Justin Bieber Removed From Synagogue Men’s Section

“Kudos to the gabbai for noticing quickly and doing something about it.”

Toronto, January 11 – Pop idol Justin Bieber entered the men’s section of an Orthodox synagogue this weekend and was promptly asked to move to the women’s balcony, PreOccupied Territory has learned. The singer, 22, was in attendance for the Bar Mitzva of a record executive’s grandson.

According to witnesses, Bieber arrived at Congregation Bnei Torah at approximately ten o’clock Saturday morning, toward the end of services, in anticipation of the post-services buffet, called a Kiddush, to celebrate the occasion. Upon entering the sanctuary, reported the witnesses, a functionary of the synagogue called a gabbai approached the singer-songwriter-producer and instructed Bieber to enter via the balcony staircase that leads to the women’s section. Rather than risk causing a scene or commotion, Bieber chose to remain outside the sanctuary until services were over.

In Orthodox synagogues, males and females of age sit separately, for reasons of modesty. Bieber’s arrival in the men’s section occurred as the leader of the services was beginning the repetition of the Amidah, and therefore invited little attention beyond worshipers in the immediate vicinity. Only later, in private conversations, did word of the incident move beyond the direct witnesses, who at the time did not know the identity of the star-studded visitor.

“Bieber? Oh, I guess that makes sense,” remarked an attendee who asked not to be identified, also for reasons of modesty, but possibly because he did not wish word to get around that he knew who Justin Bieber is. “Of course, wearing men’s clothing, almost anyone can just walk in and hardly anyone will bat an eye. Kudos to the gabbai, I guess, for noticing quickly and doing something about it.”

“That could have gotten awkward in a flash,” agreed another worshiper, who only heard about the event later. “I don’t fault Bieber for not knowing the rules of an Orthodox shul, and kudos for handling it with grace.” She noted that no celebrity gossip outlets had picked up the story, indicating that the star, or the star’s agents, believed nothing significant had occurred, nor that any serious mistake need be rectified.

The incident does not represent the first time gender confusion has complicated a celebrity visit to a Jewish place  of worship. In 2014, when Pope Benedict XVI and his entourage of cardinals visited Israel, a diplomatic mini-crisis developed after religious officials at the Western Wall tried to direct a group of robe-wearing Vatican priests to the women’s side of the plaza.

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