An Entire Shulchan Aruch Chapter
Sadly, many otherwise fully observant Jews neglect the obligation to eat melave malka on Motzei Shabbat—as already noted by the Aruch Hashulchan (Orach Chayim 300:3). By contrast, the Aruch Hashulchan writes, all God-fearing Jews make every effort to partake in melave malka. Indeed, the Shulchan Aruch devotes an entire chapter (Orach Chayim 300) to set forth one line about melave malka. He likely does so to emphasize melave malka’s importance and ensure that this halacha is not lost in the forest of Shabbat’s many rules.
The Ideal Melave Malka
The Gemara (Shabbat 119b writes that one must prepare his table on Erev Shabbat for the Shabbat meals and his table on Motzei Shabbat for melave malka. The fact that Gemara juxtaposes the Shabbat and melave malka meals indicates that bread should be eaten at melave malka, just as with the Shabbat meals (Mishna Berura 300:1). If this is too difficult to accomplish, the Mishna Berura rules that at least a kezayit of mezonot or, at least, fruit suffices.
This juxtaposition also indicates that just as during Shabbat meals one wears Shabbat clothes, so too, one should wear Shabbat clothes when partaking in melave malka (Kaf HaChaim 300:6 and Shemirat Shabbat Kehilchata 63:2).
Since melave malka dignifies Shabbat by escorting it as it leaves, the Mishna Berura (300:2) prefers we eat melave malka soon after Shabbat’s end. If not, the Mishna Berura permits eating melave malka until chatzot.
Rav Yosef Dov Soloveitchik (cited in Harerei Kedem 3:87) infers from the Gemara, Rambam (Hilchot Shabbat 30:5) and Shulchan Aruch framing melave malka as setting the table to escort the Shabbat queen, as an obligation to eat melave malka at a table. Thus, eating melave malka while traveling in a car or sitting on a couch is insufficient.
Women and Melave Malka
Interestingly, the Pri Megadim (Eishel Avraham 300:1) is unsure whether women must partake in melave malka. On the one hand, it is a positive, time-bound mitzvah from which women are excused. On the other hand, it may be seen as a Shabbat obligation regarding which women are obligated just as men (see Mishna Berura 291:26). However, the Rambam, Shulchan Aruch, Mishna Berura and Aruch Hashulchan do not distinguish between men’s and women’s melave malka requirement, implying that women’s obligation to eat melave malka is no different than men’s obligation. Indeed, Rav Ovadia Yosef (Teshuvot Yechave Daat 4:25) and Shemirat Shabbat Kehilchata (63:3) rule that women must also have melave malka.
Conclusion
In winter, one must be alert to eat seuda shlishit during the short Shabbatot. In the summer months, one must pay
attention to enjoy melave malka after long Shabbatot. Just as one should think ahead and leave some room for seuda shlishit, we should also restrain our eating and leave some room to eat at least a kezayit for melave malka soon after Shabbat’s end.
Rav Ovadia Yosef—echoing the Aruch Hashulchan—corrects the many people who wrongly perceive melave malka as a middat chassidut, an ideal but not required. A great reward awaits those who follow the Aruch Hashulchan and Rav Ovadia Yosef’s lead and dignify Shabbat by enjoying a proper melave malka at its conclusion.
Rabbi Jachter serves as the rav of Congregation Shaarei Orah, rebbe at Torah Academy of Bergen County and a get administrator with the Beth Din of Elizabeth. Rabbi Jachter’s 20 books may be purchased at Amazon and Judaica House.
