The Leniency of Shalosh Seudos

We left off last week mentioning the leniency of using only one loaf of bread for shalosh seudas. Is there room for one to be even more lenient? The Shulchan Aruch (Rav Yosef Karo) writes that there are those that allow one to eat Mezonos type foods for shalosh seudos, and there are those that further allow filling shehakol type foods ( meat, fish, etc.) and finally there are those that even allow eating fruit. So which do we follow? The Mishnah Brurah (Rav Yisroel Meir Kagen) writes that this whole discussion stems from one simple point. Everyone agrees that ideally you should use bread. However, by the times Shalosh seudas rolls around one usually finds himself stuffed and not in the mood to eat. Furthermore we know that eating when not hungry is not considered eating for a mitzvah, and is often a serious infraction (too much football in my head). So one should try to get as high on the shalosh seudas food chain (someone should illustrate this and send it out to the yeshivas and day schools) as possible without disgusting himself and his stomach. Next week we will discuss the proper time for shalosh seudas. If anyone has any suggestions comments etc for future HalachaBoy I am listening and interested. Don't be shy- no topic is to daring, no discussion to hairy, no inyan to scary for ..... HALACHABOY....(dramatic ain't it?) Last week's Q of the W- What halacha do we learn from the mon? Congrats to the Royal Queens Doctor for answering that one reason we cover the challah to resemble the mon that was covered with a layer of dew on top and on bottom. This Week's Q of the W- We just mentioned the serious sin of eating when not hungry. What day of the year does Chazal wave this aveirah and award a mitzvah for every bite, even if not hungry?

Requirement of Bread at Shalosh Seudos

At first glance it would seem one is required to eat bread at shalosh seudos just like at the two other meals. So what do those who do not eat bread rely on? Furthermore is there a requirement for Lechem Mishnah (two whole loaves like we require on friday night and shabbas day)? Obviously it is always wise to be machmir and try to eat a Kzayis of bread and use Lechem Mishnah but for those that wish/need to be lenient what can they rely on? For those that enjoy math and riddles this is for you: We all know that on friday in the desert every Jew got a double portion of mon (man, manna..there's no real to spell it in english i guess). Chazal say that eat piece of mon was converted into two loafs of bread. So if you got double mon on friday that left you 4 loaves. You most probably ate one friday morning, used two and ate one friday night, used the remaining two and ate one shabbas day- so come shalos seudas time you only had one loaf left. This is the basis for the Tur and Mordechai allowing one to use just one loaf. Next week we will try to find out if one can be even more lenient and eat only Mezonos or maybe even Shehakol. Have a great shabbas. Q of the Week: What other shabbas halacha do we learn from the mon? Answer to last week: What Shabbos this year would it be assur to eat bread? This year Erev Pesach is on Shabbos and by the time shalosh seudos comes around chometz is already assur to eat.

Requirement of Eating Bread on Shabbas

As we are Jewish and for some reason we are pigeonholed into a stereotype of loving food let us begin with the requirement of Shalosh Seudos. I assume all of us eat meals at night and during the day, however I sense the we often fall short of the trifecta. The key for the first two seudas is you need to eat a kzayis of bread. Many of us often aren't careful enough with this and just nibble at the challah. In terms of Shalosh Seudas the Gemara writes there is a requirement to eat three meals on Shabbos and who ever eats three meals on Shabbos will be saved from three horrible punishments- the birth pains of mashiach, the state of gehinom, and the war of gog and magog. I have never endured any of those, but the Gemara makes no mention of an epidural -so let us be wise and just eat. The Mishna Brurah says if you truly are wise you won’t stuff yourself at lunch on those short shabbosim in order for there to be room in your tummy for the third meal.Next week we will discuss what you are required to eat at Shalosh Seudas.Q of the Week: There exists one Shabbos meal this year where bread is forbidden to eat. Name that Shabbos and meal.