Class 12: Obligation for Three Meals on Shabbat

[Marsha1]

I found this class helpful in understanding 2 ideas I'd never been certain about:  1) Does the third meal on Shabbat require bread?  I've seen both with and without bread in many homes.  This clarified the halacha for me, that it is better to have bread but you don't have to, because of the original sources that the obligations for meals come from ie. "VaYochluhu hayom" refers to 3 meals but not necessarily bread meals, whereas Oneg requires bread meals but only requires one by day and one by night.
2) Whether or not one has to bentsch again if you forgot "Ritzai" or "YaAleh VeYavoh".  Understanding Rav Soloveitchik's answer, that "Ritzai" is a "din" of the meal, which is bookended by Kiddush and Bircat HaMazon, both denoting it as a special meal, explains why bentsching would need to be repeated if "Ritzai" is forgotten.  On the other hand, "YaAleh VeYavoh" is a "din" of tefillah on Rosh Chodesh rather than an integral part of bentsching on Shabbat or Rosh Chodesh, and is not required as part of a special meal because no special meal is required on Rosh Chodesh; therefore, it makes sense that you do not have to repeat bentsching if you forgot "YaAleh VaYavoh".  Understanding a rationale for these halachot makes it easier to remember the halachot rather than to have to look it up when the question arises.

I also enjoyed the discussion of what to do if the bentsching for the 3rd meal wasn't completed before Shabbat was over.  Whenever this comes up for me, there's no Rav around to ask what to do!  Unfortunately, I had not yet remembered to ask after Shabbat, either.  So, now I understand that "Ritzai", being attached to the meal, is still said even if it's no longer Shabbat.  It also makes sense why "YaAleh VeYavoh" can be added if Shabbat bentsching lasts into a Sunday Rosh Chodesh and is not a contradiction of making 2 additions in bentsching when they are seemingly for 2 different days.  I like hearing the understandings of why these halachot are the way they are because it makes it much easier to remember what to do ultimately.