Q&A: The Ideal Synagogue for the Third Path
The Ideal Synagogue for the Third Path
Question
I don’t know the boundaries of what Jewish law permits and how far they can be stretched, so I’d be glad if you could explain in as much detail as you can what an ideal synagogue should look like for a liberal from the Third Path, among other things according to the following parameters (feel free to add your own):
Should there be separation between men and women, and if so should there be a partition?
Are women counted toward the minyan?
Can women give a Torah talk?
Can women recite Kaddish aloud?
Can women be called up to the Torah?
Can women serve as prayer leaders?
Answer
I can’t answer on behalf of the Third Path, because there are people there with different views on these matters, and in general. I can write my own opinion.
It is preferable to have separation because of custom. And if there are women who are not dressed modestly, then it is required by Jewish law. There is of course no problem at all with a Torah talk or Kaddish. In my opinion there is also no problem at all with being called up to the Torah.
As for counting women toward a minyan and serving as prayer leaders, I am inclined to think there is no problem, but I would not rule that in practice at this point.
There are synagogues in Tel Aviv and in America with low partitions [I couldn’t find a picture to attach], so that the women also feel part of the prayer, and the partition is to the side of the worshippers and not behind them; there is also a side with seats for women and a side for men. I saw something nice in Tel Aviv at the Great Synagogue on Yom Kippur: aside from the low partition, couples who wanted to pray together in the women’s section upstairs took a corner. What do you think about arrangements like that? Practically speaking, women could also put on tefillin, and Your Honor would be the synagogue rabbi, or is the plan that there will be several synagogues, and you’ll remain with the title of founder?