8802 —תנאים לקבלת משרת רבנות, גובה מחיצה, ועזרת נשים

Shalom u'Vrachah! [26–27 Nissan 5724]

Of course, if there is no issue of encroaching on boundaries. Between the place of Torah reading and Eretz HaKodesh—at least one row should be left as a separation.

The mechitzah must be higher than a man's height. It should not be transparent to those looking from the men's section. What compelled them to rely on a leniency (which is, in any case, already under great pressure)—without realizing that here the women's gallery is above (and even more so) higher than the men's section? See Sukkah 51b: "And they would come... and still they would come... (until) they established... above." And in Chiddushei Aggados it is explained that having women seated above is itself considered a significant improvement compared to before! Yet with a casual remark, he dismissed this comparison entirely!

This was printed in Likkutei Sichos vol. 16 p. 615 and completed according to a copy. This is an answer to Moreinu HaRav Shmuel Pesach Bogomilski regarding his question about under what conditions to accept the rabbinate in a synagogue. Additional letters to him are above in Igros Kodesh vol. 8, and as referenced in the notes there.

Eretz HaKodesh: and the Holy Ark. Separation: by this, the bimah is considered in the middle of the synagogue. See below Igros Kodesh vol. 8 letter 8888.

The mechitzah: see also above vol. 14 letter 4788; below letter 8895*.

Higher than a man's height: Regarding whether this means six feet—the answer (on 27 Nissan) was: at least.

Not transparent: Regarding his question if it is possible to make the mechitzah from glass as in the study hall of our Rebbe shlita.

Summary

This letter clarifies that accepting a rabbinic position requires ensuring proper halachic standards for synagogue separation between men and women—specifically, that the mechitzah must be higher than a man's height and not transparent, with careful attention to established halachic sources.