[Avodah] standing for a chasan

[SBA]

From: "Eli Turkel" <>
REMT wrote<< (I also contend that the new "halacha" of standing for the
chasan at a wedding -- which is about thirty years old --had its
origin when some adam gadol stood up for a better look, and his
motive was misinterpreted. I don't stand, just to have the pleasure
of responding, when asked why, that chodosh asur min haTorah.  >>

Actually the Kuntres Achron in Taamei Haminhagim (p. 409)
uses that expression (chodosh asur min haTorah) when
viciously attacking the smorgasboard - which he calls 'salvirter tish'.
(Seems it was introduced in Poland in his days - 'chadoshos mikorov ba'u').

I am surprised that in addition to 'Chadash assur' he doesn't mention it
being some sort of minhag akum as well.
(OTOH, that may indeed be what the 'chadash assur' is all about.)

On the topic of 'smorgasboards" (which BH hasn't reached Oz - even,
AFAIK, by the non-frum crowd), I really can't understand how American
frum Jews, who are makpid on separation of the sexes during the chasene,
have no qualms at all about the total mayhem and pushing and shoving of
 men and women to get to that smorgasboard.

I also can make no sense of the fact that the food at the smorgasboard is
far better and definitely more plentiful than what is served at the chasene.

[Maybe the knowledge about a meagre chasene meal is takeh the reason
for 'chotfim vedorsim ve'ochlim kechayos hasodeh, vechol hakodem zachah,
 ad shebizman ma hashulchan ponui mikol. ve'ochlim me'umad - heipach
mima she'omru Chazal...  Veharbeh mehem...belo brocho,
ki harega yakar etzlam, ki betoch kach yachol lachtof vele'echol.
Vegam mibracha achrona yimona atzmoy - ki im lo beirach batechila, heich
yevarech achrov?..."  - lashon haTaamei Haminhagim shom]

>>RYBS was very insistent on standing because a chassan (and kallah) are
similar to a king (queen?). I believe his psak was more than 30 years ago.
R. Zilberstein says to stand based on kabbalistic grounds.
>>

The Be'er Heitev in 62 writes beshem Knesses Hagedola that people
SHOULD stand during the brachos at the chupa, (thus removing any
'chadash' concerns...)

SBA