Mechitza

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.^[1] 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.^[2] 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.^[2] 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.^[3]

^ Cite error: The named reference sukkah was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
^ ^a ^b Lagnado, Lucette (27 March 2007). "Prayer Behind the Partition". Wall Street Journal. Archived from the original on 6 May 2023. 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). "Reform Jews Examining Ways to Retain Their Young Men". The New York Times.

[sukkah-1] Cite error: The named reference sukkah was invoked but never defined (see the help page).

[Lucette-2] Lagnado, Lucette (27 March 2007). "Prayer Behind the Partition". Wall Street Journal. Archived from the original on 6 May 2023. 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.'

[ReferenceA-3] Nussbaum-Cohen, Debra (4 February 2006). "Reform Jews Examining Ways to Retain Their Young Men". The New York Times.

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