Halacha Date: 2 Cheshvan 5774 October 6 2013
Answer: The Rambam (Chapter 1 of Hilchot Bet Ha’Bechira) writes: “Everyone is obligated in the building of the Bet Hamikdash by actively participating and by donating funds; this applies to both men and women.” Based on the Rambam’s words it is clear that women too must take up the burden of building the Bet Hamikdash as well and to help out in any way they are able to in order to erect the Holy Temple which we pray will be built speedily and in our days, Amen.
The Sefer Ahavat Eitan (commentary on the Ein Yaakov, Baba Batra 4a) writes that the source for the Rambam’s ruling is based on a Gemara (ibid.) that Baba ben Buta advised Herod to build the Bet Hamikdash. Although the Gemara comments that Herod was a slave, he was nevertheless obligated to participate in the Mitzvah of building the Bet Hamikdash. If so, women are certainly obligated to participate in the building of the Bet Hamikdash.
Based on this, Maran Rabbeinu Chaim Ovadia Yosef Shlit”a (in his Ma’or Yisrael-Derushim, page 215) that women must indeed be active and participate various communal Mitzvot, such as building a Yeshiva or a Bet Midrash, and these women are certainly considered “righteous women” and will surely be rewarded handsomely for their activities for the sake of building a Yeshiva and the like. About the does the verse state, “May Hashem compensate your actions and may your reward be complete from Hashem.”
The Gemara (Berachot 17a) states that the promise Hashem made to women is greater than the one He made to men, as the verse states, “Confident women, hear my words”-this refers to women who are confident in receiving their reward. Indeed, Maran Shlit”a writes (ibid page 216) that since women are not obligated to study Torah as much as men, they are not liable to transgress the sin of wasting time from Torah study and they are therefore always closer to reward than to punishment.
Although a woman is obligated to dress and act modestly, nevertheless, if she has the ability to strengthen Torah study and benefit Judaism and the Jewish nation as a whole, she may perform all of these acts for the sake of Heaven which will, G-d-willing, grant her sons who are Torah scholars and much goodness and success.
