Seudah Shlishis
The level of obligation
Eating Seudah Shlishis on Shabbos afternoon is not merely an optional custom. In fact, it is an absolute obligation for both men and women.166 Although some people find it difficult - especially during the winter months – to eat a second meal on Shabbos afternoon, Shulchan Aruch advises “the wise person” to think ahead and not overeat on Shabbos morning so that he will be able to eat the third Shabbos meal with appetite.167 While it is a hiddur mitzvah to eat a full meal — including wine168 and fish169 — for Seudah Shlishis, the minimum requirement to fulfill the mitzvah lechatchilah is to wash over lechem mishneh170 and eat slightly more than a k’beitzah (approx. 2 fl. oz.) of bread. If a person is so full that he cannot eat even that small amount, he may discharge his obligation by eating at least a kezayis (approx. 1 fl. oz) of bread.171 If eating even a kezayis will cause a person distress or physical discomfort, then he is exempt from Seudah Shlishis altogether, since the purpose of the meal is to honor the Shabbos by giving one pleasure, not to cause distress.172 If a person is already satiated to the extent that eating anything else will constitute achilah gasah (gluttony), then he certainly cannot fulfill the mitzvah of Seudah Shlishis at that point.
A person who is unable to eat any bread but can eat other foods is required to do so in order to fulfill the mitzvah of eating Seudah Shlishis. Instead of bread, such a person should eat at least one of the following (in order of preference): 1) a baked mezonos item173 2) a cooked mezonos item174 3) meat or fish175 4)fruits of shivas ha-minim176 5) cooked fruits or vegetables177 6) raw fruits or vegetables. Some poskim maintain that one can fulfill the obligation with a revi’is of wine or grape juice as well,178 while others disagree.179
A person who does not wash for Seudah Shlishis should make sure to finish eating before sunset, since one may not eat after sunset unless one is in the midst of a meal.180
The proper time
The optimal time to start eating Seudah Shlishis is anytime after one has davened Minchah on Shabbos afternoon181 until sunset.182 If it is not feasible to eat Seudah Shlishis during that time, there are other options, listed here in order of preference:
One may begin the meal any time from a half hour after chatzos – even before davening Minchah – until the time of Minchah Ketanah, which is nine and half hours (sha’os zemanios) from sunrise.183
One may begin the meal any time from half an hour after chatzos – even before davening Minchah – until right before sunset, leaving enough time to daven Minchah before sunset.184
One may begin the meal before chatzos and continue eating at least until a half hour after chatzos.185
One may begin the meal a few minutes after sunset (after davening Minchah) but no later than half an hour before nightfall.186 This option may be used only bedieved or under extenuating circumstances,187 as some poskim do not permit beginning Seudah Shlishis anytime after sunset.
Under extenuating circumstances, when no other option exists, some poskim maintain that it is permitted to start and end the third meal before chatzos.188
166. O.C. 291:6
167. O.C. 291:1
168. Mishnah Berurah 291:21.
169. While it is a hiddur mitzvah to eat fish at all Shabbos meals (see Mishnah Berurah 242:2) it is especially important during Seudah Shelishis; Siddur ha-Rav; Kaf ha-Chayim 291:29.
170. Aruch ha-Shulchan 291:10 states that the challos need not be covered during hamotzi. Eishel Avraham (Buzacz) 271, however, rules that one should cover the challos for hamotzi at all three Shabbos meals.
171. Mishnah Berurah 291:2
172. O.C. 291:1 and Mishnah Berurah 3
173. Ketzos ha-Shulchan 92, note 3.
174. O.C. 291:5.
175. Some maintain that fruits of the shivas ha-minim have preference over meat or fish; see Ketzos ha-Shulchan 92, note 4.
176. Pri Megadim (Mishbetzos) 291: 2, quoting Beis Yosef.
177. Kitzur Shulchan Aruch 77:16.
178. Tehilah l’Dovid 291:2.
179. Igros Moshe, O.C. 4:63-8; Divrei Yatziv 1:133.
180. See Contemporary Halachah Discussion to Chapter 299.
181. Rema, O.C. 291:2-3.
182. Mishnah Berurah 299:1. Lechtachilah, a k’beitzah or at least a kezayis should be swallowed before sunset; Ketzos ha-Shulchan 92, note 8.
183. Mishnah Berurah 291:11.
184. Based on Mishnah Berurah 232:26. If possible, one should appoint someone to remind one to daven Minchah.
185. Mishnah Berurah 291:7.
186. Mishnah Berurah 299:1.
187. See Beiur Halachah 299:1, s.v. mishetechshach.
188. Shulchan Aruch ha-Rav 291:5, based on Magen Avraham. See Sha’ar ha-Tziyun 291:7, which disagrees.