Court upholds Tel Aviv ban on gender-segregated prayer service in public square

A Tel Aviv court upholds the city’s decision to bar a gender-segregated public prayer service in the city.

The Magistrate’s Court rules that it is illegal to erect a mechitzah – a physical barrier used during prayers to separate men from women in accordance with halacha, Orthodox Jewish law  — in Dizengoff Square, a public place.

The Yom Kippur event was being organized by Rosh Yehudi, a nonprofit that encourages Jews to embrace a religious lifestyle.

The city refused to allow public segregation, saying that those who wanted to pray in gender-segregated areas were welcome to pray in synagogues.

Rosh Yehudi had previously announced that the event would not be held unless the city withdrew its stipulation, because this would violate halachic principles. It sought a court injunction against the city’s decision.