Biting off the Pitum

Biting off the פיטום


The Sefer צאינה וראינה authored by R. Yakov b Yitzchok Ashkenazi  - (1550-1624) was geared specifically for women who didn't understand Loshon Hakodesh.
It is a collection of beautiful Midrashim and some Halachos in Yiddish.

Up until  80 years ago it was the most popular Sefer (after Siddur & Tehillim)  Yiddish speaking women possessed.
Illiterate women, organized a "Zogerrin". One who would read the צאינה וראינה   for their group. 

In a letter promoting the Bais Yakov Schools, the Chofetz Chaim writes, "the need for
Bais Yakov is also because many women stopped reading  the צאינה וראינה on Shabbos".

The first מקור (source) where it is mentioned for pregnant women to bite off  from the Esrog is in the צאינה וראינה.