Class 11: Seudat Shabbat

[Marsha1]

I found this class particularly interesting since I'm the one who does HaMotzi for our meals on Shabbat.  I've often wondered if it's even okay to cut both challot at one meal, if we use Lechem Mishne to remember the Man--which means one loaf would have to be saved for a subsequent meal as was the Man.  Therefore, the discussion of Rashi's view (against the Rashba) that we take 2 but cut 1, made a lot of sense to me--in order to have 2 full loaves left for lunch and another for the 3rd meal.  If you cut 2 at each meal, either you have no full loaves left or you have to have at least 5 loaves to cover the 3 meals (if the 3rd meal only requires one--but we haven't discussed that topic yet), which is more than what fell with the Man.

Regarding what is considered "shalem", I'm still left with some questions.  If a challah is baked as a separate challah but rises and attaches itself to the next individual challah on the baking sheet--both are still considered "shalem" since they started out this way.  But, what if, in separating them, a piece comes off of one of them (and is attached to the second) so that it is misshapen or looks as if a part was removed?  Or, what if the challah sticks to the bottom of the baking sheet and, in trying to remove it, some of the bottom of the challah remains stuck to the pan? ie. the challah looks whole from the top but has a chunk out of it from underneath.  I've had these scenarios happen to me when I've baked my own challah and wasn't sure what to do!  (Now I use parchment paper to try to ensure the challah does not stick to the bottom of the pan!)

I've never really known what to do with respect to which challah to cut first, either at night or during the day.  I had heard from others that at one meal, it's the bottom one and at the other, the top--which made no sense to me and I could never remember when to do which one!  I have generally avoided this dilemma by holding the 2 challot side by side, not one on top of the other!  That alternative was not one that was discussed but it avoids the problem of "Ein Ma'aveirin al Mitzvot", since neither one is closer!  I found the Kabbalistic reason interesting and memorable--I think I can remember for next Shabbat to cut the bottom challah at night (and hold it closer to me during the bracha, while stacking them) and the top challah during the day.  However, there was no explanation given as to why specifically the feminine nature meant it was the bottom challah and the masculine the top!  Also, thinking of the 3rd meal as a union of both masculine and feminine is interesting but there was no mention of what that actually means for the challah!!  I guess that's coming in the next class.

Regarding grasping the bread with all 10 fingers:  I understand the allusion to the 10 melachot involved and the 10 words of "HaMotzi" but I didn't quite catch the pasuk that has 10 words and no further reference was given to it.

Regarding the obligation to eat a "kezayit" of challah, I have often wondered, especially after the Pesach seders when we are so careful to eat the proper amount of matzah in the proper amount of time, if we need to do the same with challah on Shabbat.  It seems that the answer is yes although how big a "kezayit" of challah is wasn't discussed and I guess it really depends on how big the challah is.  Is this an obligation on everyone present (as it is with matzah) or just on the one making the bracha (as it is with kiddush wine)?  If the obligation is on everyone, it could mean that bigger challot would need to be used if there are a lot of guests, or several challot.  This wasn't discussed but I would like to know more about it.

I also found the suggestion of Rav Soloveitchik interesting--that there is an order for the day of Shabbat and each meal is preceded by tefillot/learning in order for half the day to be for us and half for Hashem.  However, in a previous class we discussed that, on Shabbat morning, women must do some small prayer, then say kiddush, in order to eat but can daven the rest of shacharit after eating (having said kiddush first); how does this fit in with the seder idea or does it really not apply to women?

Overall, I found this a very interesting class which answered some questions I have often wondered about but also left several questions unanswered.   It would be nice to be able to get some answers to these unanswered questions.