Q. Is it true that women don’t have to be concerned with doing things that can cause forgetfulness (Kosho Leshikcho), such as eating olives, observing the face of the dead, reading a matzeiva or eating leftovers from animal food, since they are not included in the mitzva of learning Torah?
A. Nitei Gavriel (Purim – Tu Bishvat 9: 6: p. 88) quoting Yagel Yaakov 63) indeed rules that women can eat olives, since they should not be concerned with forgetting their learning, as they are not ordained on the mitzva of learning Torah. Horav Chanoch Ehrentreu’s Shlit’a opinion is similar.
On the recent question 3543 regarding if a woman during Shiva is allowed to continue her attendance to a zoom shiur or is she prohibited like men to learn Torah, we wrote: “Emek Hateshuva (1: 163), Chazon Ovadya (Avelus 2: p. 213), Mispedi Lemachol (p. 77), Haavelus Behalacha Veagadah (p. 208) and others maintain that women, similar to men also acquire Simcha and joy from learning Torah and when in mourning are equally prohibited.”
One may argue that since they may be included in the Simcha of Torah learning and they definitively are included in the learning of the Halacha of the mitzvos they have to comply with. (Biur Halacha O.H 47: 14). they may be included in this prohibition too. It would also seen that women are included in the foods that promote the memory of Torah wisdom, as the Talmud (Menochos 85b) notes the effect of Tekoa’s oil on those living there: “The verse states: “And Yoab sent to Tekoa, and fetched from there a wise woman” (II Samuel 14: 2). What is different about Tekoa that Yoab chose to bring a woman from there? Rabbi Yoc?anan says: Since the residents of Tekoa are accustomed to use olive oil, wisdom is prevalent there.”
Badei Hashulchan (quoted by Chukei Chaim 101: 6: n. 20) maintains that women should refrain from eating the heart of an animal since it is also Kosho Leshikcho for them too, (it makes a difference in Bitul).
Some Poskim maintain that they should be careful only when pregnant. (Mishmeres Sholom Y.D. 304: 2).
Kovetz Beis Vaad (2: p.431) indeed wonders why should they not be careful since as mentioned, they definitively are included in the learning of the Halacha of the mitzvos they have to comply with.
Rabbi A. Bartfeld as revised by Horav Dovid Pam, Horav Aharon Miller and Horav Chanoch Ehrentreu Shlit’a