Q. I know that women are in principle exempt from the mitzva of reading every day the Shema Yisrael, since it is mitzva that has an appointed time (Zeman Geramah). I have often wondered if that applies also to the mitzva of remembering the Exodus from Mitzrayim, since as I remember from the Haggada of Pesach it applies constantly, day and night. Do women have to say it also?
A. Shulchan Aruch (O.H. 70: 1) indeed rules that women are exempt from the mitzva of reading Shema, since it is time sensitive. However Shulchan Aruch also rules that it is recommended that they should still say it.
The Remah adds that at least they should read the first pasuk. Mishna Berura (ibid. 2) quotes Magen Avrahan, that the mitzva of remembrance of the Exodus of Mitzrayim may apply by day and also by night, He adds that P'ri Megadim and Yeshuos Yaakov maintain that at night it may only be a Rabbinical mitzva and debate whether that would be considered a Time Sensitive mitzva or not.
Horav Shlomo Miller's Shlit'a opinion is that although women are not obliged on reading Shema, many do. It is very likely that even a woman who does not read the Shema daily still mentions Yetzias Mitzrayim in Birchas Hamazon or on other Tefilos.
The Rov maintains although it is better for women to mention a posuk for remembering Yetzias Mitzrayim, it is not the common accepted tradition to do so.
Rabbi A Bartfeld as revised by Horav Shlomo Miller, Horav Dovid Pam and Horav Aharon Miller Shlit'a
Important Numbers
