Sifrei

A woman may not be appointed queen over Israel or to any other official position, on the basis of a gendered reading of Deuteronomy 17: 15, “You shall appoint a king over yourself” — a king, but not a queen (Sifrei Devarim 157).

Legal-Religious Status of the Jewish Female. leBeit Yoreh 2009

The exegetes also learned of her beauty from her name Iscah, since all would gaze [sokim] upon her beauty (Sifrei on Numbers, 99).

Sarah: Midrash and Aggadah. 2009

Thus Miriam learned that Moses had abstained from intercourse (Sifrei on Numbers chap. 99).

Zipporah: Midrash and Aggadah. 2009

Several sweeping statements address the general tendencies of women to be compassionate (BT Megillah 14b), holy and pure (Sifrei, Deuteronomy, Ki Tezei), talkative (BT Kiddushin 49b), and given to tears (BT Bava Mezia 59a).

Nature of Women. 2009

According to the Rabbis, Miriam intended to praise her brother, and she wanted to increase procreative activity, but nevertheless was punished, because of the severity of gossip (Sifrei on Numbers chap. 99).

Zipporah: Midrash and Aggadah. 2009

According to one opinion, the prophet Huldah was also among her offspring (Sifrei on Numbers, chap. 78).

Rahab: Midrash and Aggadah. 2009

The earliest mention of Torah study by women occurs in Sifrei, above: “And you shall teach your sons and not your daughters.”

Torah Study. 2009

In another exegesis, God showed Moses before his death, through the spirit of divine inspiration, the line of prophets that would issue from Rahab (Sifrei on Deuteronomy, Chap. 338).

Rahab: Midrash and Aggadah. 2009

By the force of this blessing, all knew that the Holy One, blessed be He, had pardoned him (Sifrei on Deuteronomy, 31).

Bilhah: Midrash and Aggadah. 2009

She is cited as an example of a wealthy woman in the context of the laws of mezonot (alimony) (BT Ketubbot 104a, JT Ketubbot 5: 11, 30b); monetary payments to a widow (Sifrei, Deuteronomy 281).

Martha, daughter of Boethus. 2009