The Book of Zecharia (Chapter 12) records the prophecy of the eulogy that will be delivered by the Jewish nation for Mashiach ben Yosef who will be killed on the War of Gog and Magog. The prophet states: “The land shall eulogize, each family separately; the family of the house of David alone and their wives alone. The family of the house of Nathan alone and their wives alone; the family of the house of Levi alone and their wives alone; the family of the house of Shimi alone and their wives alone. All remaining families, each family alone and their wives alone.”
The Gemara (Sukkah 52a) states that this verse is meant to teach us about the obligation to separate between men and women even when eulogizing the deceased. If in the future when the Jewish nation will be involved in eulogizing and the Evil Inclination will not be in power the Torah requires separation between men and women, this is certainly true when the Evil Inclination is in power!
This is the basis for the obligation to separate between men and women in different environments. The Meiri (in his commentary on Kiddushin 81a) states that when the Gemara teaches that one should not teach one’s son a trade among women, this means that one should not seat boys and girls together to study the same trade so that they do not become too over-acquainted with one another lest they come to sin. This means that not only must there be a separation between men and women whose inclinations are developed, rather, even boys and girls must be kept separate so that they are accustomed to living a life of holiness with boys separate and girls separate so that they do not come to sin. Our Sages discuss this issue in many places but we unfortunately cannot enumerate all of them in the framework of this Halacha.
The Rambam (Chapter 6 of Hilchot Yom Tov) states: “Bet Din is obligated (during times when the Sages of the Torah were in control) to appoint officers during the holidays to roam and search in gardens, orchards, and riverbanks so that men and women do not congregate together to eat and drink, lest they come to sin. Similarly, they must warn the nation for men and women not to mingle in their houses while being joyous so that they do not come to sin. Rather, they should all be holy.” Maran Ha’Shulchan Aruch (Chapter 529) rules likewise. The Bet Shmuel (one of the primary commentaries on Shulchan Aruch Even Ha’Ezer, Chapter 62) writes in the name of the Sefer Chassidim that if men and women sit together at a meal in honor of a bride and groom (i.e. in a forbidden manner, such as if they dance together and the like), the “Nevarech Eloheinu She’Hasimcha Bim’Ono” passage usually inserted into the Zimun of a meal honoring a bride and groom should be omitted, for there is no joy present there since such settings cause thoughts of sin.
Based on the above, there is an absolute obligation in every school being run in accordance with our holy Torah to make sure that boys and girls are separated. This is especially true in our generation where permissiveness has crossed all boundaries and this is more necessary than ever before. One should not be swayed into thinking that segregated education causes a lack of development and an inferior education as some unintelligent individuals claim, for the Sages of the Talmud were much more in tune with the human soul and psyche than anyone else. Indeed, experience has shown that non-coeducational schools are more conducive in an academic sense as well as in the sense of mental development and certainly spiritual development.
Thus, it is a holy obligation for any school that claims to operate according to the Torah’s laws to make sure that boys and girls are fully separated. This is especially true in our generation when permissiveness has surpassed all boundaries.
Approximately fifty years ago, at an emergency gathering of the rabbis of Israel, a written proclamation in the names of Maran Rabbeinu Ovadia Yosef zt”l and the saintly Baba Sali (Hagaon Harav Yisrael Abuchatzera zt”l) was issued which delineated the prohibition to establish coeducational schools of any kind and one may not cooperate with anyone who does so, for this constitutes a breach in the walls of modesty and such an individual “must be separated from amidst the Jewish nation.” On the other hand, those who intercede on behalf of the sanctity and purity of the Jewish nation shall surely be blessed.
Since we have mentioned the great Gaon, Harav Yisrael Abuchatzera, this is a good opportunity to describe his love and admiration for Maran Rabbeinu Ovadia Yosef zt”l. When Maran zt”l would arrive at the home of the Baba Sali, the great sage would rise completely before Maran. When Maran zt”l entered the room, the Baba Sali would recite the blessing “Baruch Ata Hashem Elokeinu Melech Ha’Olam She’Halak Me’Chochmato Larea.” Maran would quip that he fulfilled the verse “And Yisrael (the Baba Sali) loved Yosef (Maran zt”l).” The Baba Sali exclaimed to his close confidant (Rabbi Abergel Shlit”a) that Maran’s soul was really from the period of the Geonim but the generation was not worthy for his soul to descend to this world at that time. The Baba Sali loved Maran zt”l so much that he was always upset that he did not know ahead of time about Maran’s visits so he could prepare accordingly.
Nevertheless, Maran zt”l writes that when there are not enough students to fill the class and it is not possible to make a special class for both boys and girls because the Ministry of Education will not recognize such small classes and as a result there is a chance that these children will go to other schools where they will be taught nothing about Torah, religion, and belief in Hashem, in such a situation, there is room to choose the “lesser of two evils” and allow boys and girls to study together in religious schools rather than them studying in completely secular schools. This applies only to the very young age groups from Kindergarten until Third Grade only. He continues to support his view from the Gemara.
May Hashem allow us much satisfaction from the sanctity of the Jewish nation and may the merit of the Torah protect us all, Amen.
