Melaveh Malka
From Halachipedia
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- A person should set his table on Saturday night even if one only plans on eating a Kezayit so as to respect the exiting of Shabbat. [1] Even though many aren’t careful about it, a Yireh Shamayim (a G-d fearing person) should make an extra effort to keep it. [2]
- One should eat with specific intent that it should be for the meal of Melaveh Malka, preferably saying this expressly. See further in the topic on Having Kavana for Mitzvot.[3]
- At the end of Birkat HaMazon for Melava Malka, some authorities hold that one should say say "migdol yishuot malko" like on shabbat itself, instead of "magdil yishuot"[4], while others say that one should say the regular "magdil yishuot" on Melava Malka just like during the week. [5]
- Some poskim allow eating meat leftovers on motzaei shabbat even during the nine days while some poskim say that it's prohibited. [6]
Who is Obligated?
- Women are also obligated to eat Melava Malka. [7]
When should one perform Melava Malka?
- There’s no obligation for having Malveh Malka on Motzei Yom Tov. [8]
- Melva Malka should be fulfilled as soon after Shabbat as possible. If one isn’t hungry one may have it later but shouldn’t do an established activity before having Melveh Malka. However, certainly one shouldn’t delay it past Chatzot of the night. However, if one did delay past Chatzot one may still fulfill it until Olot HaShachar. [9]
- If one extended his Seudat Shelishit until it got dark, some say that one is exempt from having Melveh Malka, and some argue. [10]
What should one eat for Melava Malka?
- One should try to eat bread for Melava Malka, but if he cannot then cake is sufficient. If he cannot even eat cake he should at least have some fruits or vegetables. [11]
- One should wear nice Shabbat clothes during this meal. [12]
- Some have the custom to light candles and sing special zemirot on motzaei shabbat after Havdalah. [13]
- One should spread a tablecloth on the table and set the table nicely. [14]
Sources
- ↑ S”A 300:1 writes that a person should set his table for Malveh Malka on Saturday night. This is based on the Gemara Shabbat 119b. Tur 300:1 says that this is the proper way to escort the shabbat out just like we bring it in with proper respect. Mishna Berura 300:1 explains that although it is important, melava malka is not quite as important as the three shabbat meals, meaning if you can't afford to eat melava malka unless you eliminate one of the shabbat meals you shouldn't do that. Mishna Brurah 300:2 explains that the reason is to give respect to the exiting of Shabbat.
- ↑ Aruch HaShulchan 300:3, Shemirat Shabbat KeHilchata 63:1. The midrash kohelet rabba 12:5 says that in the future, a person will be resurrected using a bone located in one’s spine. The Kaf Hachayim 300:1-2 says that this bone called the luz is fed only with food eaten at a melave malka. Mishna Berura 300:2 quotes the taz saying the same thing but calls the bone the nisko. In Shaar Hatziyun 300:7, he explains that since this bone didn't get pleasure from adam's sin, this bone was spared the curse of death.
- ↑ Mishna Brurah 300:1
- ↑ Kaf Hachaim 189:11
- ↑ Yalkut Yosef (Kitzur S"A 300:4)
- ↑ Shaare Teshuva 551:11 quotes the Birkei Yosef allowing one to eat leftover meat for melave malka but concludes himself that this is not the custom. See Rabbi Mansour on Dailyhalacha.com who quotes Rav Chayim Palachi in moed likol chai who says it is permissible and Chacham Bentzion Abba Shaul who says it is definitely preferable not to, especially if that is not that person's usual practice. Chelkat Yaakov 3:21 and Iggerot Moshe OC 4:21:4 both forbid it even for somebody who would usually eat it. Rabbi Daniel Neustadt on Torah.org agrees.
- ↑ Pri Megadim A”A 300:1, Yechave Daat 4:25, Shemirat Shabbat KeHilchata 63:3. Magen Avraham 291:15 quotes the Avudarham saying that some women had the custom not to do chores on motzaei shabbat. The Gra in Maaseh Rav 150 says that he was also very strict on his wife.
- ↑ Shemirat Shabbat KeHilchata 63:4 rules that there's no obligation to eat Melveh Malka on Yom Tov. See also Sh”t Rivivot Efraim 3:292 who writes that the Chazon Ish would have a Malveh Malka on Motzei Yom Tov.
- ↑ Mishna Brurah 300:2 and Shemirat Shabbat KeHilchata 63: 5 write that Melveh Malka should be done right after Shabbat and shouldn’t do a established activity before Melvah Malka. However, they add, at least one should eat Melava Malka by Chatzot because the Shaare Teshuva 300:1 quotes the arizal that the holiness of shabbat only remains until chatzot. Nonetheless, Yalkut Yosef (Shabbat vol 1 pg 630) adds that if one didn’t do it before Chatzot one may still fulfill this mitzvah until Olot HaShachar. One of his proofs is from a story about the Gra in Tosefet Maaseh Rav (39). One time the Gra was sick on Saturday night and didn't eat Melava Malka, when he got somewhat better it was still before Olot Hashachar and so he ate Melava Malka. Kaf Hachayim 300:14 says it should lechatchila be eaten within four halachic hours of shabbat.
- ↑ Eliyah Rabba 300:1 writes that he heard that if Seudat Shelishit until it got dark one is exempt from having Melveh Malka. However, Tehillat David 300, Kaf HaChaim 300:11 disagree with this.
- ↑ Mishna Berura 300:1. Yalkut Yosef (Shabbat vol 1, 300:1). The Gra in Biur Hagra 300:1 says that bread must be eaten at the seuda. In Maaseh Rav 150 it says that the Gra was extremely strict about this halacha. It tells a story about when Rav Chaim Volozhin came to visit him and hadn't ate melava malka because he wasn't feeling well and the Gra told him to eat. Rav Moshe Shternbuch in Teshuvot vihanhagot 2:166 explains that the reason the gra was so strict on this is because he felt it was something that was very neglected.
- ↑ Kaf HaChaim 300:6, Shemirat Shabbat KeHilchata 63:2. Leket Yosher page 85 says that one shouldn't remove his shabbat clothes until he goes to sleep on motzaei shabbat.
- ↑ Mishna Berura 300:3
- ↑ Mishna Berura 300:1. Rav Moshe Shternbuch in Teshuvot vihanhagot 2:166 says that setting the table shows that we really want to extend shabbat and aren't happy that it is over.