Melava Malka - Food Offerings

QUESTION: What should one serve for Melava Malka?

ANSWER: The Mishnah Berurah (300:1) writes that it is best to serve bread, just like one does for the other meals of Shabbos. Although there is no need for lechem mishneh (two loaves of bread), some have a custom to use lechem mishneh for Melava Malka as well. This is because during the forty years that the Jewish people traveled through the desert, what was eaten on motzei Shabbos was also from the double portion of manna that fell on Friday. It is proper to also serve other dishes to make this meal special. Mishnah Berurah writes that if one has no appetite to eat bread, he should eat mezonos (e.g., cake) or, at the very least, fruit. Even if he is not planning on eating much, he should still set the table with a tablecloth and table settings as befitting an important guest.

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The Gerald & Karin Feldhamer OU Kosher Halacha Yomis is dedicated to the memory of Rav Yisroel Belsky, zt"l, who served as halachic consultant for OU Kosher for more than 28 years; many of the responses in Halacha Yomis are based on the rulings of Rabbi Belsky. Subscribe to the Halacha Yomis daily email here.