Dear Rabbi Lamm: With reference to your inquiry may I state first of all that we in the Rabbinical Council deem you an authority on Halachah and that as Moro D’asro of your community you are the authority to decide all questions of Jewish Law and it is within the province of your prerogative to make the decisions which need to be made. We know that whatever decisions you make will always be based upon Halachah without any deviation from its principles. With regard to the specific items under discussion, our Halachah Commission has on numerous occasions studied the various facets of the problems and has always come to the conclusions that: The ״mechitzah״ is an integral part of the synagogue and is ordained by the Halachah. Its absence reflects upon the synagogue as a sanctuary and deprives it of the ״Keddusha״ which differentiates it from another building. A house of worship must according to Halachah have a separation between the sexes in order that it might be a suitable place for worship. There can be no other opinion on this in the Halachah.On the question of microphone, may I say that our Halachah Commission considers the use of a microphone on the Sabbath a forbidden act involving issurim proscribed in the Torah.I am confident that because your authority and scholarship are recognized that the decisions which you will make will be accepted without questions.Kindest personal regards.CordiallyRabbi Israel Klavan

The problem of "mixed pews" versus "separate pews" is one which has engaged the attention of the Jewish public in America for a number of years now. It has been the focus of much controversy and agitation. More often than not, the real issues have been obscured by the strong emotions aroused. The "mechitzah" (physical divider between the men's and women’s pews) has become, in effect, a symbol in a struggle between partisan groups. Here, in Kodimoh, where we hope soon to erect a new synagogue building, we have already resolved the problem. In our brochure we stated clearly that we are raising funds in order to build an Orthodox synagogue. And our Board of Directors recently voted — without dissent -- to retain the system of separate seating, with the proper "mechltzah," for the future. When I speak to you this evening, therefore, on the "mixed pews" issue, it is not to appeal for support — that is both unnecessary now and undesirable at all times,for questions of Torah should never be decided by a voting pro- cedure more appropriate to rendering political decisions. I speak, rather, in the hope of educating and enlightening, of explaining the reasons for the Judgment of the Jewish Tradition, so that our observance may be enhanced by an intelligent and knowledgeable sympathy with the Law.THE LAWAt the very outset let us state unequivocally that the separation of the sexes at the services is not a "mere custom" reflecting the mores of a by- gone age. It is a law, a "halakhah," and according to our outstanding talmudic scholars a biblical law, which makes it very Important Indeed. The origin of the law is in the Talmud (Sukkah 51b) where we are told that at certain festive occasions which took place at the Temple in Jerusalem great crowds collected to witness the service. The Sages were concerned lest there occur a commingling of the sexes, because the solemnity and sanctity of the service could not be maintained in the atmosphere of frivolousness that resulted. Hence,…

Dear Rabbi Lamm: Thank you very much for your manuscript. Would you be good enough to send a copy to: Rabbi Dr. J. Newman, Federation of Synagogues of the Transvaal and Orange Free State, 24, Raleigh St. Yeoville, Johannesburg South Africa. With all good wishes. Sincerely yours, Rabbi Leo Jung

My dear Norman: Thank you very much for sending me the address that you delivered before your Sisterhood, entitled "Separate Pews – A Mark of Jewish Dignity." I read it with a great deal of interest, and so did Haskel. I want to compliment you on a beautiful presentation on a forthright and courageous statement and on a scholarly treatment of the subject. In spite of the apparent scholarship, you nevertheless managed to make it sufficiently popular, so that a group of average lay people could understand it. It is one of the finest statements on the subject that I have read. Congratulations.Very cordially yours,Joseph H. Lookstein

My dear Rabbi Newman: Upon the advice of Rabbi Leo Jung of the Jewish Center of New York, I am sending you enclosed a copy of my talk, "Separate Pews – A Mark of Jewish Dignity." I hope it can be of some assistance to you and our fellow-Jews in South Africa. If any references are made to it in any printed matter, or if by chance the article should be reprinted in whole or in part, please be kind enough to make available to me several copies of the same.With best wishes once again,Sincerely yours,Rabbi Norman Lamm

Dear Rabbi Lamm, Thank you very much for your congratulations and wonderful wishes. It was really very nice of you to have taken the time to express them. By the way, my father showed me your speech on mixed pews (not in mixed pews) and I thought it was literally out of this world – in the right direction, of course. I read it, reread it, tried to memorize the arguments, and then put it in my file cabinet in case I shood forget its contents. I think that it is far and away the best treatment I have seen or heard on the subject. Congratulations! I hope you can keep doing this sort of work. It’s really excellent, Sincerely, Haskel. Regards to the rebbetzin

Dear Rabbi Lamm, The transcript of an address delivered by you re: separate pews was to me both enlightening and heartwarming. More than ever before I am convinced that l am correct in my adherence to the principles you espouse. Though a congregational vote soundly defeated me, the platform on which I ran – separate seating – gave cause for thought about the subject. Even this was a more healthy condition than previously existed. However this community – insofar as Orthodoxy is concerned – is failing fast. Enclosed is a contribution to your congregation made in your honor – a token of my appreciation for your interest. I shall look forward to personally making your acquaintance. With kindest wishes , I am.Very respectfully, Emil B. Dere

The problem of “mixed pews” versus “separate pews”¹ in the synagogue is one which has engaged the attention of the Jewish public for a number of years. It has been the focus of much controversy and agitation. More often than not, the real issues have been obscured by the strong emotions aroused. Perhaps if the reader is uninitiated in the history and dialectic of Jewish religious debate in mid-twentieth century America, he will be puzzled and amused by such serious concern and sharp polemics on what to him may seem to be a trivial issue. If the reader is thus perplexed, he is asked to consider that “trivialities” are often the symbols of issues of far greater moment. Their significance often transcends what is formally apparent, for especially in Judaism they may be clues to matters of principle that have far-reaching philosophic consequences. In our case, the mechitzah (the physical partition between the men’s and women’s pews) has become, in effect, a symbol in the struggle between two competing ideological groups. It has become a cause celebre in the debate on the validity of the Jewish tradition itself and its survival intact in the modern world.The mechitzah was meant to divide physically the men from the women in the synagogue. In our day it has served also to divide spiritually synagogue from synagogue, community from community, and often rabbi from layman. This division has become a wide struggle, in which one faction attempts to impose contemporary standards—whatever their quality or worth—upon the inherited corpus of Jewish tradition which it does not regard as being of divine origin, and in which the other side seeks to preserve the integrity of Jewish law and tradition from an abject capitulation to alien concepts whose only virtue is, frequently, that they are declared “modern” by their proponents. The purpose of this essay is to demonstrate the validity of the Jewish tradition in its view that separate seating for men and women ought to prevail in the…

Dear Friend: On February 19, 1959, there will be an Executive Committee meeting of the Yeshiva University Rabbinic Alumni at 10 A.M. in Klein Hall. Following this meeting, we will have the pleasure of listening to our distinguished colleague, Rabbi Norman Lamm, Associate Rabbi of The Jewish Center, who will speak to us on "The Orthodox Position on Family Pews: Interpreting it to the Laity." If you remember, we had originally scheduled Rabbi Lamm’s paper to be read at our last annual Convention in Lakewood. Since, however, Rabbi Lamm was unable to attend, we had postponed his lecture until further notice. We are now very happy to be able to enjoy Rabbi Lamm’s address at our next executive meeting.In accordance with our resolution passed at the Convention, we are engaging on an enlarged schedule cultural programs for this coming year. One of the resolutions called upon the Rabbinic Alumni to arrange various work-shops and seminars in the field of Practical Rabbinics. As a result, I am happy to inform you that arrangements have been made for us to visit the 999 Real Kosher Sausage Co., on 15 Rivington Street, New York City, on Monday, February 9, 19590 Incidentally the factory is owned by Rabbi David H. Hill, an alumnus of our Yeshiva.This visit will commence at 10 A.M, and we will have an opportunity to watch the preparation of meats in accordance with Halachic requirements-. We assure you that you will find this most enlightening, and an experience which will be worth your while in the field of Kashruth. Please be good enough to fill out the enclosed card indicating your intention to be present.Very sincerely yours,RABBI FABIAN SCHONFELD, Chairman CULTURAL PROGRAM

Dear Colleague: Now that our highly successful Mid-Winter Conference is over, our Executive Committee is ready to meet again and take up important matters pertaining to our annual program and calendar. Accordingly, our next executive committee meeting will take place on February 19, 1959, at 10 A. M. in Klein Hall, P.G. The agenda will include: 1. Chag Hasmicha 2. Report on Mid-Winter Conference 3. Report on Alumni Fund 4. Standing committees- report and activitations. Please be prompt so that we may conclude our business meeting with dispatch and start our cultural program by 11:30 A. M.The address will be given by Rabbi Norman Lamm, Associate Rabbi of The Jewish Center, New York, who will speak on ore of the dost important problems facing us these days- "The Orthodox Position on Family Pews: Interpreting it to the Laity”,Sincerely yours,RABBI ISRAEL MILLERPresident Rabbinic Alumni