Dear Rabbi Lamm: Last evening, our board of directors announced the outcome of the congregational vote regarding partial mixed pews. If I might refresh your memory, a proposal was made to retain separate seating (no mechitza) in the front half of the main sanctuary and to institute mixed seating in the remainder. This needed a two-thirds majority to be passed. With over ninety percent of the membership returning ballots, which in itself is remarkable, there was a clear majority against the innovation and, consequently, it failed. I would like to take this opportunity to thank you again for your constructive advice on handling the problem. Instead of calling a congregational meeting, as you did in Springfield, to speak on the subject, I composed an article for our Bulletin, in which I tried to present the halakhic, psychological, and sociological positions against mixed pews. I’m taking the liberty of including a copy of that issue of our Bulletin in this letter. If you have the opportunity to read it and have any observations, I would appreciate it if you would share them with me. Thank you, again, for your help and advice. May the Ribbono Shel Olam bless you and your family with many years of health and strength to be a guiding force for authentic Judaism in America. With Torah blessings, Allen R. Kuperman, Rabbi