The giving of honors at a formal meal is discussed. According to Rabbi Johanan who said in the name of Rabbi Simeon ben Yohai: "The host breaks bread (says the blessing before) and the guest says grace (after the meal). The host breaks bread so that he should do so generously ('with a pleasant eye'), and the guest says grace so that he should bless the host."
Rabbi Shesheth gets into an argument with the Exilarch (the lay "Head of the Diaspora" or secular leader of the Jewish community) who believes that Persian etiquette is superior to the rabbinic. An intricate discussion of the placement of couches and the order of seating and hand washing ensues.
Fascinating look at how Jewish customs encounters changing cultural norms when living as a minority. The same thing happens today, and the way we respond to these changing realities determines our place on the Liberal-Traditional spectrum. And that's just etiquette!
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