[Avodah] Are Upsherin and Bonfires Taken from the Gentiles?

[Micha Berger]

On Mon, May 18, 2009 at 12:27:34PM -0400, David Riceman wrote:
: How about reclining at the seder?

Actually, I think I found a more on-the-point example. The seder
itself!

Plato, Symposium, 175e:
    So Socrates drew up and had his dinner with the rest of them, and
    then, after the libation and the usual hymn and so forth, they began
    to turn their attention to wine.

Ibid, 176e:
    Very well, then, said Eryximachus, since it is agreed that we need
    none of us drink more than we think is good for us, I also propose
    that we dispense with the services of the flute girl who has just
    come in, and let her go and play to herself or to the women inside
    there, whichever she prefers, while we spend our evening in the
    discussion of a subject which, if you think fit, I am prepared to
    name.

A symposium was a religious multi-course meal (with much wine) over
which people discussed philosophy, science and/or literature. Yes,
while reclining. The notion that chazal kashered the symposium and made
it the format for the seder is compelling.

Tir'u baTov!
-Micha

-- 
Micha Berger             Today is the 39th day, which is
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