[Avodah] One size fits all?

[Arie Folger]

RIBalbin wrote:
> At a wedding, IF it is decided that there will be a Mechitza then I  
> would expect that there ought to be two dinim/hanhogos
> therein. For the "dance floor" one would expect a Mechitza that was  
> dense enough and high enough to prevent
> Histaklus, as per one loshen of the Rambam, with the aim being to  
> prevent men being able to see women
> dancing. What about the other component, where people are sitting. Is  
> there an Inyan of Histaklus here as well
> because presumably the main reason is a) Shesimcha BIMONO b) prevent  
> Hisarvus
> Yes, I am aware of Deyos that say say you don't need one etc, and I am  
> not at all saying that you do.
> Rather, I am asking, according to those who say that you do need one  
> for this component, is the Mehus of the
> Mechitzah requirement different for those two sections of a hall  
> (assume all are seated in one hall)

I just attended a wedding where this is precisely what was done: a curtain at 
the dance floor, and plants elsewhere.

> I have noticed that when it comes to "finger food" or "smorgasbord"  
> prior to the Seuda proper, people who do have
> a Mechitza seemingly rely on no Mechitza and/or men/women being on  
> either side of a room. Is that a din of Hisarvus (mixing) that they  
> are "meikel" on (because inside the room they do have a Mechitza)

A kashe oif a maase. There is IMHO no sense to this. It would be far more 
sensible IMO to have a mixed seating but a me'hitza for the Smorgasbord and 
the dance floor, than the opposite. I fear that the reason for the strange 
"minhag" of separate seating but mixed smorgasbord comes from the fact that 
many people want a mixed affair but want to be identified as people having 
separate seating affairs.

Kol tuv,
-- 
Arie Folger
http://ariefolger.wordpress.com
http://www.ariefolger.googlepages.com