Women and Parshas Zachor

Question: It’s difficult for me to get to shul with my kids to hear Parshas Zachor. Should my husband daven earlier, or should I go out later to a reading for women?

Answer: There is a mitzva deoraisa to remember what Amalek did to the Bnei Yisrael when they left Egypt (Devarim 25:17-19). The Aruch Hashulchan (OC 685:5) notes that during Mordechai and Esther's time, reading Parshas Zachor on the Shabbos before Purim was instituted, as Amalek was Haman's ancestor.

Tosafos (Megilla 17b), the Magen Avraham (685:1), and others hold that one must read from a sefer Torah to fulfil the mitzva. However, the Minchas Chinuch (603) and others consider this a rabbinic requirement like other Torah readings. The Terumas Hadeshen holds that mideoraisa one needs a minyan, though the Mishna Berura (Shaar Hatzion 685:5) challenges this source. The Shaarei Ephraim (8:85) and Kaf Hachaim (OC 685:35) state that one who missed Parshas Zachor in shul can read it from a chumash.

The Sefer Hachinuch (603) writes that women are not obligated to hear Parshas Zachor, though the Minchas Chinuch argues that they must, as it is not a time bound mitzva. While it is praiseworthy for women to attend, most poskim maintain they are not obligated (see Moadim Uzemanim 2:168). R’ Yitzchak Yaakov Weiss (Minchas Yitzchak 9:68:1) observes that many women customarily attend shul to listen but advises against a separate Torah reading for them after davening. If they cannot attend the main kerias hatorah, it is preferable for women to read Parshas Zachor from a chumash (see Nitei Gavriel, Purim 20:2).

In conclusion, if a woman finds it difficult to attend shul to hear Parshas Zachor, she may read it herself from a chumash.