Women's Gallery Expansion and Seat Disputes

From: Rabbi Moshe Sofer

To: Rabbi Wolf

Description

Women holding corner seats in an expanded synagogue women's gallery demand to move past newly extended windows to sit against the new eastern wall, which would block light for other worshippers. The Chasam Sofer rules for the community, finding the women suffer no loss to their seats and that blocking the windows constitutes midas Sedom — selfishly obstructing the community's mitzvah of synagogue expansion.

Source: Shu"t Chasam Sofer OC §26

View original source

Explore the full interactive rabbinic map →