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Video Transcription

Shalom! This video is discussing the question on the Mekitza. Is it necessary for Jewish man and women to pray separately? Like the Orthodox do and the answer is absolutely not. There is no historical basis for it. In fact, this is a very interesting oracle that was in women’s league outlook magazine by Dr. Joyce Rainer PhD in Archeology from Duke, teaches bible and Tanakh and basically, searching the ancient synagogues. She says the following “a close look at the literary sources of the period as well as the archeological evidence has not confirmed the traditional assumption that man and women prayed separately”. On the contrary that may indicate the absence of the separate gallery to be used only for women in point to a seating pattern similar to that of today’s conservative movement synagogues. Shammanal self riders persuades of article was there a woman’s gallery in the ancient synagogues in masses literary evidence showing that there was no primitive separation of man and women seating. Isolating women in a separate seating area is a logical, if women had an active role to play in the synagogue service. We learned in various passages in the Talmud, not only women are obligated to say the Amidah and read Esther, there are also a custom to pray in the synagogue. One Talmudic discussion in Havladah Zarah relates that Jewish man did not talk about women’s involvement. Through further resources, specifically mentioned women in the synagogue, one from the Jewish Talmud and one from the Babylonian Talmud. The evidence on the question bible can be added for Paul spoke to women at the synagogue in Macedonia in Acts 16:3. All of these literary evidence demonstrates that women were costumed to attending the synagogue in a regular basis. The idea of a separate woman’s gallery in the synagogue is derived from the women’s court and the Jerusalem Temple, but that was used for men too. So, that does not prove any evidence at all. In the liturgy in synagogues is completely silent concerning women’s galleries. So, there is no evidence at all that women prayed separately in ancient time in ancient synagogues and the evidence seems to collaborate that they did not. So, given the absence of literary and archeological data affirming a separate section for women seating, it is well within the renal possibility that men and women set together to pray as many do today. So, where did we get this costume, well, the Muslims still prayed separately, the Christians did for a long time, it is probably a tradition borrowed from our gentile neighbors and not as Jewish thing. And today, most people would say, it is simply another example of unfortunately in the tradition that is bias against women. The women should wear prayer shawls of course, Roshes granddaughters did. this is just a lot of male in Orthodoxy in there is no really basis for it. Many women want to pray separately, fine. But do not claim that it is absolutely required or that you are not praying properly if you do not. In fact, the other one is borrowing from the gentile costumes in that Jew praying the way Jews did for the formative period of Jewish history.