WHAT IS THE UTJS POSITION ON WOMENS PRAYER GROUPS?
In a written responsum, the Panel of Halakhic Inquiry has enthusiastically endorsed women’s prayer groups. While noting certain halakhic limitations to such groups, the Panel concluded that “it would be counterproductive to forbid women’s prayer groups… where committed Jewish women come to serve God with love and reverence.” Since there are no explicit precedents for prohibiting women’s prayer groups, the UTJ views them as permissible (indeed, positive) developments – notwithstanding bans promulgated by various “authorities.” The fact that such groups may not have existed heretofore is no halakhic impediment. In a different context, R. Joseph Karo (Beit Yosef to Tur Yoreh De’ah chapter 1) notes an important principle: “Lo ra’inu eino re’ayah” – the fact that we have not seen such things in the past is no proof [that they should be forbidden now].
