[Avodah] Bais Ovi: Man Giving A Shiur To Women - Need A Mechitza?

[Prof. Levine]

 From http://revach.net/article.php?id=1680

Can a Rav or any male teacher give a Shiur to women without a 
Mechitza between him and the audience?   Rav Yitzchok Isaac Liebes in 
Tshuvos Bais Ovi (3:40) says that the Gemara in Succah says that even 
at the Levaya of the murdered Moshiach Ben Yosef where the mood is 
very serious as we are all mourning his death we will need a 
separation between the men and women. Based on this gemara, certainly 
even in a classroom or lecture setting there should be a need for a 
Mechitza.  Nevertheless he says that in a Torah lecture it is not 
necessary.  Why not?

The fact that it is done in Bais Yaakov, says the Bais Ovi, shows 
that the Rabbanim permitted it.   Furthermore when looking at the 
beautiful frum families and entire communities that emerged from this 
system it is clear that they have done nothing wrong.  Since we know 
that Aveira Goreres Aveira were this an issue it would have had a 
terrible negative affect and spiraled out of control to the other 
extreme.  Since the results are so positive it must not be any 
problem whatsoever.

He further says that when Reb Yisroel Salanter came to Germany and 
found the great gaon and tzaddik Rav Ezriel Hildesheimer teaching 
Shulchan Aruch and Tanach to girls without a Mechitza, he told him 
that if any Rav would do this in Lithuania he would be fired 
immediately and rightfully so according to Halacha.  Nevertheless 
said Rav Yisroel Salanter, "Halevai I should be zocheh to sit next to 
Rav Hildesheimer in the Olam Haba where his reward will be great.  He 
did it all L'Shem Shamayim and it is an "Es Laasos LaHashem".

The Bais Ovi does caution that this liberty can only be taken for a 
Torah lecture, but for any non torah lectures, the Halacha should be 
strictly adhered to.



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