Igros Moshe (Y.D. 03:087):Girls learning Mishna? Concerning the issue that there are girl’s schools (Beis Yakov) that the staff or principals want to teach them Mishna. Rambam (Talmud Torah 1:13) rules according to Rabbi Eliezar (Sotah 20a) not to teach girls Torah but he distinguishes between the Oral Torah which he says is like teaching them obscenity and the Written Torah which is only problematic l’chatchila. Nevertheless Mishna is Oral Torah and our Sages have commanded us not to teach them and it is like teaching them obscenity. Therefore it is required to withhold this from them. Except for Pirkei Avos which is mussar and good behavior which should be taught to them with clear explanations in order to motivate them in love of Torah and good character.
If Rav Moshe, zt"l, was faced with a young woman who told him that she wanted to learn Mishan so much she'd go to a non-religious Jewish school instead of her Beis Yaakov but she'd rather stay in the proper environment of BY and leearn it there, what would he say?
ReplyDeleteThe Steipler held on the other hand that it is permitted cf. ArR
ReplyDeleteAnd the Rav, zt"l, taught women himself.
DeleteIndeed.But he later was concerned he would have to answer in Heaven for the co-ed classes
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