Question: We were recently invited to a sheva
berachos on Shabbos. Everyone was asked to cover their challa at
their place before kiddush. Was this necessary?
Answer: The Gemara (Pesachim 100b) writes that
one shouldn’t bring in the table until after one has recited kiddush.
Rashbam quotes the Sheiltos who explains that this is to highlight the
importance of kiddush. Tosafos adds that as nowadays we sit around a
large table rather than our own individual ones and it isn’t practical to bring
the table in then, we cover the challos instead. This way we are still
honouring the kiddush properly. Tosafos writes that covering the challos
also serves to remind us of the man that fell between layers of dew to
preserve it.
The Rosh (Pesachim 10:3) and Tur (OC 271:9) quote the Gemara
Yerushalmi that teaches that as wheat is listed before wine in the shivas
haminim, the beracha for bread should ideally be recited before the beracha
for wine. Thus, one should cover one’s challa so as not to embarrass
the challa.
Sefer Leket Yosher (OC:p50) relates that the Terumas
Hadeshen would recite hamotzi and then give everyone a piece from his challa
so that they could partake of the lechem mishne. While those at his
table had their own challa, they were not covered. In an era when it was
normal for people to get married on Friday and celebrate their chasuna
at the Friday night dinner, he writes that only the one making kiddush
would need to cover their challos, as only they would need to be
concerned about embarrassing the challa.
Following this, R’ Menashe Klein (Mishne Halachos 11:216)
writes that we see that the main reason is not to embarrass the challa.
As it would have been the man of the house who would have collected the man,
it is sufficient just for him to cover his challa.
R’ Ephraim Greenblatt (Rivevos Ephraim 1:200; 2:115:66), however, disagrees. Firstly, we cannot ignore
these other reasons, and secondly, when people are listening to another recite kiddush,
it is considered as if they are reciting kiddush themselves (shomea
keoneh). Thus, everyone should cover their challos.
Likewise, the Mishna
Berura (271:41) writes that when one doesn’t have wine and so has to recite kiddush
on one’s challa one should still keep the challa covered because
of these other reasons.
In conclusion, there is a machlokes
as to whether others also need to cover their challos while listening to
kiddush. While it is commendable to do so, it is not strictly necessary.
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