Are woman included in the obligation to recite the Musaf prayer on Shabbat, Rosh Hodesh and Yom Tob?
This question is subject to debate among the authorities. Rabbi Akiva Eiger (1761-1837), in a famous responsum, wrote that women are exempt from the Musaf prayer service, because in the times of the Bet Hamikdash women did not participate in the annual half-shekel tax to the Temple treasury. This tax went toward the purchase of animals for the Musaf sacrifices, and thus women did not have a share in the Musaf offerings during the time of the Temple. By extension, then, they are not included in the obligation to recite the Musaf prayer which commemorates the Musaf sacrifices offered in the Temple.
Hacham Ben Sion Abba Shaul (Israel, 1923-1998), however, disputed Rabbi Akiva Eiger’s ruling, noting that males under the age of twenty also did not participate in the half-shekel tax. Even though the half-shekel tax was paid by only males aged twenty and above, it is universally assumed that boys from Bar Misva age are already obligated to recite Musaf. Evidently, Hacham Ben Sion deduces, the Musaf obligation does not depend upon one’s inclusion in the half-shekel tax, and thus even women should be obligated to recite the Musaf prayer.
Hacham Ovadia Yosef follows the ruling of Rabbi Akiva Eiger, and maintains that women are not, in fact, required to recite Musaf. In response to Hacham Ben Sion’s objection to Rabbi Akiva Eiger’s ruling, Hacham Ovadia demonstrates from various sources that males under the age of twenty did, in fact, pay the annual half-shekel tax that funded the public sacrifices. Males under twenty were exempt only from the donations toward the construction of the Bet Hamikdash. They were, however, required to take part in the half-shekel tax that went toward the purchasing of animals for the public sacrifices. It is for this reason, Hacham Ovadia explains, that males are required to recite Musaf already from the age of thirteen, as even at that young age boys were required to take part in funding the Musaf sacrifice. Women, however, were entirely exempt from the half-shekel tax, and are thus likewise entirely exempt from the Musaf prayer.
Hacham Ovadia adds that women who wish to nevertheless recite the Musaf prayer may do so, and this would not constitute Berachot Le’batala (Berachot recited in vain), since some authorities indeed allow women to recite the Musaf service.
Summary: Women are not obligated to recite the Musaf prayer, but may certainly do so if they so desire.
