#121: Reciting Hamotzi and Distributing the Challah on Shabbat (Part 4)
- It is customary to dip the challah in salt before eating it. Three reasons are given for this practice: A) Salt improves the taste of the challah (this reason likely does not apply to our bread and challah today), B) The table is comparable to the altar in the Beit Hamikdash, upon which the korbanot were brought with salt, C) The presence of salt on the table protects from the attack of the Satan, who may criticize us for sitting idly without performing any mitzvot while waiting for Hamotzi to be recited (Shulchan Aruch and Rama 167:5; Mishnah Berurah).
- One who recited Hamotzi and then realized that there was no salt on the table should not delay further by bringing salt. Rather, one should simply eat the challah without salt, as reason A) above is generally unnecessary with our challah today. Alternatively, one may dip the challah into some other dip, such as chummus or dressing (see Mishnah Berurah 167:27; Kaf Hachaim 167:38).
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Dedicated by Fran Broder as a zechus for the hostages to be released safely to their families and may everlasting peace come to Eretz Yisrael in the merit of learning Hilchos Shabbos.
