Seudah Shlishit
Encyclopedia
Seudah Shlishit is the "third meal" customarily eaten by Sabbath-observing Jews on Shabbat
(observed on Saturdays).
, the meal is to be eaten in the afternoon. It is usually the smallest of the three meals, often consisting of foods such as salads and gefilte fish
in Ashkenazi custom and tuna, harissa
, and fruits in Mizrachi
and Sephardi
customs.
It has special significance because it is a mitzvah
("commandment") to eat three meals on the Sabbath. In Hasidic
communities, this mitzvah is carried out with great enthusiasm. In some Hassidic circles, this third meal continues hours after the Sabbath has officially ended. The lights might be turned off, either by a timer, or by a person after the Sabbath has ended. Some have a custom to rise and "accept the Kingdom of Heaven", by reciting "A-donai melech, A-donai malach, A-donai yimloch l'olam va'ed!"(The Lord is King, the Lord was King, the Lord will always be King) and "Hear Israel, the Lord is our God, the Lord is One
" (Sh'ma Yisrael, A-donai E-loheinu, A-donai Echad).
While most poskim
(Jewish legal decisors) encourage people to eat bread at this meal, most agree that eating cake or fruit will minimally suffice. However, many Jews of the Hasidic
Chabad-Lubavitch
community have a custom to specifically refrain from eating bread at this meal, as do some German Jews
.
Special Sabbath songs that are often sung at this meal include Bnei Heichala (a Kabblaistic hymn by Rabbi Isaac Luria
), Mizmor L'David (23rd Psalm
), and Yedid Nefesh
(a piyyut
, or liturgical poem, composed by 16th century Kabbalist Rabbi Eliezer Azikri). Some also finish the morning hymn Baruch Adonai Yom Yom, starting either from the words B'vo'o M'Edom or Y'tzaveh Tzur Chasdo. Many recite the "Acceptance of the Kingdom of Heaven" before the last verse of this hymn. Some sing other Sabbath morning hymns, and some Kabbalistic hymns for the third meal, such as Kel Mistater.
Although according to some opinions one is required to recite kiddush
at this meal, most say it is not necessary. However, some have either maintained the recitation of kiddush as a custom, or merely partake of some wine or grape juice in order to recite the blessing, but do not consider it as the recitation of kiddush. Others have no particular custom as to the partaking of wine or grape juice at this meal.
(Tractate Shabbat 117b) states that a Jew must eat three meals on the Sabbath day, based on a derivation from a Biblical passage referring to Shabbat. Some rabbinic commentators
conjecture that this three meal requirement was instituted in order to lend a special measure of honor to Shabbat, since the normative practice at the time was to eat two meals in the course of a normal weekday: one during the day and one at night.
Later rabbinic sources list great spiritual rewards for eating this third meal and state that it is equivalent to all the meals combined. Indeed, while sometimes called seudah shlishit, or "third meal," it is often called shalosh seudos, "three meals" for its significance.
While not described as a required act, it has become common practice today. In commemoration of the double portion of manna
that fell for Shabbat, it is customary to have two loaves of bread at each meal. Among European Jewry
this bread often takes the form of the traditional braided challah
, while Middle Eastern Jews
normally use pita
. Some Ashkenazic Jews also use matzah for this meal.
Shabbat
Shabbat is the seventh day of the Jewish week and a day of rest in Judaism. Shabbat is observed from a few minutes before sunset on Friday evening until a few minutes after when one would expect to be able to see three stars in the sky on Saturday night. The exact times, therefore, differ from...
(observed on Saturdays).
Practices
According to HalakhaHalakha
Halakha — also transliterated Halocho , or Halacha — is the collective body of Jewish law, including biblical law and later talmudic and rabbinic law, as well as customs and traditions.Judaism classically draws no distinction in its laws between religious and ostensibly non-religious life; Jewish...
, the meal is to be eaten in the afternoon. It is usually the smallest of the three meals, often consisting of foods such as salads and gefilte fish
Gefilte fish
Gefilte fish is a poached fish mince stuffed into the fish skin.More common since the Second World War are the Polish patties similar to quenelles or fish balls made from a mixture of ground deboned fish, mostly carp or pike...
in Ashkenazi custom and tuna, harissa
Harissa
Harissa is a Tunisian hot chili sauce commonly eaten in North Africa whose main ingredients are piri piri , serrano peppers and other hot chili peppers and spices such as garlic paste, coriander, red chili powder, caraway as well as some vegetable or olive oil...
, and fruits in Mizrachi
Mizrahi Jews
Mizrahi Jews or Mizrahiyim, , also referred to as Adot HaMizrach are Jews descended from the Jewish communities of the Middle East, North Africa and the Caucasus...
and Sephardi
Sephardi Jews
Sephardi Jews is a general term referring to the descendants of the Jews who lived in the Iberian Peninsula before their expulsion in the Spanish Inquisition. It can also refer to those who use a Sephardic style of liturgy or would otherwise define themselves in terms of the Jewish customs and...
customs.
It has special significance because it is a mitzvah
Mitzvah
The primary meaning of the Hebrew word refers to precepts and commandments as commanded by God...
("commandment") to eat three meals on the Sabbath. In Hasidic
Hasidic Judaism
Hasidic Judaism or Hasidism, from the Hebrew —Ḥasidut in Sephardi, Chasidus in Ashkenazi, meaning "piety" , is a branch of Orthodox Judaism that promotes spirituality and joy through the popularisation and internalisation of Jewish mysticism as the fundamental aspects of the Jewish faith...
communities, this mitzvah is carried out with great enthusiasm. In some Hassidic circles, this third meal continues hours after the Sabbath has officially ended. The lights might be turned off, either by a timer, or by a person after the Sabbath has ended. Some have a custom to rise and "accept the Kingdom of Heaven", by reciting "A-donai melech, A-donai malach, A-donai yimloch l'olam va'ed!"(The Lord is King, the Lord was King, the Lord will always be King) and "Hear Israel, the Lord is our God, the Lord is One
Shema Yisrael
Shema Yisrael are the first two words of a section of the Torah that is a centerpiece of the morning and evening Jewish prayer services...
" (Sh'ma Yisrael, A-donai E-loheinu, A-donai Echad).
While most poskim
Posek
Posek is the term in Jewish law for "decider"—a legal scholar who decides the Halakha in cases of law where previous authorities are inconclusive or in those situations where no halakhic precedent exists....
(Jewish legal decisors) encourage people to eat bread at this meal, most agree that eating cake or fruit will minimally suffice. However, many Jews of the Hasidic
Hasidic Judaism
Hasidic Judaism or Hasidism, from the Hebrew —Ḥasidut in Sephardi, Chasidus in Ashkenazi, meaning "piety" , is a branch of Orthodox Judaism that promotes spirituality and joy through the popularisation and internalisation of Jewish mysticism as the fundamental aspects of the Jewish faith...
Chabad-Lubavitch
Chabad-Lubavitch
Chabad-Lubavitch is a Chasidic movement in Orthodox Judaism. One of the world's larger and best-known Chasidic movements, its official headquarters is in the Crown Heights section of Brooklyn, New York...
community have a custom to specifically refrain from eating bread at this meal, as do some German Jews
Yekke
The term Yekke is a generally jovial, mildly derogatory term primarily used by Jews to refer to their coreligionists from Germany or who adhere to the Western-European minhag....
.
Special Sabbath songs that are often sung at this meal include Bnei Heichala (a Kabblaistic hymn by Rabbi Isaac Luria
Isaac Luria
Isaac Luria , also called Yitzhak Ben Shlomo Ashkenazi acronym "The Ari" "Ari-Hakadosh", or "Arizal", meaning "The Lion", was a foremost rabbi and Jewish mystic in the community of Safed in the Galilee region of Ottoman Palestine...
), Mizmor L'David (23rd Psalm
Psalms
The Book of Psalms , commonly referred to simply as Psalms, is a book of the Hebrew Bible and the Christian Bible...
), and Yedid Nefesh
Yedid Nefesh
Yedid Nefesh is the title of a piyyut. It is usually sung on the Jewish Sabbath.-Traditions and origin:...
(a piyyut
Piyyut
A piyyut or piyut is a Jewish liturgical poem, usually designated to be sung, chanted, or recited during religious services. Piyyutim have been written since Temple times...
, or liturgical poem, composed by 16th century Kabbalist Rabbi Eliezer Azikri). Some also finish the morning hymn Baruch Adonai Yom Yom, starting either from the words B'vo'o M'Edom or Y'tzaveh Tzur Chasdo. Many recite the "Acceptance of the Kingdom of Heaven" before the last verse of this hymn. Some sing other Sabbath morning hymns, and some Kabbalistic hymns for the third meal, such as Kel Mistater.
Although according to some opinions one is required to recite kiddush
Kiddush
Kiddush , literally, "sanctification," is a blessing recited over wine or grape juice to sanctify the Shabbat and Jewish holidays.-Significance:...
at this meal, most say it is not necessary. However, some have either maintained the recitation of kiddush as a custom, or merely partake of some wine or grape juice in order to recite the blessing, but do not consider it as the recitation of kiddush. Others have no particular custom as to the partaking of wine or grape juice at this meal.
Shabbat meals
The TalmudTalmud
The Talmud is a central text of mainstream Judaism. It takes the form of a record of rabbinic discussions pertaining to Jewish law, ethics, philosophy, customs and history....
(Tractate Shabbat 117b) states that a Jew must eat three meals on the Sabbath day, based on a derivation from a Biblical passage referring to Shabbat. Some rabbinic commentators
Rabbinic literature
Rabbinic literature, in its broadest sense, can mean the entire spectrum of rabbinic writings throughout Jewish history. However, the term often refers specifically to literature from the Talmudic era, as opposed to medieval and modern rabbinic writing, and thus corresponds with the Hebrew term...
conjecture that this three meal requirement was instituted in order to lend a special measure of honor to Shabbat, since the normative practice at the time was to eat two meals in the course of a normal weekday: one during the day and one at night.
Later rabbinic sources list great spiritual rewards for eating this third meal and state that it is equivalent to all the meals combined. Indeed, while sometimes called seudah shlishit, or "third meal," it is often called shalosh seudos, "three meals" for its significance.
While not described as a required act, it has become common practice today. In commemoration of the double portion of manna
Manna
Manna or Manna wa Salwa , sometimes or archaically spelled mana, is the name of an edible substance that God provided for the Israelites during their travels in the desert according to the Bible.It was said to be sweet to the taste, like honey....
that fell for Shabbat, it is customary to have two loaves of bread at each meal. Among European Jewry
Ashkenazi Jews
Ashkenazi Jews, also known as Ashkenazic Jews or Ashkenazim , are the Jews descended from the medieval Jewish communities along the Rhine in Germany from Alsace in the south to the Rhineland in the north. Ashkenaz is the medieval Hebrew name for this region and thus for Germany...
this bread often takes the form of the traditional braided challah
Challah
Challah also khale ,, berches , barkis , bergis , chałka , vánočka , zopf and kitke , is a special braided bread eaten on...
, while Middle Eastern Jews
Mizrahi Jews
Mizrahi Jews or Mizrahiyim, , also referred to as Adot HaMizrach are Jews descended from the Jewish communities of the Middle East, North Africa and the Caucasus...
normally use pita
Pita
Pita or pitta is a round pocket bread widely consumed in many Middle Eastern, Mediterranean, and Balkan cuisines. It is prevalent in Greece, the Balkans the Levant, the Arabian Peninsula and Turkey. The "pocket" in pita bread is created by steam, which puffs up the dough...
. Some Ashkenazic Jews also use matzah for this meal.