Especially during the late fall and winter months, we must be alert about seuda shlishit.

Shabbat’s Three Meals

Shabbat 117b records the mitzvah to consume three meals on Shabbat:“How many meals is a person obligated to eat on Shabbat? Three. Rabbi Chidka says: ‘Four.’ Rabbi Yochanan said: “And both of them derived their opinions from one verse: ‘And Moses said: “Eat it today, for today is Shabbat for God (Shabbat hayom laHashem—a pasuk mentioned in the zemirot for Shabbat afternoon), today you will not find it in the field,”’” (Exodus 16:25). Rabbi Chidka holds: “These three mentions of the word today (hayom) allude to the number of meals on Shabbat besides the evening meal, as Moses spoke on Shabbat morning. And the rabbis hold that these three mentions include the evening meal.”

The halacha follows the majority view that only three meals are required. The Rishonim debate whether the three meals are a Torah (Sefer Yereim 92) or rabbinic level (Kol Bo 58) obligation. The Aruch Hashulchan (Orach Chayim 291) is inclined to say it is a Torah-level requirement. He writes, “In any event, it certainly was at the least instituted by Moshe Rabbeinu based on what he was taught at Sinai.” Thus, it is incumbent to take this obligation quite seriously.

Bread at Seuda Shlishit? Rambam Versus Rabbeinu Tam

The Shulchan Aruch (Orach Chayim 274:4) rules that one only fulfills the mitzvah to eat the first two meals by consuming bread. It is proper to have at least a k’beitza (two ounces) of bread at each meal, but a kezayit (one ounce) is the absolute minimum (Mishna Berura 291:1) and Yalkut Yosef (Orach Chayim 291:1). Only when consuming more than a k’beitza is one halachically defined as eating a “set meal” (keviat seuda). Hence, the preference is to have at least a bit more than a k’beitza.

However, considerable debate exists about whether bread is required for seuda shlishit. The Rambam (Hilchot Shabbat 30:9) thinks bread is necessary even for seuda shlishit. In contrast, Rabbeinu Tam (cited in Tosafot Brachot 49b s.v. i ba’i) believes that snack food (“minei targima”) suffices. Tosafot concedes that Shabbat 117b supports the Rambam’s view that the Shabbat meals are equal and, therefore, all require bread.

Bread at Seuda Shlishit: Shulchan Aruch and Rama

The Shulchan Aruch (Orach Chayim 291:5) cites both opinions and codifies the Rambam unless one is exceptionally full and cannot tolerate eating more bread. The Rama agrees. The Kaf HaChaim (291:24) notes that most Rishonim concur with the Rambam, and therefore the Shulchan Aruch and the Rama codify his more stringent view.

Uncharacteristically, the Aruch Hashulchan (Orach Chayim 291:12) adopts a very stringent position regarding seuda shlishit. He writes: “God forbid to be lenient about this matter. It is a great sin for those who are lenient about this matter. One must warn others very strongly about this matter, and only a sick person may be lenient. Those who degrade seuda shlishit by fulfilling their obligation only with minei targima, will in future be judged harshly by Hashem.”

The Aruch Hashulchan is typically inclined to be lenient, so why does he adopt such a tough stance regarding this matter? Possibly, it is because it is a mitzvah that is so easy to fulfill, and there typically is no need for leniency. If one is not careful about this matter, it reflects apathy regarding Mitzvot.

Planning for Seuda Shlishit

The Shulchan Aruch (Orach Chayim 291:1) writes, “Chacham einav berosho—a wise person thinks ahead and leaves room for seuda shlishit. Thus, on “short Shabbatot,” one must be mindful to eat less during the afternoon meal and leave room for himself to eat a proper seuda shlishit.

The halacha wants us to place ourselves into a situation where we will fulfill mitzvot (Tosafot Pesachim 113b s.v. V’Ein Lo Banim). This idea is expressed in Sotah 14a, which states that Moshe Rabbeinu passionately desired to enter Eretz Yisrael—not to enjoy its fruits—but rather to place himself in a situation where he could fulfill the mitzvot hateluyot baaretz, land-based mitzvot. So too, we should be proactive and make sure we can eat bread at seuda shlishit.

Erev Pesach That Falls on Shabbat

The Rama adds a time to be lenient regarding bread at seuda shlishit—when Erev Pesach falls on Shabbat. In such a case, one may rely on the lenient opinion since we may not consume chametz after four halachot hours, and matzah is forbidden the entire day. The Mishna Berura (448:8) quotes that one should also divide the morning meal into two parts (with a significant division in between) to have seuda shlishit with bread (see Tosafot Shabbat 118a s.v. B’Mincha).

This strategy is still less than ideal since the Shulchan Aruch (Orach Chayim 291:2) rules that the time for seuda shlishit only begins after six and a half hours of the day have passed. Hence, Yalkut Yosef (Orach Chayim 444:13) recommends that Sephardic Jews, who are permitted to eat matzah ashira (egg matzah) on Pesach, have matzah ashira for seuda shlishit on Erev Pesach before the 10th halachic hour of the day.

Forgot Retzei

An important nafka mina (practical difference) between the Rambam and Rabbeinu Tam is whether one must repeat Birkat Hamazon if he forgot Retzei at seuda shlishit. According to Rabbeinu Tam, he does not need to repeat Birkat Hamazon, but according to the Rambam, he must. The Mishna Berura (291:6) and Yalkut Yosef (Orach Chayim 291:18) follow Rabbeinu Tam and say not to repeat Birkat Hamazon since safek brachot l’hakel, we do not recite a bracha in case of doubt.

Conclusion: Rav Ovadia Yosef’s Practice

Rav Ovadia Yosef’s grandson, Rav Yaakov Sasson, records his grandfather’s practice: (https://halachayomit.co.il/en/ReadHalacha.aspx?HalachaID=4014):

“The fine custom of Maran Rabbeinu Ovadia Yosef, zt”l, was that although he delivered many classes and lectures throughout Shabbat, he would—nonetheless—make it a priority to eat seuda shlishit at home with his wife and family to educate them and make sure they ate this special meal, following the poskim and Maran HaShulchan Aruch.”

It is well worth it for everyone to emulate Rav Ovadia Yosef’s practice and be sure to eat seuda shlishit with bread and lechem mishneh even on “short Shabbatot,” especially since there may be a Torah-level obligation to do so.

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.