Saving the Main Meal for Shalosh Seudos

May one eat a small Shabbos morning meal and the primary meal be his Seudah Shlishis?

The Gemara[1] derives from the word היום used three times in the context of the Manna and Shabbos, that one must eat three meals on Shabbos. The gemara adds that one must have לחם משנה on Shabbos. The Ritva[2] writes that being that all three meals are derived from the same word היום, they are alike and all three require Lechem Mishnah. It would seem that this is true for all three meals[3]. However, Tosfos[4] writes that מיני תרגימא - snacks suffice for סעודה שלישית – the third meal[5]. Two different explanations are offered for this distinction. The Tur[6] explains that מיני תרגימא cannot be used for the first two meals of Shabbos because they are the primary meals and therefore require bread. Rabbeinu Yonah[7] cites רבני צרפת who explain that bread must be eaten whenever Kiddush is recited and for this reason only when eating סעודה שלישית is it possible to suffice with מיני תרגימא. The Mishnah Berurah[8] cites the explanation of the Tur.

While each meal is eaten for the purpose of כבוד ועונג שבת, the Gemara[9] states that כבוד היום עדיף מכבוד לילה and therefore the finer foods should be served during the daytime meal. Numerous reasons are given as to why the day meal is given preference. The Mechilta[10] states that because the Torah refers to יום השבת, day- יום is preferred. The Chasam Sofer[11] suggests that the spiritual nature of Shabbos intensifies as the day goes on and he implies that it is for this reason daytime is preferred. Maharash Sirilio commenting on the Yerushalmi[12] writes that because the miracle of the double portion of Manna only became clear on Shabbos morning, the daytime is given preference. The Aruch Hashulchan[13] offers a few reasons for this halacha, he writes that people normally have a greater desire for the daytime meal as it is the first meal of the day as opposed to a nighttime meal and therefore the best is saved for the daytime meal.

Based on the above there is good reason that under normal circumstances the סעודה שניה on Shabbos should be more elaborate than סעודה שלישית. Firstly, in the view of the Tur מיני תרגימא isn’t an option for סעודה שניה because it is “primary” and therefore it would then emerge that it should be the more sumptuous meal. While it is true that according to Rabbeinu Yonah’s logic this is not necessarily true, the Mishnah Berurah doesn’t accept that view as he cites the Tur. Moreover, according to the Aruch Hashulchan’s explanation, the concept of כבוד היום עדיף is specific to סעודה שניה and therefore it should be more elaborate. However, if there are other considerations it is acceptable to eat a smaller breakfast meal and a more elaborate Seudah Shlishis meal in the afternoon. When Erev Pesach falls on Friday, eating two meals prior to the prohibition of chametz is a challenge. Although it is arguable that first meal be the big meal and the later meal can consist of a challah roll, because it is certainly easier to do the opposite, eat a meal consisting of a challah roll and then eat a meal that begins with challah eaten before the prohibition of chometz and then continue the elaborate Seudah Shlishis Shabbos meal [14].

[1] Shabbos 117b

[2] D.h. Ushneihem. See Brachos 49b

[3] See Brachos 49b

[4] Pesachim 101b d.h. Taeimu

[5] See Shulchan Aruch 291:5 who cites four opinions as to what kinds of foods are acceptable for the third meal.

[6] 294

[7] 36b (Dapei HaRif)

[8] 274:9

[9] Pesachim 105a

[10] 20:8

[11] Teshuvos OC 17

[12] Brachos 7:5

[13] 289:2

[14] See Mishnah Berurah 444:14 and Shemiras Shabbos 54 footnote 61.