RE: separate services

[David & Susan Esterman <estermans...>]

Like many things, I think it depends on the shul you go to. Our progressive
services where we sit mixed are very heimish, regardless. We don't have a
"families sit together" rule, except on VERY solemn days, and even then it's
a recommendation.
So our teenagers often sit together, friends sit together, partners
sometimes sit separately, and it doesn't seem to matter one bit.
It's still a really good feeling.
However people who are not used to that obviously might not find the same
level of comfort, and really that's what matters - it's how YOU feel that is
the issue, There's no way that I can see to find a one-size-fits-all shul -
and frankly, then we'd remove one discussion thread from the list!
Sue

-----Original Message-----
From: owner-jewish-music (at) shamash(dot)org
[mailto:owner-jewish-music (at) shamash(dot)org]On Behalf Of glenn tamir
Sent: Saturday, 12 May 2001 15:36
To: World music from a Jewish slant
Subject: Re: separate services

If there was ever an example of how separate IS NOT
equal it's a shul with a Mehitza.  Perhaps there are
some where the torah is read in the middle and not on
the "men's" side, or where the women are "allowed" to
dance around the Torah like the men do.  When I attend
a shul with an uneven separation, I get very
uncomfortable.  It's almost like the women are sitting
at the back of the bus.

Oh, and by the way, why shouldn't a woman/girl be able
to wrestle?

Just my opinion...

--- "Yakov (Koby)" <kchodosh (at) suffolk(dot)lib(dot)ny(dot)us> wrote:
>
> To use an unfortuate expression, I think services
> should be separate but equal. Like gym class.
> Everyone goes to phys ed. Everyone plays tennis,
> everyone plays soccer, everyone plays badminton, but
> just separately. When gym class is combined, for
> various reasons the overall level of the activity is
> somewhat lowered. I know I have enjoyed going to
> services and not having to sit with my mother or
> sister. On the men's side at least, there's a very
> heymish atmosphere, very friendly, that you just
> don't get in mixed services. What I DON'T agree with
> in ortholand is the women just standing there. I
> think they could be praying somewhere else or
> something.
>
> (btw: analogy notwithstanding certain cases... like
> in my school, the guys do wrestling, and the girls
> do step aerobics :P )
>
> YAKOV.
> http://www.geocities.com/pdestructo
> http://klezkadets.cjb.net
> "You have one amazing appendage, Professor
> Hamilton."
> - John Henry Irons, Superman: The Man of Steel #109
>
> ---------------------- jewish-music (at) shamash(dot)org
> ---------------------+
>