Three Mitzvot I: The Group חלה נדה והדלקת הנר: הקבוצה

(6) Women die in childbirth for three transgressions: If they are not careful with [the laws] of menstruation; and if they are not careful with challah; and if they are not careful with candle-lighting.

What distinguishes "at the time of their giving birth?" Rava said: If the ox fell, sharpen the knife to slaughter it. ... And where are men examined [to see if their punishment should be meted out]? Reish Lakish said: When they are crossing a bridge. A bridge and nothign else? Rather, say: Any [physically vulnerable situation] like a bridge... Rabbi Yosei says: Three checks [whose punishments may be exacted at a vulnerable point] were created for woman... Menstruation, ḥalla, and lighting the Shabbat lights.

Rabbi Yosei, son of Rabbi Ḥanina, said: Why these three [mentions of the word] maidservant? Chana said before the Holy One, Blessed be He: Master of the Universe, You have created three 'assessments of [liability for] death' for woman... and they are these: nidda, challa, and lighting candles. Have I ever violated one of them? [In their merit] "You should give to your maidservant seed..."

Why was the mitzva of nidda given to her? Because she spilled Adam’s blood… Why was the mitzva of challa given to her? Because she degraded Adam, who was the ultimate dough of the world… Why was the mitzva of the Shabbat candle given to her? He said to them: Because she snuffed out Adam’s soul….

Rabbi Levi said: “The man who is great among giants” – this refers to Avraham. Why does it call him “great”? Because he was worthy to be created before Adam, but the Holy One, Blessed be He, said: Perhaps [Adam] will sin and there will not be anyone to come and rectify [matters] in his place. Rather, behold, I am creating Adam first, so that if he sins, Avraham will come and rectify [matters] in his place.

For Avraham rectified what Adam did. So too Yitzvhak and Ya'akov and the righteous.

For the Holy One commanded Avraham in the mitzva of mila in order to rectify that which Adam made wrong, for he in his eating of the tree of knowledge leaned toward sexual desire more than is fitting…Avraham was commanded in the mitzva in order to distance this excessive tendency that Adam his forefather acted on.

This duty is assigned to women rather than men, because women are found in the homes and they are occupied with the housework.