Defining the Exemption of Women in Mitzvos Aseh She’Hazman Grama

Abstract

Essentially, women are exempt from all time-bound positive mitzvos because they are exempt from tefillin, a time-bound positive mitzvah. Women are exempt from tefillin because they are exempt from Talmud Torah. What is clear from here is that whatever time-bound means, it includes tefillin. This is logical as tefillin is a commandment for only certain times of day. But the question as to what is the specific definition of “time-bound” still remains. Rishonim grapple with this question and propose their own definitions. (from Introduction)