A generation back the Posek HaDor Reb Moshe Feinstein was asked about women taking on traditional male practices. His answer still applies. He said it depends on the woman's motivation. If a woman seeks genuine spirituality there are men's mitzvahs she can take on, BUT if she just wants to show that she can do whatever men do, that that is no mitzvah. Regarding Kabalas Shabbos, my late mother-in-law was in a Haredi nursing home, where every Friday evening a group from a local girls' school came and sang Kabalas Shabbos with the ladies while the men davvened in another room. Some of the ladies were helped to bake challahs Friday morning, while the men did Daf Hayomi if they wanted.

from belonging to such a place. There are lovely Friday night services in girls' colleges all over the world. They bench together too, and it's great. But a family, or member of a community, male and female, belongs together in a shul. Nekuda. There is absolutely nothing insulting or demeaning about a ladies gallery/section, except in the low opinion these women have of themselves, and no female minyan will help these feelings of inadequacy. Try a shrink instead. Bad enough that families hardly eat together or share a family phone any more. A family shul, as has been for years, is a beautiful experience. Except for publicity seekers who (boo hoo) need constant boosting of their own self perception. Stay together as a family, upstairs, downstairs, curtain, who cares? A confident female feels at ease there, married or not. Warbling away in another room is pathetic. A Siddur in your hand, at home or at Shul, is quite enough for a normal healthy minded female. Get over yourselves.

I'm a member of Kehillat Yedidya who for most of my life davened in a traditional Orthodox community with clearly defined separation of male and female - the prime function of female members was to bake cakes for social events and run Ladies Committees. I find the dignified participation of women in Yedidya's main services very refreshing, and we are blessed with many very well Jewishly educated women members in our community.

In most shuls today it's the men who quickly get the Kiddush ready, no fuss, tables arranged, placing the cakes from catering, and herring etc, on the tables with the wine and drinks. Voila, Kiddush ready for the community. There are shuls whose women offer gladly to get Kiddush ready, even though they don't have to. So stop the moaning self pity, and stereotyping, ladies. Join your wonderful community, don't create disharmony, just for a bit of tzumi, i.e attention. Have a good week and a fruit filled month.