Are women obligated to recite ברכות השחר each morning?

Question: Are women obligated to recite ברכות השחר each morning?

Answer: Maran Beit Yosef in Shulchan Aruch (45:4) writes that women are obligated to recite the bracha of שעשני כרצונו in place of שלא עשני אשה. The clear implication is that all of the other  ברכות השחרwomen are obligated in just the same as men. This is also implied in the words of the Mishnah Berurah and other poskim.

However, there is an argument to be made that women should not be obligated in ברכות השחר as many poskim say that ברכות השחר has a time limit. Rav Shlomo Kluger and others say that ברכות השחר can only be said up until סוף זמן תפילה, which is four hours into the day, or according to others you have up until midday. Either way, it seems that these brachot are Rabbinic timebound mitzvot, which we have already seen in the last few weeks discussions women would be exempt from as מצות עשה (דרבנן) שהזמן גרמא. Nevertheless, Rav Ovadia quotes a long list of poskim who argue that one can recite ברכות השחר ALL day, thus they are not timebound and women would thus be obligated. Rav Ovadia concludes that this is the correct approach. In fact, he quotes the Vilna Gaon as saying that if someone forgets to recite ברכות השחר in the morning, he has all the way until he goes to sleep, even at night to recite them. (As a side, but connected point, the Vilna Gaon held that on Yom Kippur you cannot recite the bracha of שעשה כל צרכי which goes on the wearing of shoes which are prohibited on Yom Kippur, but you should recite it at night after the fast when you put on your shoes.)

In terms of the bracha of שעשני כרצונו, Rav Ovadia questions if women should recite it with שם ומלכות (the name of Hashem ה׳ אלקינו מלך העולם)? He reasons that the source for this bracha is not found at all in the Talmud, but is first found in the Tur and Avudraham (a famous source for many of our texts and customs of tefilla). He quotes the Piskei HaRosh who says that we do not make brachot with Hashm’s name unless the bracha is found in the Talmud. He also quotes that the Sefardic poskim Ben Ishe Chai and Chida agree that women should not recite it with Hashem’s name, but rather say ברוך שעשני כרצונו. These poskim argue that since it is a doubt, we apply the rule of ספק ברכות להקל, not wanting to chance taking the name of Hashem in vain. (Author’s note – some Sefardic siddurim do have the name of Hashem in this bracha so women should each consult her Rabbi to determine the proper practice.)

Summary:

1.     Women are obligated in ברכות השחר

2.     In place of שלא עשני אשה they should say שעשני כרצונו

3.     But they should not recite Hashem’s name in the bracha of שעשני כרצונו

a.     One should consult her Rabbi about this as some Sefardic siddurim have the name of Hashem, while others do not.

4.     If you forgot to recite the brachot in the morning, you can recite them all day and even at night until you go to bed.