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DAAT · LEVEL 1 — INTRODUCTION
Siman רצ״א · 6 Seifim
Seudah shlishis of Shabbat — to discover and understand
סימן רצ״א
דִּין שָׁלֹשׁ סְעֻדּוֹת
🌱 Beginner Level · מתחילים
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First approach to Siman רצ״א: full Hebrew text of the Mechaber, clear English translation, pedagogical explanations of halachic concepts, modern practical cases and summary.
Topic: Seudah shlishis of Shabbat
Source: Shulchan Aruch Orach Chaim siman רצ״א (6 seifim)
Compiled by: Rav Yossef Haim Samama
DAAT · daattorah.com
📑 Study Plan
1. The text of the Shulchan Aruch — the 6 seifim of the Mechaber
2. The general context: why this siman, what is the question?
3. Key halachic concepts of this siman
4. Detailed seifim — one by one
5. The Mishnah Berurah — first entries
6. The position of the Rema — Ashkenazi vs. Sefardi differences
7. Modern practical applications
8. Practical summary and key rules
9. Review questions
1. The text of the Shulchan Aruch
Siman רצ״א contains 6 seifim of the Mechaber (Rabbi Yosef Karo) which codify the halachos relating to seudah shlishis of Shabbat.
Seif א — Maximum care for seudah shlishis
דין שלש סעודות. ובו ו סעיפים:
יהא זהיר מאוד לקיים סעודה שלישית ואף אם הוא שבע יכול לקיים אותה בכביצה ואם אי אפשר לו כלל לאכול אינו חייב לצער את עצמו והחכם עיניו בראשו שלא ימלא בטנו בסעודת הבוקר כדי ליתן מקום לסעודה שלישית: הגה ומי שלא אכל בליל שבת יאכל שלש סעודות ביום השבת (הרא״ש פ' ע״פ):
Translation: "One shall be very careful to fulfill seudah shlishis. Even if he is satisfied, he can fulfill it with a ka-beitzah (approx. 56g, the volume of an egg). And if he cannot eat at all, he is not obligated to pain himself. And the wise man has his eyes in his head — he should not fill his belly at the morning meal so as to leave room for seudah shlishis. Rema: And one who did not eat on Friday night — he should make 3 seudos during Shabbat day (Rosh, perek Arvei Pesachim)."
Four principles of this seif:
- Maximum care — the term "zahir me'od" is rare in the Shulchan Aruch, indicating the unique importance of this mitzvah.
- Ka-beitzah minimum — 56g of bread suffices even when satisfied.
- Health preservation — no obligation to pain oneself: ואם אי אפשר לו כלל לאכול אינו חייב לצער את עצמו, and the Mishnah Berurah gives the reason — דהסעודה לעונג ניתנה ולא לצער (רצ״א ס״ק ג).
- Preventive strategy — eat less in the morning to preserve appetite. "Chacham einav b'rosho" ("the wise man has his eyes in his head") = anticipation, planning.
Source of the mitzvah: Shabbat 117b — "Rabbi Yochanan: Three seudos are obligatory on Shabbat," and the verse (Shemot 16:25) in which "ha-yom" appears three times. But the verse is an asmachta, not a Biblical source proper: the Mishnah Berurah says so plainly — ואסמכוהו אקרא (רצ״א ס״ק א). Whether the obligation is from the Torah or Rabbinic is a machlokes — see level 2 — and the Mechaber himself writes only יהא זהיר מאוד לקיים סעודה שלישית.
What this seif says:
- Be most careful to fulfil seudah shelishis — יהא זהיר מאוד.
- Even when sated, one fulfils it with a ke-beitzah.
- But if it is wholly impossible for him to eat, he need not distress himself.
- The wise man has his eyes in his head: he does not fill himself at the morning meal, so as to leave room.
- Rama's gloss: one who did not eat on Friday night eats three meals during the Shabbos day.
Seif ב — Time for seudah shlishis and the order vis-à-vis Minchah
זמנה משיגיע זמן המנחה דהיינו משש שעות ומחצה ולמעלה ואם עשאה קודם לכן לא קיים מצות סעודה שלישית: הגה י״א דאסור לשתות מים בין מנחה למעריב בשבת דאז חוזרים הנשמות לגיהנם וע״כ אין לאכול סעודה שלישית בין מנחה למעריב אלא יאכל אותה קודם מנחה (תוס' והרא״ש ומרדכי פ' ע״פ) וי״א דיותר טוב להתפלל מנחה תחלה (רמב״ם וטור והגהות מרדכי והגהות מיי' פ״ל ואגור) וכן נוהגים לכתחלה בכל מדינות אלו מ״מ אין לשתות מים מן הנהרות אבל בבית שרי וכ״ש שאר משקין דשרי (הגהות מיי' פ״ל) וי״א דאין אסור אלא תוך י״ב חודש של אביו ואמו (אגודה ומרדכי פ' ע״פ) וי״א דאיסור זה של שתיית מים אינו רק בע״ש (תוס' והרא״ש ומרדכי בשם רבי משולם והגהות מיי'):
Translation: "Its time begins when Minchah-time arrives — namely, from the 6½th hour (noon + 30 min in halachic hours) onward. If he did it before, he has not fulfilled the mitzvah of seudah shlishis. Rema: Some say it is forbidden to drink water between Minchah and Maariv on Shabbat, because the neshamos [of the departed] return to gehinnom [after the Shabbat pause]. Therefore one should not eat seudah shlishis between Minchah and Maariv, but rather before Minchah (Tosafos, Rosh, Mordechai). And some say it is preferable to daven Minchah first (Rambam, Tur, Hagahos Mordechai, Hagahos Maimoniyos, Agur) — and so is the lechatchilah custom in all our lands. Nevertheless, one should not drink water from the rivers [during this time], but at home it is permitted; and certainly other beverages. Some say this prohibition applies only within the 12 months of mourning for one's father or mother. And some say this prohibition on water applies only on Erev Shabbat."
Minimum time: six and a half halachic hours from the start of the day — that is Minchah gedolah. The corresponding clock time shifts through the year: it is computed, not memorised — the limit from which Minchah can begin. Seudah shlishis before this moment = mitzvah not fulfilled.
Question of order — Minchah / seudah shlishis:
- Tosafos/Rosh: Seudah shlishis before Minchah (to avoid water between Minchah and Maariv).
- Rambam/Tur/Rema (= dominant minhag): Minchah first, then seudah shlishis.
What this seif says:
- Its time begins when the time of minchah arrives — six and a half hours and onward.
- Made before that hour, it does not fulfil the mitzvah of seudah shelishis.
- Rama's gloss: some forbid drinking water between minchah and maariv on Shabbos, and therefore eat seudah shelishis before minchah; and some say it is better to pray minchah first.
Seif ג — If the morning seudah extends past Minchah-time
אם נמשכה סעודת הבוקר עד שמגיע זמן המנחה יפסיק הסעודה ויברך ברכת המזון ויטול ידיו ויברך ברכת המוציא ויסעוד ונכון הדבר שאם לא היה עושה כן מאחר שנמשכה סעודת הבוקר עד אותה שעה לא היה יכול לאכול אח״כ אלא אכילה גסה: הגה אבל מי שיודע שאפשר לאכול אחר שיתפלל מנחה עם הצבור לא יעשה סעודה שלישית קודם מנחה מיהו אם עשאה יצא:
Translation: "If the morning seudah has extended until Minchah-time (6½ hours), he should interrupt the seudah, recite Birkas Hamazon, wash his hands again, recite Hamotzi, and make seudah shlishis. And it is proper to proceed this way because, otherwise, having extended until that hour, he would only be able to eat afterward by achilas gassa (forced/heavy eating, which is not a real seudah). Rema: But one who knows that he will be able to eat after davening Minchah with the tzibbur — should not make seudah shlishis before Minchah. Nevertheless, if he did so [before], he is yotzei."
Case of an extended morning meal: If still at the table when Minchah gedolah arrives, one stops: Birkas Hamazon → netilas yadayim → Hamotzi → new seudah. Technically these are 2 seudos back-to-back, one closed by Birkas Hamazon, the other beginning after. The logic: one needs minimal appetite for seudah shlishis to be a real seudah and not "achilas gassa."
Achilas gassa (אכילה גסה): "forced eating" — eating without appetite, purely from halachic obligation. Halacha considers this not a genuine act of eating and it does not discharge the obligation. Importance: if you plan seudah shlishis, plan also to have appetite at that time.
What this seif says:
- If the morning meal has run on until the time of minchah: he interrupts, says birkas hamazon, washes again, says hamotzi and eats.
- And this is right: otherwise, the morning meal having run so long, he could afterwards eat only by achilah gassah (forced eating).
- Rama's gloss: but one who knows he can eat after praying minchah with the congregation should not make seudah shelishis before minchah — though if he did, he has fulfilled it.
Seif ד — No Kiddush, but lechem mishneh
א״צ לקדש בסעודה שלישית אבל צריך לבצוע על שתי ככרות: הגה ואם סועד הרבה פעמים בשבת צריך לכל סעודה שתי ככרות (אבודרהם ומיי') ולפחות לא יהיה לו בסעודה שלישית פחות מככר א' שלם [טור ומרדכי פ' כ״כ] ומזה פשט המנהג להקל לבצוע בסעודה שלישית רק בככר אחד שלם אבל יש להחמיר ליקח שנים:
Translation: "No need for Kiddush at seudah shlishis. But one must break bread on 2 whole loaves (lechem mishneh). Rema: And one who eats many times on Shabbat needs 2 loaves at each seudah (Avudraham, Maimoniyos). At minimum, at seudah shlishis there should be no less than 1 whole loaf (Tur, Mordechai). And from there the minhag became lenient to break bread at seudah shlishis on 1 whole loaf only. But it is proper to be machmir and take 2."
Three differences from the previous 2 seudos:
- No Kiddush — not required (the daytime Kiddush was already made in the morning). Some still make Kiddush on wine by custom.
- Lechem mishneh — two loaves. The minhag of one is reported; the Rema concludes to take two.
- Not necessarily meat/fish — often a light meal.
What this seif says:
- No kiddush is needed at seudah shelishis.
- But one must break bread over two loaves (לחם משנה).
- Rama's gloss: one who eats several meals on Shabbos needs two loaves at each; and at the least, not less than one whole loaf at seudah shelishis. From this the custom spread to be lenient with one — but it is proper to be stringent and take two.
Seif ה — What to use for seudah shlishis? Bread, mezonos, other foods?
צריך לעשותה בפת ויש אומרים שיכול לעשותה בכל מאכל העשוי באחד מחמשת מיני דגן וי״א שיכול לעשותה בדברים שמלפתים בהם הפת כבשר ודגים אבל לא בפירות וי״א דאפילו בפירות יכול לעשותה וסברא ראשונה עיקר שצריך לעשותה בפת אא״כ הוא שבע ביותר: הגה או במקום שאי אפשר לו לאכול פת כגון בערב פסח שחל להיות בשבת שאסור לו לאכול פת לאחר מנחה כדלקמן בהלכות פסח: [מהרי״ל הלכות פסח]:
Translation: "It must be made with bread. Some say it can be made with any food made from the 5 species of grain [wheat, barley, spelt, rye, oats]. Others say it can be made with what accompanies bread (milpesin) — meat, fish — but not with fruits. And others say even with fruits. The first opinion is the main one: it must be made with bread, unless one is too satisfied. Rema: Or in a place where one cannot eat bread, such as Erev Pesach falling on Shabbat, where it is forbidden to eat bread after Minchah (cf. Hilchos Pesach)."
4 levels of practice:
- Ideal: bread (lechem hamotzi).
- Bedieved if satisfied: mezonos (5 grains).
- Bedieved even further: meat, fish, main dish.
- Ultimate bedieved: fruits.
Erev Pesach on Shabbat (exceptional case): one cannot eat chametz (forbidden from Pesach after 11am Friday) nor matzah (forbidden on Pesach day before the Seder). Solution: seudah shlishis with fish, meat, or matzah ashirah (non-chametz bread). Annual but rare (approx. every 14 years).
What this seif says:
- It must be made with bread.
- Some say: with any food made of one of the five species of grain. Some: with what accompanies bread — meat and fish — but not fruit. Some: even with fruit.
- The first view is the main one: it must be made with bread — unless he is exceedingly sated.
- Rama's gloss: or where it is impossible for him to eat bread — such as erev Pesach falling on Shabbos.
Seif ו — Women are obligated
נשים חייבות בסעודה שלישית:
Translation: "Women are obligated in seudah shlishis."
Reason: the Shabbat seudos are positive mitzvos time-bound, from which women would normally be exempt. But here they are included by the principle "af hen hayu b'oso ha-nes" ("they too were in the miracle") — the Exodus / giving of Shabbat applied equally to women. Thus they have the same obligation of 3 seudos as men.
Full text: these 6 seifim constitute the entire codification of the Mechaber on this topic. Each specifies a case, condition, or exception.
What this seif says:
- Women are obligated in seudah shelishis.
2. The general context
What does this siman discuss?
Our siman codifies the 3rd obligatory seudah of Shabbat — the seudah shlishis ("third meal"), also called "shaleshudes" (Yiddish) or "raava de-raavin" ("favor of favors" — Zohar) — held in the afternoon between Minchah and the end of Shabbat.
Talmudic source (Shabbat 117b): Rabbi Yochanan: "3 seudos are obligatory on Shabbat." Biblical source derived from Shemot 16:25 where the word "ha-yom" (today) is repeated 3 times — teaching 3 seudos.
Particularities of seudah shlishis:
- No Kiddush (already made in the morning)
- Lechem mishneh disputed (lechatchilah 2; minhag 1 whole)
- Food: ideally bread, otherwise mezonos, meat, fish, or fruits
- Time: from 6½ hours (Minchah gedolah) until the end of Shabbat
- Traditional zemiros: "Yedid Nefesh," "Mizmor le-David"
Place in Hilchos Shabbat
- Siman 271-273 — Seudah 1 (Friday night)
- Siman 289 — Seudah 2 (Shabbat morning)
- Siman 290 — 100 berachos + beis midrash (interlude)
- Siman 291 — Seudah 3 / seudah shlishis (our siman)
- Siman 292 — Minchah of Shabbat
- Siman 293 — Maariv of motzaei Shabbat
3. Key halachic concepts
1. סעודה שלישית (seudah shlishis): 3rd obligatory Shabbat seudah. Source: Shabbat 117b; Shemot 16:25.
2. כביצה (ka-beitzah): volume of an egg — approx. 56 grams. Minimum required if satisfied.
3. משש שעות ומחצה: from the 6½th halachic hour = Minchah gedolah. Before this moment, the mitzvah of seudah shlishis is not fulfilled.
4. אכילה גסה (achilas gassa): forced eating without appetite. Halacha considers this not a genuine act of eating.
5. לחם משנה at seudah shlishis: the Mechaber requires two whole loaves — אבל צריך לבצוע על שתי ככרות. The Rema reports the minhag of one whole loaf, and concludes: אבל יש להחמיר ליקח שנים. The Shulchan Aruch HaRav rules the same (רצ״א:ז).
6. רעוא דרעוין (raava de-raavin): "Favor of favors" — Kabbalistic name for seudah shlishis (Zohar), a moment of maximum grace at the end of Shabbat.
7. חמשת מיני דגן (5 species of grain): wheat, barley, spelt, rye, oats — basis for mezonos.
4. Overview of the 6 seifim
| Seif | Topic | Halacha |
|---|---|---|
| א | Importance | Maximum care; ka-beitzah suffices if satisfied; no obligation to pain oneself; plan from the morning |
| ב | Time | From 6½ hours (Minchah gedolah); before Minchah (Sefardim) or after Minchah (Ashkenazim — current minhag) |
| ג | Extended morning meal | Interrupt with Birkas Hamazon, netilah, Hamotzi, new seudah |
| ד | Lechem mishneh | No Kiddush; two loaves (the Mechaber); the minhag of one is reported, but the Rema concludes to take two |
| ה | Foods | Ideally bread; satisfied → mezonos, meat, fish; ultimate → fruits; Erev Pesach-Shabbat: exception |
| ו | Women | Obligated (af hen hayu b'oso ha-nes) |
5. The Mishnah Berurah — first entries
The Mishnah Berurah of Rabbi Yisrael Meir Kagan (Chafetz Chaim) counts 26 entries on this siman. Here are the first — to better understand the seifim:
משנה ברורה (א) — (א) יהא זהיר מאד - וכדאיתא בגמרא חייב אדם לאכול ג' סעודות בשבת ואסמכוהו אקרא דכתיב ויאמר משה אכלוהו היום כי שבת היום לה' היום לא תמצאוהו בשדה ותלתא היום כתוב בקרא זה ואחז״ל כל המקיים שלש סעודות בשבת ניצול משלש פורעניות מחבלו של משיח ומדינה של גיהנם וממלחמת גוג ומגוג שנאמר וגו'. ואף לעני העובר ממקום למקום צריך ליתן לו כל הג' סעודות בשבת וכדאיתא ביו״ד בסי' ר״נ ועיין לעיל בסימן רמ״ב במ״ב דאף בשביל סע…
משנה ברורה (ב) — (ב) בכביצה - לאו דוקא אלא מעט יותר מכביצה דכביצה מקרי עדיין אכילת עראי כמ״ש סוף סימן רל״ב ולא חשיב סעודה [מ״א] וי״א שאפילו בכזית יוצא ידי הסעודה ונכון להחמיר לכתחלה אם אפשר לו:
משנה ברורה (ג) — (ג) אינו חייב וכו' - דהסעודה לעונג ניתנה ולא לצער:
For the full text of all 26 entries, consult Sefaria: Mishnah Berurah 291.
6. The position of the Rema
Wherever the Rema (Rabbi Moshe Isserles) adds a הגהה (gloss), he generally clarifies the Ashkenazi nuances vis-à-vis the Sefardi Mechaber. Look carefully at the Hebrew text above to spot the passages introduced by הגה.
The Rema's additions in this siman:
- Seif א: one who did not eat Friday night must make 3 seudos during the day.
- Seif ב: lengthy addition on the order Minchah/seudah shlishis; current minhag: Minchah first (Rambam/Tur); and clarifications on the prohibition of drinking water between Minchah and Maariv.
- Seif ג: one who knows he can eat after Minchah — does not make seudah shlishis before Minchah.
- Seif ד: two whole loaves; the minhag of one is reported by the Rema, who nonetheless concludes to take two.
- Seif ה: Erev Pesach-Shabbat — exception (no bread).
7. Modern practical applications
| Situation | Practical halacha |
|---|---|
| Very satisfied after morning meal | Ka-beitzah (approx. 56g) of bread suffices. At minimum. |
| No appetite at all | No obligation to pain oneself. Make a symbolic seudah (fruits, cake). |
| Morning meal that runs long | At Minchah gedolah, interrupt: Birkas Hamazon → netilah → Hamotzi → new bread. Technically 2 seudos. |
| Shul order: Minchah before seudah shlishis | Current minhag (Rambam, Tur, Rema). Older Sefardim preferred seudah before Minchah. |
| Seudah shlishis in the dark / end of Shabbat | Permitted to continue even after tzeis ha-kochavim (sunset); but avoid drinking water if personal mourning tradition. |
| Erev Pesach on Shabbat | No bread (chametz forbidden after 11am Friday). Seudah shlishis with fish/meat/matzah ashirah. Exceptional case. |
| Only 1 whole loaf | A reported minhag. The Mechaber requires two, and the Rema concludes to take two. |
| No bread available | Mezonos (cakes) → meat/fish → fruits (in order of preference). |
| Woman alone | Obligated equally to men. 3 seudos. |
| Traditional zemiros | "Yedid Nefesh," "Mizmor le-David," "Bnei Heichala" (Chassidim). A moment of great sweetness. |
Practical rule: seudah shlishis is the most delicate of the 3 seudos — one is often satisfied, not hungry, tired. That is precisely why halacha insists "zahir me'od": one must plan and make the effort.
8. Practical summary of the Siman
The 6 key teachings of Siman רצ״א:
- Maximum care — "zahir me'od." Plan from the morning.
- Time: from 6½ hours (Minchah gedolah). Not before.
- Order: current minhag = Minchah → seudah shlishis → Maariv.
- No Kiddush; lechem mishneh — two loaves (the Rema concludes to take two, despite the minhag of one).
- Foods: ideally bread; otherwise mezonos, meat, fish, or fruits (in descending order).
- Women obligated equally to men.
9. Review questions
Check your understanding:
- What is the Talmudic and Biblical source for the obligation of 3 seudos?
- What is the minimum time to begin seudah shlishis? And the maximum?
- What should I do if my morning meal extends until Minchah gedolah?
- Is Kiddush needed at seudah shlishis? And how many whole loaves?
- What can be used for seudah shlishis if there is no bread? Hierarchy of foods?
- If I am very satisfied, what is the minimum? And if I cannot eat at all?
- Are women obligated? What is the reason?
To go further
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