מגן אבות לרשב"ץ על אבות פרק ג:ד
"וַיְדַבֵּר אֵלַי: זֶה הַשֻּׁלְחָן, אֲשֶׁר לִפְנֵי יְהוָה" [יחזקאל מא:כב].
וְזֶה הַפָּסוּק בִּיְחֶזְקֵאל, עַל הַמִּזְבֵּחַ, וּלְפִי שֶׁנִּקְרָא הַמִזְבֵּחַ שׁוּלְחָן, נִרְאֶה שְׁיֵשׁ שׁוּלְחָן דוֹמֶה לַמִּזְבֵּחַ, וְאֵי זֶה הוּא? זֶה שֻׁלְחָן שֶׁאָמְרוּ עָלָיו דִבְרֵי תּוֹרָה.
"And he spoke to me, this is the table that stands before God." (Ezekiel 41:22)
This is the verse in Ezekiel refers to the Temple- and the Temple is here called a 'table.' It appears that there is a table that is similar to the Temple. What table is this? This refers to a table upon which many people share words of Torah.
[translation by Hazon]
Suggested Discussion Questions:
1. What connection is made between Torah and table here?
2. How is conversation over food different from conversation not over food?
Time Period: Medieval (Geonim through the 16th Century)