|
|
| בס"ד This page contains one week's worth of the Halachos that were sent out from Sunday through Erev Shabbos. Please print and review with your family at the Shabbos table. Also, please print out a copy or two to take along with you to Shul, so others who do not yet receive the daily e-mails can also have a chance to learn them. Be מזכה את הרבים TO SUBSCRIBE AND JOIN OVER 4,300 FELLOW JEWS FROM AROUND THE WORLD WHO B"H HAVE ALREADY SIGNED UP FOR THE DAILY EMAIL, SEND REQUEST TO HALACHAFORTODAY@GMAIL.COM Week In Review: Parashas Beshalach; Shabbos Shira (כל הלומד תורה ואינו חוזר עליה דומה לאדם שזורע ואינו קוצר (סנהדרין צט One who studies Torah and doesn't review it is compared to one who plants but does not harvest (Talmud Sanhedrin 99) Important Note: When Reading in Shul, Please Refrain From Reading During Davening and Krias HaTorah.  CURRENT TOPIC: HALACHOS OF MELAVE MALKA (AND SHABBOS SHIRA) Halachos for Sunday, January 29, 2012
We will now begin discussing the relatively short, but important, Halachos of Seudas Melave Malka, the farewell meal eaten on Motzaei Shabbos, in honor of the departure of the Shabbos queen. Many people do not realize the significance of this meal and hopefully after studying these Halachos we will all have a better appreciation for it.
1) The Siman in which Shulchan Aruch discusses the meal which has come to be referred to as "Melave Malka, Escorting the Queen" (Orach Chaim Siman 300) contains in it a total of fifteen words. A lot of commentary has been written to elaborate on the details not described within these fifteen words, based on the Talmud, Rishonim and Acharonim, which we will now endeavor to begin learning.
The fifteen words are: "L'Olam Yesader Adam Shulchano B'Motzaei Shabbos K'dai Lelavos Es Hashabbos, Afilu Aino Tzarich Elah L'Kzayis". Translation: "A person should always set his table on Motzaei Shabbos in order to escort the Shabbos, even if he will only be eating a Kzayis"
2) A tablecloth should be spread on the table as with other respectable meals, as well as setting the table nicely as is done by other meals. (Mishna Berura Siman300:1)
However, it isn't necessary to cook many dishes, rather only what will be eaten should be prepared and nothing more beyond that. (ibid.)
L'Chatchila, at this meal one should eat bread, and if possible also eat some meat and other dishes.
However if one does not have meat, or if one is so full from Seudah Shlishis (common in the summer months when Seudah Shlishis is eaten much later in the evening) and thus eating bread and meat would be Achilah Gasa, (gorging, which is halachically prohibited) the Melave Malka can be fulfilled with eating pastries or fruit. (Mishna Berura ibid. The Gaon of Vilna (in Biur HaGra Siman 300:1), however, maintains that bread must be eaten at this Seudah in order to fulfill the obligation.)
Halachos for Monday, January 30, 2012
1) Although the Shulchan Aruch writes to eat a minimum of a K'zayis (Food amount equivalent to the size of a half or a third of an egg) at the Melave Malka, it's best to actually eat a little more than a K'Beitaza (Approximately double the size of a K'zayis) in order to establish it as a meal, a Kvias Seuda. (See Machtzis HaShekel Siman 291:1) Furthermore, some Poskim write that in order to establish it as a meal, the table should be set with Lechem Mishneh (two complete loaves of bread), although only one of them should be lifted and used, as there is no actual obligation of Lechem Mishneh at Melave Malka. (See Kaf HaChaim Siman 300:5) 2) Many scrupulous people make sure to eat hot bread at the Melave Malka meal, as the Talmud (Shabbos 119b) says that eating or drinking something hot, especially hot bread, at Melave Malka is a Refuah (cure) for the body. Additionally, many Seforim write that it's a Refuah for the Neshama as well. (See the MaHarsha to Shabbos 119b where he explains that by eating something that was warmed up after Shabbos we honor the Shabbos by showing that we were unable to cook on Shabbos.) If one cannot eat hot bread, drinking something hot can suffice. (Ruling of Rav Yaakov Emden Zatzal in his siddur. See also Rashi Shabbos 119 b Dibur Hamaschil Chamin) Halachos for Tuesday, January 31, 2012 1) Some Poskim rule that no special dishes need to be prepared beyond what is already there and will be eaten for the Melave Malka. (Mishna Berura Siman 300:1) Other Poskim, however, maintain that it is indeed proper to prepare a new dish in honor of Melave Malka, and not simply to eat leftovers from the Shabbos meals. (Sha'arei Teshuva Siman 300:1 quoting the MaHarsha to Shabbos 119b. See also Kaf HaChaim Siman 300:8) 2) Some say that if meat cannot be eaten, at least fish should be eaten at the Seudas Melave Malka, as fish is also a respectable dish. (See Aruch HaShulchan Siman 300:3) Some people, especially in Chasidic circles, are particular to eat garlic at the Melave Malka meal. (See Ba'al Shem Tov Parashas Yisro page 358) If one does not enjoy, or is not interested in eating a fleishig meal, many Poskim rule that it is totally acceptable to eat a dairy meal, as this can be just as respectable as a meat meal. Indeed this is the prevalent Minhag of many scrupulous Jews. Halachos for Wednesday, February 1 , 2012 1) The Seforim teach us that there is a limb (in actuality, a bone) in every person's body referred to as either "Nisko" or "Luz". This bone does not decompose even after a person's passing; rather it stays whole until Techiyas Hameisim. (See Kaf HaChaim Siman 300:1 and 2. This bone, according to kabalistic sources, is located at the base of the skull, where the knot of the Tefilin Shel Rosh rests.) At the time of Techiyas Hameisim (May it be soon) Hashem will reconstruct the body using that bone as the base. As this bone is more spiritual in nature, it does not get sustenance from any food other than the food eaten at Melave Malka. (See Mishna Berura Siman 300:2 quoting the Taz . See also Sha'ar HaTziyun Siman 300 Os 7 where he explains that this bone did not have pleasure from the Eitz Hada'as, as Adam Harishon ate from there on Erev Shabbos, and thus when death descended on the world, that bone was spared the curse and thus remained eternal. See also Kaf HaChaim ibid.) 2) Many people make sure to drink at Melava Malka, as bones (especially the Luz bone) derive pleasure and sustenance from drinks. (See Rashi Shabbos 119b Dibur Hamaschil Chamin.) Some Seforim, however, maintain that if one drank from the wine of Havdallah that suffices and no further drinks are required at Melave Malka. (Aishel Avrohom of But'shatsh) Halachos for Thursday, February 2 , 2012
1) It is proper to eat the Seudas Melave Malka as soon after Shabbos as possible, as the normal way to "escort" a departing guest (i.e. the Shabbos queen) is as they depart and not a long time after they have already departed. (Mishna Berura Siman 300:2) If one is not hungry immediately after Shabbos, and will be delaying Melave Malka, it is proper to avoid doing real work chores until after Melave Malka, as doing so will take one's mind off the Shabbos queen. (Ibid.) Even if it is pushed off for a long time, it is important to at least eat Melave Malka before Chatzos, Halachic midnight. (ibid. See also Sha'arei Teshuva Os 1 quoting the Arizal that the Kedusha, holiness, of Shabbos remains until Chatzos on Motzaei Shabbos.) 2) It is customary to light candles in honor of the departure of the Shabbos queen, as well as to sing special Zemiros, praises to Hashem, on Motzaei Shabbos after Havdallah and/or at the Melave Malka meal. These songs are printed in most Birchonim or Siddurim. (See Mishna Berura Siman 300:3) Halachos for Erev Shabbos Kodesh, February 3 , 2012 (Double Portion, L'Kavod Shabbos Kodes)
Halachos for Erev Shabbos Kodesh 1) The Seudah of Melave Malka, though very important, is not the level of obligation as the three meals on Shabbos itself, as the three meals on Shabbos are obligatory based on a biblical verse (Asmachta D'Kra), whereas the Melave Malka is a Mitzvah not derived from a verse, rather something instituted by the Chachamim. (Mishna Berura Siman 300:2) The practical application of the aforementioned distinction is for instances where on one cannot eat both Melave Malka and the three (or one of the three) Seudos of Shabbos; it is then better to skip Melave Malka rather than skip any of the Shabbos Seudos. (ibid.) Additionally, if one has a limited quantity of food, or of a certain special food, he should rather use the food, or that special food for Seudos of Shabbos rather than for Melave Malka. (See Sha'ar HaTziyun Siman 300 Os 9) 2) It is proper for women to also partake of the Melave Malka meal. (See Pri Megadim Aishel Avraham Siman 300:1. See Mogen Avraham Siman 299:15 quoting the Abudreham, that there was a minhag that women did not do any [real] chores on Motzaei Shabbos.) The Seforim write in the name of the Rebbe Rav Elimelech of Lizensk Zatzal, that eating Melave Malka, for women, is a good Segulah for an easy labor. Halachos for Shabbos Kodesh: HALACHOS FOR SHABBOS SHIRA 1) This Shabbos, Parshas Beshalach is known as "Shabbos Shira". It is customary to put out pieces of bread for the birds to eat. One of the many reasons given for this custom is that in the desert the Mann fell for six days, with a double portion falling on Erev Shabbos to sustain the Jews through Shabbos. The two evil troublemakers in the desert, Dasan and Aviram, tried to disprove Moshe Rabeinu's proclamation that no Mann will fall on Shabbos, and they took their Mann early Shabbos morning and scattered it all over the camp so the jews will wake up and see that in fact Mann did fall on Shabbos. Hashem sent the birds to eat up every last crumb of the "planted Mann"and when the Jews awoke, it was as Moshe had promised, and no Mann was to be found. Thus as a reward for this, the birds are fed each year on Parshas Beshalach. 2) he Mogen Avraham (Orach Chaim Siman 324:7) decries this minhag, as the Halacha is that one may not feed animals that do not belong to him/her on Shabbos, and thus one may not put out food for the birds during Shabbos Shira (or any other Shabbos). (This is also how the Mishna Berura Siman 324:31 and the Shulchan Aruch HaRav Siman 324:8 rule.) Other Poskim justify the minhag to feed the birds on this particular Shabbos as we are doing this as a Mitzvah of Hakoras HaTov (See Aruch HaShulchan Siman 324:3 and Da'as Torah 324:11) [Incidentally, the Mogen Avraham Siman 171:1, based on Rashi to Ta'anis 20b rules that one may never feed food that is worthy of human consumption to animals or birds, as doing sois being ungrateful to Hashem for the food He has given us] The best thing to do, if one wants to uphold this custom yet avoid feeding the birds on Shabbos, is to place the bread for the birds right before Shabbos begins. (And if one wants to adhere to the ruling of the Mogen Avraham in Siman 171, the bread that is placed for the birds should be stale and not good fresh bread that is still worthy of human consumption) Another option brought in the Poskim is to have a minor (boy under 13, girl under 12) put out the bread, as it isn't a real Issur (Aino Shevus Gamur). (See Aishel Avraham (Butchatch) Siman 167: 6 Dibur Hamaschil Sham)
שבת שלום ומבורך Ben Olam Haba HalachaForToday@Gmail.com Please Note: The Halachos on this website are based on my personal understanding of the Halachic texts or Rabbanim quoted, and are for learning purposes only, NOT for Psak Halacha.
DO NOT rely on them for Psak Halacha L'Maaseh. If you have questions or require further source information ,please email me the question and I will try to respond as soon as I can. For a Halacha L'Ma'aseh Psak, please contact your local Orthodox Rabbi. Thank you. | |
|
|