My office has a minyan for Mincha and Maariv for many years now, but there is no proper Mechitza in place

 

Question:

My office has a minyan for mincha and maariv for many years now; however, the space they use for the minyan is the office conference room, which is partitioned from the work area by glass walls. Thus, it is perfectly transparent and during davening, one has a perfect view of the work floor. Of course, many women work here, and they frequently walk by the room and they are in full view. Am I permitted to daven in this minyan? I have attached a photo to give you a better idea of the layout.

 

Answer:

A minyan that davens at a designated place on a daily basis must have a proper mechitzah set up – one that can not be seen through. This applies even if the men are familiar with the woman who are there and therefore might not get distracted.

If it doesn’t have a proper mechitzah it is forbidden to daven facing the woman and highly advisable not to daven there at all.

A simple solution (if it’s in your power to arrange) would be to put up window shades on the side of where people on the outside can be seen and put the shade down during davening times. It would be a benefit to the whole minyan.

 

Sources:

בית הכנסת קבוע, להעיר מכיו״ב בשוע”ר סי’ רסח סעי’ טו “דהיינו בכל מקום שמתפללין בו בעשרה בקביעות”.

בכללות עניין המחיצה וחומר הענין – ראה שו״ת אג”מ או”ח ח”א סי’ לט-מג.

וראה שם או”ח ח”ה סי’ יב שאם יש יותר מג’ נשים אפי’ באקראי אין להקל ובאופן תמידי אפי’ בפחות מזה אין להקל.

 

 

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