Throughout the Tanach one will find many virtuous, and some not so virtuous, women. Women, in Jewish tradition, are the first teachers of the children and as such they were given the Torah first at Sinai. Contrary to popular belief, women are equal to men. However, men and women do have different purposes in life as set up by G-d. Therefore, women and men are equal but not the same. It has become the norm for females to be afforded similar education in Torah and Talmud as is afforded males. Females generally will attend all-female yeshivot (Jewish religious schools) where they will learn secular and religious subjects. Women are also afforded a traditionally female-only holiday each month. This holiday is known as Rosh Chodesh and occurs on the first day (sometimes the first two days) of each Hebrew month according to the Jewish calendar and was originally a day of rest for women.

According to traditional Judaism, women are endowed with a greater degree of binah (intuition, understanding, intelligence) than men. The rabbis inferred this from the fact that woman was built (Genesis 2:22) rather than formed (Genesis 2:7). It has been said that the matriarchs (Sarah, Rebecca, Rachel and Leah) were superior to the patriarchs (Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob) in prophesy. Women have held positions of respect in Judaism since biblical times. Miriam is considered one of the liberators of the Children of Israel, along with her brothers Moses and Aaron. One of the Judges (Deborah) was a woman. Seven of the 55 prophets of the Bible were women (Sarah, Miriam, Deborah, Hannah, Abigail, Huldah, Esther).

While women are not expected to keep time-bound mitzvot (i.e. wearing tallis or praying three times daily) it is expected that they will pray at least once daily. It is preferable that women who are able, pray the standard liturgy three times daily. It is also the responsibility of the women to light the Shabbat candles. The female head-of-household is to light the Shabbat candles for the entire household. In addition to these responsibilities, married women are responsible for the Laws of Family Purity (taharat hamishpakha) which involves abstention from sexual relations (or any behavior that may lead to sexual behavior) during the women's menstrual cycle and for seven clean days afterwards. The women must immerse in the mikveh before any relations with their husbands may resume.

Women have held positions of respect in Judaism since biblical times. Miriam is considered one of the liberators of the Children of Israel, along with her brothers Moses and Aaron. One of the Judges (Deborah) was a woman. Seven of the 55 prophets of the Bible were women (Sarah, Miriam, Deborah, Hannah, Abigail, Huldah, Esther). The Talmud and later rabbinical writings speak of the wisdom of Berurya, the wife of Rabbi Meir. In several instances, her opinions on halachah (Jewish Law) were accepted over those of her male contemporaries. In the ketubah of Rabbi Akiva's son, the wife is obligated to teach the husband Torah. Many rabbis over the centuries have been known to consult their wives on matters of Jewish law relating to the woman's role, such as laws of kashrut (kosher) and women's cycles. The wife of a rabbi is referred to as a rebbetzin, practically a title of her own, which should give some idea of her significance in Jewish life.