noun
- Plural of mechitza; a partition or screen used in a synagogue to separate men and women during prayer services.
Usage: From Hebrew מְחִיצָה (mechitza); Used in Orthodox and some Conservative Jewish religious contexts; Also spelled 'mehitzas' or 'mechitzot'
Examples
- The synagogue installed new mechitzas to maintain traditional gender separation during services.
- Different congregations have varying styles of mechitzas, from simple curtains to ornate wooden screens.
- The mechitzas in the historic synagogue date back over a century.
- Some modern synagogues have removed mechitzas to allow mixed seating.
- The rabbi explained the purpose of the mechitzas to the visiting students.