As the wedding season will resume following the Three Weeks, the rabbanim of Bnei Brak have issued a public call urging residents to maintain strict standards of modesty and gender separation not only inside wedding halls, but beginning at the entrances and surrounding streets.

The proclamation was signed by the city’s rabbanim, Rav Chaim Yitzchak Isaac Landau, Rav Shevach Tzvi Rosenblatt, and Rav Masoud Ben Shimon, under the heading, “And They Established a Great Ordinance,” a reference to the Mishnah in Sukkah. The letter calls on the public and community leaders to strengthen adherence to standards of modesty around the city’s simchah halls.

The rabbanim praised the establishment of the Shmirah Kahalachah organization, which was created under their guidance to promote standards of modesty and holiness throughout the city.

“With the help of Heaven, we have merited the establishment, under the guidance of the rabbanim, of the organization Shmirah Kahalachah, which has undertaken to assist in strengthening matters of modesty and holiness in our city,” the letter states.

The rabbanim also commended the municipality, led by Deputy Mayor Rabbi Menachem Zeibert, for improvements made around the wedding hall district, including widening sidewalks and implementing measures to better facilitate proper separation.

According to the letter, new directional signs have now been installed, particularly near Heichlei Malchus Hall, clearly directing men and women to separate entrances beginning from the street itself.

The rabbanim urged the public, educators, and parents to ensure that the new guidelines are observed.

“We ask the entire public to carefully follow these instructions, to ensure that adults guide the younger generation, and that educators and community leaders impress upon their students and followers the importance of observing these standards with special care.”

The letter concludes with words of inspiration based on the teachings of the Vilna Gaon, explaining that preserving proper standards of modesty at simchos helps bring the Divine Presence into Jewish homes and hastens the rebuilding of the Bais Hamikdash.

Quoting the Vilna Gaon, the rabbanim wrote that the prayer “Vesamcheinu B’Tikkuno” refers to the “great ordinance” enacted during the Simchas Bais Hashoeivah, when separate areas were established for men and women. They added that by observing these standards at today’s celebrations—so that it can truly be said that “the Divine Presence dwells where there is joy“—families will merit homes filled with holiness and purity and ultimately the fulfillment of the prayer to rejoice in the rebuilding of the Bais Hamikdash, speedily in our days.