[Avodah] aesthetics

[Eli Turkel]

> Isn't it a little strange for a sefer halacha to impose
> a particular aesthetic as if the author's tastes were
> universal?
>>I *wish* it were strange. Unfortunately, it seems all too common. A classic example is eating meat on Shabbos.
>>I have seen recent "seforim" prescribe the sort of tablecloths and dinner utensils which should be used or avoided on Shabbos.
I wish these authors would preface their words with something like,
"In our communities, these things tend to be considered more
beautiful..." >>

A more fundamental question that has bothered me for a long time. The
gemara says there shouldn't be trees
outside of the walls of a city since that ruins the beauty.
Today most people would feel that trees beautify an area especially in
places like outside the old walls
of Yerushalayim. Are these type of laws dependent on the local concept
of beauty?

-- 
Eli Turkel