# 3765 But, not that Late

Most Poskim maintain that women are not obligated to daven Ma’ariv, since Ma’ariv was initially established as a voluntary prayer even for men, and while eventually men accepted Ma’ariv as an obligation, women did not.

A minority opinion holds that women should daven Ma’ariv as well if they are able due to their family and home duties. See Aruch ha-Shulchan 3.106:7 and Kaf Ha-Chayim 299:62, and this is the custom of some women.

Rabbi A. Bartfeld as revised by Horav Dovid Pam, Horav Aharon Miller and Horav Chanoch Ehrentreu Shlit’a.