Q. Should high school girls be expected to cover the entire Chumash before they finish high school? Should any other limmud (study) take priority for women/girls?
A. Remoh (Y.D. 246,6) rules that women are obligated to learn and know the Halacha parts of the Torah on the mitzvos that apply to them, so they are able to comply with them correctly (and they are many, such as the laws of Brochos, Shabbos, Yom Tov, Kashrus, Taharas Hamishpacha etc.).
Horav Shlomo Miller Shlit'a opines that this knowledge takes priority.
However in order not to go astray from the ways of Hashem in today's promiscuous and unethical society they are also encouraged in learning the written Torah and Nach, Musar and s'forim on Emunah and ethics. (Chofetz Chaim in Likutey Halochos, Sota 21a - Oz Nid'bru 14,3,9 - Tzitz Eliezer 9,3,7 et al, see also Rambam, Talmud Torah 1,13 and Shulchan Aruch Y.D. ibid.).
They may also be exhorted in knowing Tanach as a necessary tool in helping the education and chinuch of their children.
Horav Shlomo Miller's Shlita opinion is that a well-equillibrated Jewish women education should include all the above.
Rabbi A. Bartfeld as revised by Horav Shlomo Miller Shlit"a
Important Numbers
