חגיגה כז:א
רַבִּי יוֹחָנָן וְרֵישׁ לָקִישׁ דְּאָמְרִי תַרְוַיְיהוּ: בִּזְמַן שֶׁבֵּית הַמִּקְדָּשׁ קַיָּים מִזְבֵּחַ מְכַפֵּר עַל אָדָם, עַכְשָׁיו - שֻׁלְחָנוֹ שֶל אָדָם מְכַפֵּר עָלָיו.
Rabbi Yohanan and Resh Lakish both explain: At the time when the Temple stood, the altar used to make atonement for a person; now a person's table makes atonement for that person.
[translation by Hazon]
Suggested Discussion Questions:
1. What role did the altar play? How did it make atonement for someone?
2. How are our tables similar to the altar? In what way do we make atonement through our tables?
Time Period: Rabbinic (Maccabees through the Talmud)