[Avodah] The Requirement of Mechitza During Prayer and Other Events

[Prof. Levine]

 From http://www.dailyhalacha.com/m/halacha.aspx?id=469

Halacha requires placing a Mechitza (separation) 
between men and women in the synagogue; according 
to Rabbi Moshe Feinstein (Russia-New York, 
1895-1986), this requirement constitutes a Torah 
obligation. Rabbi Feinstein rules in a number of 
his responsa printed in his work "Iggerot Moshe" 
that the Mechitza must stand at least eighteen 
Tefachim – or approximately 54 inches – tall, 
such that it reaches the shoulders of an average woman.

Rabbi Feinstein also wrote that a Mechitza should 
be present at any gathering attended by men and 
women, such as weddings and other social 
functions. The prophet Zecharia foresees the 
funeral that will be held when Mashiach arrives 
for Mashiach Ben Yosef, and he declares, "The 
land shall eulogize – each family by itself: the 
family of the house of David by itself, and their 
wives by themselves" (Zecharia 12:12). It emerges 
from the Talmud's discussion in Masechet Sukka 
(52a) that Mechitzot will be erected to separate 
the men and women during this funeral. Rabbi 
Feinstein notes that if Mechitzot are required to 
separate between men and women at the solemn 
occasion of a funeral, then we should all the 
more so require Mechitzot at more festive social gatherings.

Rabbi Feinstein does, however, make an exception 
in cases of a weekly Torah class offered to men 
and women, if there is concern that many women 
will not attend if a Mechitza is used. In such 
instances, Rabbi Feinstein rules, in the interest 
of disseminating Torah to as wide an audience as 
possible, we may suspend the Mechitza requirement 
if otherwise many women would not attend, 
provided, of course, that the men and women are seated separately.

Summary: A Mechitza in the synagogue must stand 
at least 54 inches tall. A Mechitza should be 
used to separate men and women in all social 
venues where men and women are in attendance, 
such as weddings, funerals and Torah classes. If, 
however, there is concern that many women will 
not attend a Torah class if a Mechitza is used, 
then it is permissible to conduct the class 
without a Mechitza, provided that the men and women sit separately.


-------------- next part --------------
An HTML attachment was scrubbed...
URL: <http://lists.aishdas.org/pipermail/avodah-aishdas.org/attachments/20120122/41a976fc/attachment.htm>