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From
<a href="http://revach.net/article.php?id=1680" eudora="autourl">
http://revach.net/article.php?id=1680</a><br><br>
<font size=3>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? <br><br>
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. <br><br>
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". <br><br>
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. <br><br>
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