n class="drop-cap">It may seem odd to outsiders that in the middle of the last century, seating arrangements in synagogues were the most prominent marker of the division between American Orthodox Judaism and the other American Jewish religious movements. Orthodoxy maintained separate seating for men and women and the requirement of a male quorum for the performance of the public elements in the prayer service. The preponderance of rabbinic authorities affirmed these traditional elements. But mixed seating and egalitarian practice were regarded by many to be the wave of the future. Orthodoxy seemed to have signed its death certificate. Quite a few rabbis with Orthodox ordination were convinced that conforming to the spirit of the times was the only way to safeguard their careers.Read Full Article »
