May a woman perform mitzvot voluntarily? The test case is Smicha or semikhah (Hebrew: סמיכה‬, "leaning [of the hands]"), also smichut (סמיכות‬, "ordination"), smicha lerabbanut (סמיכה לרבנות‬, "rabbinical ordination"), or smicha lehazzanut (סמיכה לחזנות‬, "cantorial ordination"), is derived from a Hebrew word which means to "rely on" or "to be authorized".

">semicha, leaning on a sacrifice, a ritual from which women are exempt. We;ll also discuss the halachic meaning of voluntary performance, whether it can become like obligation, and whether voluntary mitzva performance is encouraged.