Mechitza as a Metaphor: Separation or Unity?

Abstract

The paper explores the topic of the Jewish religious spatial practice of a mechitza - the physical separation of women and men in synagogues. At first glance, the mechitza appears to be an indisputable given as a normal part of Orthodox Judaism. At second glance, however, it poses a problem: through the mechitza, women tend to be marginalised not only within the space itself but also on a symbolic level as subjects of religious practice. Using a feminist post-structuralist discourse analysis, the paper investigates how the practice of mechitza is negotiated and what meanings and symbolism it takes on for its religiously gendered subjects. The analysis is conducted on selected articles regarding mechitza as a theme, published by the Jewish Orthodox Feminist Alliance's Jofa Journal. The identified discourses are as follows: mechitza as a limitation and barrier, mechitza as a possibility and opportunity, and mechitza as a symbol and metaphor. The identified discourses are then transferred in the conclusion of the paper to the discussion about the implicit heteronormativity and binarity of being male and female and the possibility of a subversive appropriation of a mechitza practice.

Keywords

• mechitza
• gender
• judaism
• feminism
• discourse analysis
• poststructuralism
• jofa
• orthodox jewish feminism