Mechitza

A mechitza ( Hebrew : מחיצה, partition or division, pl.: מחיצות, mechitzot ) in Jewish Halakha is a partition that is used to separate men and women. The rationale for a partition dividing men and women is given in the Babylonian Talmud ( Sukkah 51b, 52a). A divider in the form of a balcony was established in the Temple in Jerusalem for the occasion of the Simchat Beit Hasho'evah (Water Drawing Ceremony) on Sukkot , a time of great celebration and festivity. The divider was first established to preserve modesty and attention during this time. Orthodox Judaism is divided on whether a synagogue mechitza represents binding law or a custom. During the middle portion of the 20th Century, there were a substantial number of synagogues which considered themselves Orthodox but did not have one. However, the Orthodox Union (OU), the main body of Modern Orthodox synagogues in the United States, adopted a policy of not accepting synagogues without mechitzot as new members, and strongly encouraging existing synagogues to adopt them. Men and women are generally not separated in most Conservative synagogues, although it is a permissible option within Conservative Judaism and some Conservative synagogues, particularly in Canada, have one or have separate seating for men and women without a physical partition. Reform and Reconstructionist Judaism , consistent with their view that traditional religious law is not mandatory in modern times and a more liberal interpretation of gender roles, do not use mechitzot in their synagogues.

This mechitza was created for the Suburban Torah Center in Livingston, New Jersey , and features carved glass ornamentation. A mechitza ( Hebrew : מחיצה, partition or division, pl.: מחיצות, mechitzot ) in Jewish Halakha is a partition, particularly one that is used to separate men and women. The rationale for a partition dividing men and women is given in the Babylonian Talmud ( Sukkah 51b, 52a). A divider in the form of a balcony was established in the Temple in Jerusalem for the occasion of the Simchat Beit Hasho'evah (Water Drawing Ceremony) on Sukkot , a time of great celebration and festivity. The divider was first established to preserve modesty and attention during this time. During the middle portion of the 20th century, there were a substantial number of synagogues which considered themselves Orthodox but did not have one. However, the Orthodox Union (OU), the main body of Modern Orthodox synagogues in the United States, adopted a policy of not accepting synagogues without mechitzot as new members, and strongly encouraging existing synagogues to adopt them. Men and women are generally not separated in most Conservative synagogues, although it is a permissible option within Conservative Judaism; some Conservative synagogues, particularly in Canada, have one or have separate seating for men and women without a physical partition. Reform and Reconstructionist Judaism , consistent with their view that traditional religious law is not mandatory in modern times and a more liberal interpretation of gender roles, do not use mechitzot in their synagogues.

This mechitza was created for the Suburban Torah Center in Livingston, New Jersey , and features carved glass ornamentation. A mechitza ( , partition or division, pl.: , mechitzot ) in Jewish Halakha is a partition, particularly one that is used to separate men and women. The rationale for a partition dividing men and women is given in the Babylonian Talmud . A divider in the form of a balcony was established in the Temple in Jerusalem for the Simchat Beit HaShoeivah ceremony, a time of great celebration and festivity. The divider was first established to preserve modesty and attention during this time. During the mid-20th century, a substantial number of synagogues considered themselves Orthodox but did not have mechitzot. However, the Orthodox Union (OU), the main body of Modern Orthodox synagogues in the United States, adopted a policy of not accepting synagogues without mechitzot as new members, and it strongly encouraged existing synagogues to adopt them. Men and women are generally not separated in most Conservative synagogues, but it is a permissible option within Conservative Judaism; some Conservative synagogues, particularly in Canada, have one or have separate seating for men and women without a physical partition. Reform and Reconstructionist Judaism , consistent with their views of traditional religious law not being mandatory in modern times ad fora more liberal interpretation of gender roles, do not use mechitzot in their synagogues.

Gender barrier in Jewish synagogues Separation between men and women at the Western Wall A mechitza ( , partition or division, pl.: מחיצות , mechitzot ) in Judaism is a partition, particularly one that is used to separate men and women . The rationale in halakha (Jewish law) for a partition dividing men and women is derived from the Babylonian Talmud . A divider in the form of a balcony was established in the Temple in Jerusalem for the Simchat Beit HaShoeivah ceremony, a time of great celebration and festivity. The divider was first established to preserve modesty and attention during this time. During the mid-20th century, a substantial number of Orthodox synagogues did not have mechitzot. However, the Orthodox Union (OU), the main body of Modern Orthodox synagogues in the United States, adopted a policy of not accepting as new members synagogues without mechitzot, and strongly encouraged existing synagogues to adopt them. Men and women are generally not separated in most Conservative synagogues, but it is a permissible option within Conservative Judaism; some Conservative synagogues, particularly in Canada, have separate seating for men and women, with or without a physical partition. Reform congregations, consistent with the movement's core value of gender equality, do not use mechitzot in their synagogues. In the past few years, the Orthodox Union, which oversees hundreds of synagogues in America, formally decreed that any congregation calling itself Orthodox must have a formal divider. ... The OU's partition policy calls for women to sit apart from men with a 'tangible, physical separation.' Nussbaum-Cohen, Debra (4 February 2006).

Gender barrier in Jewish synagogues Separation between men and women at the Western Wall A mechitza ( Hebrew : מחיצה , partition or division, pl.: מחיצות , mechitzot ) in Judaism is a partition, particularly one that is used to separate men and women . The rationale in halakha (Jewish law) for a partition dividing men and women is derived from the Babylonian Talmud . A divider in the form of a balcony was established in the Temple in Jerusalem for the Simchat Beit HaShoeivah ceremony, a time of great celebration and festivity. The divider was first established to preserve modesty and attention during this time. During the mid-20th century, a substantial number of Orthodox synagogues did not have mechitzot. However, the Orthodox Union (OU), the main body of Modern Orthodox synagogues in the United States, adopted a policy of not accepting as new members synagogues without mechitzot, and strongly encouraged existing synagogues to adopt them. Men and women are generally not separated in most Conservative synagogues, but it is a permissible option within Conservative Judaism; some Conservative synagogues, particularly in Canada, have separate seating for men and women, with or without a physical partition. Reform congregations, consistent with the movement's core value of gender equality, do not use mechitzot in their synagogues. In the past few years, the Orthodox Union, which oversees hundreds of synagogues in America, formally decreed that any congregation calling itself Orthodox must have a formal divider. ... The OU's partition policy calls for women to sit apart from men with a 'tangible, physical separation.' : CS1 maint: deprecated archival service ( link ) Nussbaum-Cohen, Debra (4 February 2006).