Are Separated Challahs Considered Whole?
What is the halacha when two challos touch while baking and you separate them.? Are they considered complete for the mitzvah of lechem mishna?
The gemara[1] derives from the wordsלחם משנה [2] that one is obligated to have two loaves of bread at the Shabbos meal. The Taz[3] writes that this is a Torah obligation as it is derived from the Mann, just as the Torah obligation to eat three meals on Shabbos. The Aruch Hashulchan[4] agrees with this, but the Magen Avraham,[5] as well as many other Achronim, disagree and believe that the words לחם משנה do not indicate a Torah obligation, and the need for two loaves is Rabbinic. What about the requirement to have complete loaves? Though not mentioned in the gemara, Tosfos[6] assumes that the loaves on the Shabbos table should be complete[7] and the Rema[8] codifies this requirement. The Teshuvos Chasam Sofer[9] cites the Minchas Yaakov. who assumes that although the requirement of two loaves is an absolute requirement, the need to have complete loaves is Rabbinic. As to why a complete loaf is necessary, there appears to be some debate. The Sha’arei Teshuva[10] cites the Minchas Yaakov[11] that having a broken loaf is considered disrespectful to the mitzvah. Other Achronim assume that a loaf of bread connotes a complete loaf and if it is missing a piece the requirement of two loaves is not met.[12] The Netziv[13] notes that because there is no absolute obligation to have complete loaves, if one only has broken pieces of bread, they may certainly fulfill the mitzvah with two broken pieces[14].
Often, when multiple loaves of bread are baked together in the oven, they touch and connect. Can one use two loaves that are still connected for lechemmMishna? Teshuvos Sho’el Umaishiv[15] writes that because when they were baked as two distinct loaves, they are considered two loaves, and one can fulfill the mitzvah even while they are attached.[16] But if one chooses to separate them and thereby tears off some of the bread, can it still be considered complete? The Sha’arei Teshuva[17] discusses an instance where one forgot to separate Challah prior to baking the dough and removed a part of the loaf after it was already baked. While some Poskim believe that only if more than 1/48 is missing is it a problem, other Poskim believe that even if a little bit is missing the loaf is considered incomplete.[18] R Shlomo Zalman Auerbach[19] felt that anything which appears complete is considered so Halachically and thus acceptable. Therefore, if loaves connected while baking, although a little bit is pulled off, nevertheless each loaf is considered complete. Nevertheless, it is desirable to use loaves that are entirely complete loaves for lechem mishna, so much so that it is best not to remove the bakery stickers before cutting the loaf because it pulls off a bit of the bread [20].
[1] Shabbos 117b
[2] Shemos 16:22
[3] 678:2
[4] 274:1
[5] 254:23
[6] Brachos 39b d.h. V’Hilchasa
[7] See Rema 167:1
[8] 274:1
[9] Orach Chaim 46
[10] 274:1
[11] Teshuvos 12
[12] See Chasam Sofer, Teshuvos L’Horos Nosson 1:14.
[13] Teshuvos Meishiv Davar 1:21, Merumei Sadeh Brachos 39b d.h. Tosfos V’Hilchasa
[14] The Netziv proves this point from the view of the Rif (Pesachim 25b) and the Rambam (Chameitz U’Matzah 8:6) who assume that on Pesach night the bracha of Hamotzi is said on one complete matzah and one broken matzah. However, others argue that that based on Lechem Oni, the fulfillment of Lechem Mishnah is different on Pesach night. See Teshuvos Dvar Yehoshua (1:18), R’ Binyamin Paler’s Birchas Yitzchak pg. 259).
[15] Orach Chaim 1:167
[16] See Shemiras Shabbos K’Hilchaso 55:6
[17] 274:1
[18] See Teshuvos Chacham Tzvi 22,23
[19] Shemiras Shabbos K’Hilchaso 55 footnote 24
[20] Shemiras Shabbos K’Hilchaso 55:8