Lechem Mishneh
THE LAWS
OF SHABBAT
By Rav Doniel Schreiber
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YHE Shabbat is dedicated in
loving memory of
Aaron Moshe ben Yosef Zev Schreiber z"l, by members of the family
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In memory
of our grandparents, whose yahrzeits fall this week:
Shmuel
Nachamu ben Shlomo Moshe HaKohen Fredman (10 Tevet)
Chaya bat
Yitzchak David Fredman (15 Tevet)
Shimon
ben Moshe Rosenthal (16 Tevet)
By their
grandchildren and great-grandchildren,
Aaron and
Tzipora Ross and family
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Shiur #11: Lechem
Mishneh
1. Source
Each of the three Shabbat meals are required to commence with lechem
mishneh, two loaves of bread (OC 274:1 and Rema OC 291:4). Rema OC 291:4 leaves some room to be
lenient as to the necessity of lechem mishneh at the third Shabbat meal (se'uda
shlishit). The laws of se'uda
shlishit will be discussed in the next shiur.
The function of the mitzva of
lechem mishneh is to commemorate the double portion of manna which descended on
Friday morning when the Jews were in the desert (see Shemot 16:11-27, Shabbat
117b, and MB 274:1). Poskim dispute
whether the practice of lechem mishneh is a Torah obligation (Taz OC 678:2,
Chatam Sofer OC no. 46, and Arukh Ha-shulchan 274:1) or a rabbinic obligation
(Magen Avraham OC 254:23). Women are
also obligated in this mitzva (Arukh Ha-shulchan 274:4, MB 274:1, and Bi'ur
Halakha 291, s.v. Nashim). For
further research regarding women's obligation in lechem mishneh see Ran
Kiddushin, 44a in the pages of the Rif s.v Ve-katav, Rabbeinu Tam Sefer
Ha-yashar responsum 70 par. 4, Avudraham cited in Peri Megadim in Mishbetzot
Zahav in OC 274:1, Maharam Mi-rotenberg Mossad Ha-rav Kook responsa 255, R.
Shlomo Kluger in Responsa Ha-elef lekha Shlomo OC no. 114, R. Ovadia Yosef in
Yabia Omer vol. 6, OC no. 28, par. 4.
2. What kind of loaves must one use to
fulfill lechem mishneh?
A. Pat Yisrael
Ideally, one should use pat yisrael (bread which a Jew helped bake) for
lechem mishneh (MB 242:6). When this
cannot be done one may use any kosher bread for this mitzva (MB ibid.).
B. Whole Challot
The two loaves of bread or challa should be complete and whole (OC
274:1). However, even if there is a
deep cut or fissure in the challa, it is considered whole on the condition that
when one raises the loaf from its weaker end the loaf does not break into two
(Magen Avraham OC 167:5). The challa
is considered whole even if part of the challa is burnt (MB 274:2). If a small part of the loaf, up to
less than 1/48 of the entire challa, broke off according to some poskim it may
still be considered "whole." Others
strongly assert that even such minimal damage removes its status of being
"whole" as they are no longer derekh kavod, "honorable" (Arukh Ha-shulchan
274:5)
In the event that the loaves are broken in two, one should join them
together so they appear as a whole loaf while reciting the blessing. One should attach them, for example,
by means of a toothpick which will hold the two halves together (OC 168:2; see
also Arukh Ha-shulchan 274:5 and MB 168:6,8 and 9). If one does not have two whole
challot then one may fulfill the mitzva with one whole challa and a broken one. If there is no whole loaf available
then one may fulfill the mitzva with even two broken pieces of challa (Arukh
Ha-shulchan 274:5). In the event one
does not have any bread one may use two whole portions of pat ha-ba be-kisnin
(mezonot-like bread from the five species of grain - wheat, barley, oats, spelt,
or rye), such as cake, cookies, danishes, or pretzels (SSK vo. 55:16, and R.
Moshe Feinstein zt"l, cited in The Radiance of Shabbat p. 78 note 13; see also
OC 168:7 and MB and Bi'ur Halakha ibid.).
C. Size of the Lechem Mishneh
One should not use a challa smaller than a kezayit (an olive) for this
mitzva unless there is no other alternative (SSK vol. 2, 55:5, and R. Chaim
Pinchas Scheinberg shlita, cited in The Radiance of Shabbat, p. 79, note 15).
D. Frozen Challa
One may use frozen baked challa for the mitzva of lechem mishneh (SSK
vol. 2, 55:12 and R. Moshe Feinstein zt"l, cited ibid. note 16). However, R. Shlomo Zalman Auerbach
zt"l (SSK ibid. note 39) was unsure if frozen challa, hardened to the point that
people would not eat it, was fit for lechem mishneh.
E. Bagged Challa
One should be able to hold the challot directly when one recites the
berakha. Therefore, one ought not
wear gloves during the birkat ha-motzi.
Additionally, it is proper to recite the birkat ha-motzi on challot which
are not wrapped up or inserted in bags (MB 167:23, SSK vol. 2 55:11 note 38, and
R. Chaim Pinchas Scheinberg shlita, cited in The Radiance of Shabbat p. 79, note
18). See also paragraph 3 B below.
3. The Procedure
A. Small Incision in Challa
Prior to reciting the blessing, many poskim write that it is best to make
a small incision in the challa that will be cut (Magen Avraham 274:1, MB 274:5,
and Arukh Ha-shulchan 274:6). This
is based upon the Maharshal (Bach OC 167, s.v. Ve-katav ha-Rosh) who argues that
this will minimize the hefsek (interruption) between the blessing and cutting
the challa. Other poskim assert that
this practice should be avoided as it may lead to an even greater hefsek (R.
Yechezkel Landau z"tl, in his work the Tzlach, Berakhot 39b).
It should be noted that all agree that the practice of making an incision
is not me'akev (does not invalidate the berakha or mitzva) (Bach and MB, ibid.). Moreover, this practice is not
mentioned in the Shulchan Arukh or the Rema, and in fact seems to be discouraged
by the Rema (167:1). Some have the
custom to merely run a knife over the challa as if to demonstrate that there is
no interruption between the blessing and the cutting. However, some poskim question this
custom as it appears superfluous because it does not create an incision in the
challa. See also SSK vol. 2, 55:18,
end of note 60.
B. Procedure While Reciting the Blessing
The one who recites the blessing should grasp both challot in his hands,
recite the birkat ha-motzi, and then cut the appropriate challa (OC 167:4). The Rema(167:14), Arukh Ha-shulchan
(OC 167:29) and Mishna Berura (MB 274:2) rule that the mevarekh (the person
reciting the blessing) should first say "bi-reshut" (with your permission) prior
to reciting the birkat ha-motzi, while the Vilna Gaon reportedly (Ma'aseh Rav
no. 78) considered this insertion a hefsek (an interruption).
C. The Role of Salt
If one's challot are tasteless and bland one must add salt prior to
eating from them in order not to denigrate the bread. Today this may be unnecessary since
our challot have had salt added to them already (OC 167:5 and MB ibid.). Yet, the Rema (OC 167:5) writes that
one should have salt on the table at the time of birkat ha-motzi in consonance
with the salt that had to accompany each sacrifice (korban). Since our dining tables are compared
to the altar, and our eating is identified with the actual bringing of the
sacrifices, one must place salt on the table, i.e., the altar, to accompany the
sacrifice (see MB ibid.).
Nonetheless, many have the custom to salt the challa either to add more taste or
to have the salt more closely identified with the "sacrifice," i.e., the challa. Kabbalists have the custom to dip the
challa into the salt. See Arukh
Ha-shulchan OC 167:10-12).
D. Which of the two challot does one cut?
The Rema (OC 174:1) writes that, based on Kabbala, one ought cut the
bottom challa Friday night, whereas on Shabbat day one should cut the top
challa. On Yom Tov, one always cuts
the top challa. The Taz suggests
that on Friday night one should hold the bottom challa closer to oneself than
the top challa. This is in order to
avoid violating the prohibition of "ein ma'avirin al ha-mitzvot," circumventing
an item which may be used for a mitzva in favor of another item. If one cuts the bottom challa which
is closer, one does not appear to skirt the top challa (MB 274:5 and Arukh
Ha-shulchan 274:6). Some poskim rule
that this practice is unnecessary because "ein ma'avirin al ha-mitzvot" only
presents a problem when one intends to use both items for the performance of a
mitzva, not when one desires to use only one of them (Arukh Ha-shulchan ibid.).
E. Cutting More Challa
Some poskim rule that one should cut one challa Friday night and two
challot for the Shabbat day meals; while others rule that one should cut both
challot at each meal. The latter
view, based on the Vilna Gaon, was the custom in some towns in Europe. Nonetheless, most have the custom to
cut only one challa (see Arukh Ha-shulchan OC 274:2,3 and MB 274:4). R. Hershel Schachter shlita (Rosh
Yeshiva at Yeshiva University) once commented that cutting two challot at each
of the three meals, yielding twelve "loaves," fulfills the kabbalistic view that
one should have twelve challot on Shabbat similar to the lechem ha-panim which
had twelve challot. Some have the
custom to merely graze the knife over the challa at the time of the berakha. Perhaps this is in order to fulfill,
or at least simulate, the kabbalistic view.
See, however, SSK vol. 2, 55:18, note 60, who questions the value of
merely running a knife over the challa.
F. How do those who listen to the birkat
ha-motzi fulfill their obligation in lechem mishneh?
They fulfill their obligation in lechem mishneh as long as the mevarekh
intended to motzi them and they intended to be yotzei with his berakha (Rema OC
167:2). In addition, they must also
eat from the lechem mishneh (MB 167:83; compare with MB 167:35). However, courtesy requires that they
should not eat it until the one who has recited the berakha has partaken of the
lechem mishneh first (OC 167:15, and MB 167:76).
G. How much must one eat to fulfill
"lechem mishneh?"
One does not have to eat a kezayit of lechem mishneh to fulfill the
mitzva; merely a taste suffices.
This means that one must SWALLOW some challa before one may begin to talk (MB
167:35). Nonetheless, one should
preferably (lekhatchila) eat a kezayit of the bread within kedei akhilat pras
(within 2 - 9 minutes) without any interruptions of talking in the middle. This is because it may be that
ha-motzi obligates one to eat a kezayit of bread.
(See Magen Avraham, OC 167:7, Dagul Merevava ibid., MB 167:15 and 35,
Sha'ar Ha-tziyun note 14, and SSK vol. 2, 55:5, 19, and 24).
H. One Birkat Ha-motzi
One who hears birkat ha-motzi should not recite another birkat ha-motzi
on the individual piece of challa one receives.
If one does recite another berakha, the obligation has, nonetheless, been
fulfilled (Eshel Avraham 274 and SSK vol. 2, 55:20).
J. One who has not yet "washed hands"
One who has not yet washed one's hands may still respond "amen" to the
birkat ha-motzi, then wash, recite birkat al netilat yadayim, and then partake
of the lechem mishneh (OC 167:7; see SSK vol. 2, 55:19).
K. Covering the Challa
See
shiur #7 "Kiddush: part I" paragraph 5 where we discussed the details of
this law.
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