If a woman doesn't approve of her husband's righteousness, she doesn't approve of his learning Torah and doing mitzvos, is she going to share in the reward that he gains?
ANSWER:
Certainly not! Noshim b'mai kozachyin, how do women get zechus the Gemara asks. Now what question is that? How to get zechus? You could say women pray! Women have yiras shomayim, women raise their children, they cook and they clean the house, they do so many things, what's the question? Women can knock a mezuza on the door, woman can give tzedaka, but the Gemara asks in Torah how does a woman get zechus? A woman has to have zechus in Torah too. That's important, because Torah is the most important element; Torah is the mind element of the Jew.
Therefore the Gemara says, if she encourages her husband and her children to learn. By encouraging your husband to learn, not only encouraging him of course if you make meals for him you are also encouraging him. If you are doing all the duties that a woman should do at home, maintaining the home, you are also encouraging him. But if you say a word of encouragement and you don't discourage, then you get full share in all of his Torah.
If a boy learns and his mother doesn't disapprove, she gets a big share. If the mother says a kind word and she gives him a compliment for his learning, she gets a full share in her sons learning. So naturally you have to have an intention to encourage; then you get a full share.
Not a 50% share, she gets 100% share in her husband's Torah accomplishments.
Good Shabbos To All
This is transcribed from questions that were posed to Harav Miller by the audience at the Thursday night lectures. To listen to the audio of this Q & A please dial: 201-676-3210
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