Making women mind (or not) in the Talmud

THIS WEEK'S DAF YOMI COLUMN BY ADAM KIRSCH IN TABLET: Talmudic Rabbis, All Men, Admit They Cannot Bring Women Under Their Power. In debating the principles of intentional sin, sages find that pleading ignorance is no defense, even if not all laws can be followed.

It is here that the Gemara explains the principle, “Better that they be unwitting sinners and not be intentional sinners.” It is fascinating that this admission of the limits of rabbinic power takes place in such a gender-specific context: The rabbis, all men, acknowledge that they cannot bring women completely under their power. Women’s own practices and customs have an integrity that the law must respect.

Earlier Daf Yomi columns are noted here and links.