When it says women who send their children to yeshiva and their husbands to learn have a greater havtacha for olam habah, does it mean they have greater sechar or just a greater guarantee** they'll get the sechar (that would otherwise be no greater or less than a man's sechar)?
Yaakov Astor, Spring Valley, NY
A very valid question. The Pasuk quoted by the Gemara speaks only about asurances, and not about big portions, and that is clearly how the Eitz Yosef interprets it. He explains that most of the things listed in the Beraisa of 'Eilu Devarim she'Adam Ochel' that we say each morning (such as Kibud Av va'Eim, Halvayas ha'Meis and certainly Talmud Torah - things that give us easy access to both worlds), do not pertain to women (he says that none of them do, and I don't understand that). So initially, the women seem to be at a big disadvantage. At first glance it seems that they have no easy way to earn the best of both worlds!
That is why Rav teaches us here that on the contrary, men need to perform these Mitzvos in order to receive the promised rewards, whereas women earn their portion by merely helping their husbands and children.
Kol Tuv,
R. Eliezer Chrysler