[Mesorah] New Shtick

[SBA]

Our main (Nusach Ashkenaz) Shul has a bench on the bimah as described by
RSM. And even the old Shul - which was a renovated house had such a bench in
place.
I presume this is how it was in der heim (at least in Oberland)

-----Original Message-----
From: mesorah-bounces at lists.aishdas.org
[mailto:mesorah-bounces at lists.aishdas.org] On Behalf Of Mandel, Seth
Sent: Monday, February 27, 2012 6:28 AM
To: Danny Levy; Mesorah List
Subject: Re: [Mesorah] New Shtick

There never was any question that originally the maftir stood in the middle
of the bima.
However, I pointed out that the bimas were constructed differently.  There
was a bench all the way along the back, and a place for the S'R at the side
of the bench (it was not held).  No one stood with his back to it.
There were also benches for seating on all sides of the bima.  However, the
seating was on "ground level," and all bimas  were a few steps up.  No one
seated on the floor on any of the sides of the bima had their back to the
S'T, even though they were all facing away from the S'T.

Rabbi Seth Mandel