Covering the Challahs
Q. Why do we cover the Challahs at the Shabbos meals and what are the Halachic parameters of this practise?
There is a Halachic requirement to cover the Challahs at the start of the Shabbos meal when making Kiddush.
The Talmudic source for covering the Challahs on Shabbos is the ruling[1] Pores Mapah Umekadesh, “we spread the cloth and then recite Kiddush”. The Gemara is discussing the procedure of what to do if one was eating a meal on Erev Shabbos and Shabbos came in. However, the consensus of most Rishonim is that the requirement to cover the Challahs is a general requirement that applies to the Shabbos meal, in all circumstances[2].
The table should be set at the time one comes home from Shul so that the angels who accompany us home from Shul on Friday night will give their blessings[3].
Yet elsewhere, the Gemara[4] teaches that the table should not be brought out before Kiddush, so that it can be brought out in honour of Shabbos, which is declared when we recite Kiddush.
In Talmudic times, fulfilling these two teachings did not pose any difficulty, since the custom was to eat at small tables while reclining on couches. The table would be prepared before Shabbos as required and after Kiddush it would be brought out in honour of Shabbos.
But what about nowadays when we have large tables that remain in place in the dining room? How can we fulfil both of the Talmudic requirements? Tosfos[5] answer that we achieve this by covering the Challahs before Kiddush.
The Rishonim offer three main reasons for why we cover the Challahs on Shabbos;
(1) By covering the Challahs before the meal starts it shows that the ‘meal’ is now arriving in honour of Shabbos, when we remove the cover after declaring the holiness of Shabbos in Kiddush.
(2) As a remembrance of the Mann that the Jewish people ate in the desert[6]. The Mann did not fall on Shabbos. Instead, a double portion would fall on Erev Shabbos. We recall this by having two Challahs at the Shabbos meal. The two Challahs are referred to as Lechem Mishne (a double portion of bread), using the term employed in the Torah to refer to the double portion of Mann.
Since our Challahs represent the Mann, we cover them, just like the Mann was covered with a layer of dew.
(3) A third reason is found in the writings of the Rosh[7], which teaches that the Challah is covered “so that the bread not see its shame”. In the correct sequence of Brachos, bread comes before wine. However, on Shabbos, since we cannot eat before making Kiddush, the blessing on the wine is recited before Hamotzi. Since we are reversing the order, the Challah needs to be covered. Based on this reason, Darkei Moshe[8] writes that if the Challah was not covered, we would be required to make Hamotzi first.
Each of the three reasons give rise to practical Halachic ramifications, some of which are discussed below;
At what Point may the Challahs be Uncovered?
If the reason for covering the Challahs is so that the Challah “not see its shame”, as soon as the blessing Borei Pri Hagafen has been recited over the wine, the Challahs may be uncovered, even before the conclusion of Kiddush[9].
If the reason for covering Challahs is to recall the Mann, they should remain covered until before reciting Hamotzi[10], just as the Mann would have been removed from the dew before eating it. Other Poskim require that the Challah remain covered until after Hamotzi[11]. Based on reason that we cover the Challahs so that it is like the meal is being brought in honour of Shabbos, the Challahs may be uncovered straight after Kiddush[12] once we have declared the sanctity of the day.
The Alter Rebbe rules that the Challahs should remain covered until after Kiddush[13].
If Kiddush is Recited over the Challahs is Covering still Required?
If one does not have any wine or grape juice available, or if they are unable to drink wine or grape juice, Kiddush should be recited over the Challahs, substituting the blessing of Hamotzi in place of Hagafen.
When wine is not being used there is no concern of the Challah “seeing its shame” and they would not have to be covered. However, based on the other two reasons, the Challahs should still be covered[14].
Elya Rabbah questions how one does this if they are required to have their hands on the Challahs at the time of reciting Hamotzi? He suggests that the Challahs should be uncovered for the Bracha of Hamotzi and then covered again for the remainder of Kiddush. Alternatively, the Challahs may be held with one’s hands from underneath the cover.
How many Covers?
Based on the reason of remembering the Mann, in addition to the cover on top of them, the Challahs should also have a cloth underneath them. This is because when the Mann fell in the desert, it would fall onto a layer of dew and then be covered by an additional layer of dew.
Many will rely on the Challah board or tray to serve as the ‘cover’ beneath the Challahs[15]. According to some Poskim the cover should be white like the Mann[16]. According to the other reasons, only a covering on top of the Challahs is required.
Can a See-through or Lace Cover be used?
Based on the reason that the Challahs are covered “so that they do not see their shame”, some Poskim rule that the Challahs should not be visible at all, either through or from underneath the cover[17]. Other Poskim maintain that a see-though cover suffices even for this reason[18].
At which Meals do the Challahs need to be Covered?
Based on the reason that we cover the Challahs to show that the meal is being brought in honour of Shabbos, the Poskim explain that the Challah would only need to be covered at the Friday night meal, since this is when Shabbos comes in[19]. One would not need to cover the Challah at the Shabbos day meal or Seudah Shelishis.
If the concern is “so that the bread not see its shame”, the Challah would need to be covered in the daytime as well, since Kiddush is also recited over wine before the meal. Since there is no Kiddush at Seudah Shelishis, the Challah would not need to be covered.
However, according to the reason that we cover the Challah as a remembrance of the Mann, we would need to cover the Challah at each of the three Shabbos meals, including Seudah Shelishis, as the Mann was also eaten at this time[20]. Common practise is that the Challahs are not covered at Seudah Shelishis[21].
Do all Challahs need to be Covered?
Based on the reason that we cover the Challah “so that the bread not see its shame”, some suggest that only those who will be making Kiddush would need to cover the Challahs that they are going to be eating from. However, based on the other reasons, all of the Challahs should be covered.
Must Mezonos be Covered?
On Shabbos day, many Shules and families have the custom of making a Kiddush. Instead of Challah, they partake of cake or other Mezonos after Kiddush. Do these need to be covered while Kiddush is recited?
As discussed above, if the reason for covering the Challah is in order to show that the meal is coming in honour of Shabbos, this would only apply in the evening when Shabbos comes in. There would be no need to cover even the Challah during the day. Certainly one would not need to cover Mezonos. But what about according to the other reasons?
Some Poskim write that the remembrance of the Mann only applies to Hamotzi and not to Mezonos. If this is the reason for covering the Challahs, Mezonos would not need to be covered.
However, in the sequence of Brachos, Mezonos should also come before the Hagafen which is recited over wine. If the reason for covering the Challah is “so that the bread not see its shame”, any Mezonos that one will be eating from should also be covered.
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[1] Pesachim 100b
[2] Rashb”am, Tosfos, Rosh. See Tosfos Rid who limits the requirement to cover the Challahs to the specific case of the Gemara to separate the weekday and Shabbos meal.
[3] See Shabbos 119b. See the earlier article in this work on preparing the home for Shabbos.
[4] Pesachim 100b
[5] Pesachim 100b ד“ה שאין
[6] ibid
[7] Pesachim 10:3. The Rosh references a Yerushalmi, however the Acharonim write that we do not have this teaching in the Yerushalmi. This explanation is also found in other Rishonim without referencing the Yerushalmi.
[8] Orach Chaim 271:7
[9] Magen Avraham 271:20
[10] Perisha Orach Chaim 271. See however Pri Megadim that to serve as a rememberance for the Mann, even covering the Challahs for a small amount of time suffices.
[11] Chayei Adam 2 Klal 6:13. Mishna Berura and Aruch Hashulchan
[12] Magen Avraham 271:20
[13] Orach Chaim 271:17
[14] Ta”z 271:12. The Alter Rebbe rules that the Challahs are covered even when making Kiddush over them.
[15] See Be’er Moshe 6:134 who opposes relying on this
[16] Elya Rabbah and Tehillah L’dovid 271:13
[17] Minchas Shabbos as quoted in Shemiras Shabbos Kehilchasa
[18] Rabbi Shlomo Zalman Auerbach Shulchan Shlomo. The Kehillas Yaakov would not cover the Challahs if they were in plastic bags.
[19] Mordechai and Tosfos Rabbeinu Peretz
[20] Ben Ish Chai. Eshel Avraham Butshash 271:12
[21] Aruch Hashulchan 299:14
There is a Halachic requirement to cover the Challahs at the start of the Shabbos meal when making Kiddush.
The Talmudic source for covering the Challahs on Shabbos is the ruling[1] Pores Mapah Umekadesh, “we spread the cloth and then recite Kiddush”. The Gemara is discussing the procedure of what to do if one was eating a meal on Erev Shabbos and Shabbos came in. However, the consensus of most Rishonim is that the requirement to cover the Challahs is a general requirement that applies to the Shabbos meal, in all circumstances[2].
The table should be set at the time one comes home from Shul so that the angels who accompany us home from Shul on Friday night will give their blessings[3].
Yet elsewhere, the Gemara[4] teaches that the table should not be brought out before Kiddush, so that it can be brought out in honour of Shabbos, which is declared when we recite Kiddush.
In Talmudic times, fulfilling these two teachings did not pose any difficulty, since the custom was to eat at small tables while reclining on couches. The table would be prepared before Shabbos as required and after Kiddush it would be brought out in honour of Shabbos.
But what about nowadays when we have large tables that remain in place in the dining room? How can we fulfil both of the Talmudic requirements? Tosfos[5] answer that we achieve this by covering the Challahs before Kiddush.
The Rishonim offer three main reasons for why we cover the Challahs on Shabbos;
(1) By covering the Challahs before the meal starts it shows that the ‘meal’ is now arriving in honour of Shabbos, when we remove the cover after declaring the holiness of Shabbos in Kiddush.
(2) As a remembrance of the Mann that the Jewish people ate in the desert[6]. The Mann did not fall on Shabbos. Instead, a double portion would fall on Erev Shabbos. We recall this by having two Challahs at the Shabbos meal. The two Challahs are referred to as Lechem Mishne (a double portion of bread), using the term employed in the Torah to refer to the double portion of Mann.
Since our Challahs represent the Mann, we cover them, just like the Mann was covered with a layer of dew.
(3) A third reason is found in the writings of the Rosh[7], which teaches that the Challah is covered “so that the bread not see its shame”. In the correct sequence of Brachos, bread comes before wine. However, on Shabbos, since we cannot eat before making Kiddush, the blessing on the wine is recited before Hamotzi. Since we are reversing the order, the Challah needs to be covered. Based on this reason, Darkei Moshe[8] writes that if the Challah was not covered, we would be required to make Hamotzi first.
Each of the three reasons give rise to practical Halachic ramifications, some of which are discussed below;
At what Point may the Challahs be Uncovered?
If the reason for covering the Challahs is so that the Challah “not see its shame”, as soon as the blessing Borei Pri Hagafen has been recited over the wine, the Challahs may be uncovered, even before the conclusion of Kiddush[9].
If the reason for covering Challahs is to recall the Mann, they should remain covered until before reciting Hamotzi[10], just as the Mann would have been removed from the dew before eating it. Other Poskim require that the Challah remain covered until after Hamotzi[11]. Based on reason that we cover the Challahs so that it is like the meal is being brought in honour of Shabbos, the Challahs may be uncovered straight after Kiddush[12] once we have declared the sanctity of the day.
The Alter Rebbe rules that the Challahs should remain covered until after Kiddush[13].
If Kiddush is Recited over the Challahs is Covering still Required?
If one does not have any wine or grape juice available, or if they are unable to drink wine or grape juice, Kiddush should be recited over the Challahs, substituting the blessing of Hamotzi in place of Hagafen.
When wine is not being used there is no concern of the Challah “seeing its shame” and they would not have to be covered. However, based on the other two reasons, the Challahs should still be covered[14].
Elya Rabbah questions how one does this if they are required to have their hands on the Challahs at the time of reciting Hamotzi? He suggests that the Challahs should be uncovered for the Bracha of Hamotzi and then covered again for the remainder of Kiddush. Alternatively, the Challahs may be held with one’s hands from underneath the cover.
How many Covers?
Based on the reason of remembering the Mann, in addition to the cover on top of them, the Challahs should also have a cloth underneath them. This is because when the Mann fell in the desert, it would fall onto a layer of dew and then be covered by an additional layer of dew.
Many will rely on the Challah board or tray to serve as the ‘cover’ beneath the Challahs[15]. According to some Poskim the cover should be white like the Mann[16]. According to the other reasons, only a covering on top of the Challahs is required.
Can a See-through or Lace Cover be used?
Based on the reason that the Challahs are covered “so that they do not see their shame”, some Poskim rule that the Challahs should not be visible at all, either through or from underneath the cover[17]. Other Poskim maintain that a see-though cover suffices even for this reason[18].
At which Meals do the Challahs need to be Covered?
Based on the reason that we cover the Challahs to show that the meal is being brought in honour of Shabbos, the Poskim explain that the Challah would only need to be covered at the Friday night meal, since this is when Shabbos comes in[19]. One would not need to cover the Challah at the Shabbos day meal or Seudah Shelishis.
If the concern is “so that the bread not see its shame”, the Challah would need to be covered in the daytime as well, since Kiddush is also recited over wine before the meal. Since there is no Kiddush at Seudah Shelishis, the Challah would not need to be covered.
However, according to the reason that we cover the Challah as a remembrance of the Mann, we would need to cover the Challah at each of the three Shabbos meals, including Seudah Shelishis, as the Mann was also eaten at this time[20]. Common practise is that the Challahs are not covered at Seudah Shelishis[21].
Do all Challahs need to be Covered?
Based on the reason that we cover the Challah “so that the bread not see its shame”, some suggest that only those who will be making Kiddush would need to cover the Challahs that they are going to be eating from. However, based on the other reasons, all of the Challahs should be covered.
Must Mezonos be Covered?
On Shabbos day, many Shules and families have the custom of making a Kiddush. Instead of Challah, they partake of cake or other Mezonos after Kiddush. Do these need to be covered while Kiddush is recited?
As discussed above, if the reason for covering the Challah is in order to show that the meal is coming in honour of Shabbos, this would only apply in the evening when Shabbos comes in. There would be no need to cover even the Challah during the day. Certainly one would not need to cover Mezonos. But what about according to the other reasons?
Some Poskim write that the remembrance of the Mann only applies to Hamotzi and not to Mezonos. If this is the reason for covering the Challahs, Mezonos would not need to be covered.
However, in the sequence of Brachos, Mezonos should also come before the Hagafen which is recited over wine. If the reason for covering the Challah is “so that the bread not see its shame”, any Mezonos that one will be eating from should also be covered.
__________________________________
[1] Pesachim 100b
[2] Rashb”am, Tosfos, Rosh. See Tosfos Rid who limits the requirement to cover the Challahs to the specific case of the Gemara to separate the weekday and Shabbos meal.
[3] See Shabbos 119b. See the earlier article in this work on preparing the home for Shabbos.
[4] Pesachim 100b
[5] Pesachim 100b ד“ה שאין
[6] ibid
[7] Pesachim 10:3. The Rosh references a Yerushalmi, however the Acharonim write that we do not have this teaching in the Yerushalmi. This explanation is also found in other Rishonim without referencing the Yerushalmi.
[8] Orach Chaim 271:7
[9] Magen Avraham 271:20
[10] Perisha Orach Chaim 271. See however Pri Megadim that to serve as a rememberance for the Mann, even covering the Challahs for a small amount of time suffices.
[11] Chayei Adam 2 Klal 6:13. Mishna Berura and Aruch Hashulchan
[12] Magen Avraham 271:20
[13] Orach Chaim 271:17
[14] Ta”z 271:12. The Alter Rebbe rules that the Challahs are covered even when making Kiddush over them.
[15] See Be’er Moshe 6:134 who opposes relying on this
[16] Elya Rabbah and Tehillah L’dovid 271:13
[17] Minchas Shabbos as quoted in Shemiras Shabbos Kehilchasa
[18] Rabbi Shlomo Zalman Auerbach Shulchan Shlomo. The Kehillas Yaakov would not cover the Challahs if they were in plastic bags.
[19] Mordechai and Tosfos Rabbeinu Peretz
[20] Ben Ish Chai. Eshel Avraham Butshash 271:12
[21] Aruch Hashulchan 299:14