding: to “build” her life and her family as an edifice of which G-d can say, “I shall dwell among them” – a dwelling where G-d Himself is at home.