27 Jan PARSHAS BESHALACH COVERING THE CHALLAH

See that Hashem has
given you the
Shabbos; therefore,
He gave you two
days’ worth of bread
on the sixth day.
Shemos 16:29

The Source
The Gemara in Pesachim (100b) teaches
that one should not bring bread out to the
table unless he has already recited
Kiddush. Tosafos (s.v. she’ein) explains
that our tables differ from those that were
used in the times of the Gemara. They
used to recline on large couches or
cushions and eat off of small tray tables
that were brought out with food on them.
Thus, when the Gemara speaks of bringing
out the table following Kiddush, it is
similar to our uncovering the challah after
Kiddush.
Three Reasons for Covering the
Challah
Tosafos quotes from the She’iltos that the
reason we cover our challos, is “ki heichi
d’teisi seudasa b’yakra d’Shabta” – so
that it will be evident that the meal is
being conducted in honor of Shabbos. We
reveal the food only once we have made
Kiddush and have declared that everything
that is to come is lechavod Shabbos
Kodesh.
Tosafos cites a second reason in the name
of a “yesh mefaresh” – that the cover over
the challah is a zeicher to the mann that
fell with a cover of tal above and below it.
It is certainly logical to associate our
actions during the seudah with the mann,
as the Gemara in Shabbos (118b) teaches
that the entire source for both lechem
mishneh and shalosh seudos relates to the
mann.
A third reason for covering the challos is
given by the Yerushalmi, cited by the Tur
(OC 271): “shelo yireh hapas boshto” – so
that the bread will not be embarrassed.
This is not a statement about the challah’s
“feelings,” but rather a rule related to
hilchos berachos. Normally, the beracha
on the challah would precede that on the
wine. But since the mitzvah of Kiddush
must be done before the seudah, we cover
the challah as a way of “pretending” that
it’s not there, so that we can recite the
Borei Pri HaGafen prior to the HaMotzi.
Depending on which of the reasons is
assumed to be the ikar, there are at least
nine practical differences that can be
presented.
How Long to Keep Them Covered
If we assume that the reason to cover the
challos is kavod Shabbos, one can remove
the cover immediately after completing
the Kiddush, as it has been announced
that these challos are being consumed in
honor of Shabbos. The same is true if we
assume we cover the challos to avoid
embarrassing the bread. Once HaGafen
has been recited, there is no reason not to
reveal the challos.
However, if the reason is zeicher lemann,
the Mishna Berura (271:41) cites the
Chayei Adam’s view that one should keep
the challos covered even during the
beracha of HaMotzi, as this is the main
zeicher. Rav Elyashiv points out that for
the sake of the beracha, one should ideally
uncover the bread during the HaMotzi. A
simple compromise is to reveal part of the
bread and recite the beracha with the rest
covered.
During Seudah Shelishis
Is there any reason to cover the challah at
the third Shabbos meal, considering that
no Kiddush is recited? If we assume that
the reason is zeicher lemann, one should
cover the challos, as this seudah is eaten
in honor of the three times the word
“hayom” is written in the parshas hamann.
If, however, the reason is kavod Shabbos
or avoiding embarrassing the bread, there
is no reason to cover the challah at seudah
shelishis.
Indeed, the Aruch HaShulchan (OC
291:10) writes that our minhag is not to
cover the challos at this time. This is
consistent with his ruling (299:14) that
the main reason is to avoid embarrassing
the bread. This is recorded as being the
practice of the Chazon Ish as well (see
Dinim VeHanhagos 10:11).
The Kaf HaChaim (OC 271:54), however,
writes that one should cover the challos at
the afternoon seudah, both on the top and
the bottom.
Covering the Bottom
If the reason to cover the challah is zeicher
lemann, Tosafos (ibid.) writes that one
should have a cover both on top and on
the bottom of the bread. This is because
the mann was sandwiched between two
layers of tal when it was presented to the
Jewish People. Obviously, the other
reasons would necessitate only a cover on
the top of the challos.

The Shulchan Aruch (OC 271:9) rules that
one should have a cloth underneath the
challah and another cloth on top of it. It is
questionable as to whether a tablecloth is
sufficient to fulfill this requirement, since
it is intended for the entire table and not
just in honor of the challah. However, Rav
Nissim Karelitz (Chut Shani 4:85:18)
rules that it is sufficient (and the challah
board is not a chatzitzah).
The Be’er Moshe (6:134) suggests that a
challah board is not a proper cover on the
bottom, since the Shulchan Aruch requires
a “mappah,” implying it should be a cloth.
There is certainly room to argue and
suggest that since the board is in honor of
the challah, it counts as a bottom covering.
Who Has to Cover Their Challah?
If we assume that the main reason to cover
the challah is not to embarrass the bread,
it would seem to be sufficient for only the
mekadesh to cover his challah. If others at
the table have a challah roll in front of
them, they would not have to cover it. If
we adopt the other two reasons, however,
every challah at the table would have to
be covered. Indeed, the Shulchan Shlomo
(271:16:3) states this explicitly.
Nevertheless, Rav Moshe Feinstein (Igros
Moshe, OC 5:20:18) rules that everyone
should cover the challah, even according
to the reason of avoiding embarrassing the
challah.
What Should Be Covered?
If the reason for covering the challah is
kavod Shabbos, it follows that any food
that is on the table during Kiddush should
be covered, as the entire seudah is being
served in honor of Shabbos. If, however,
the reason is zeicher lemann, it is logical
that only the challah itself should be
covered.
The question arises regarding the reason
of avoiding embarrassing the bread. The
Kitzur Shulchan Aruch (55:5) and Levush
Mordechai (1:46) rule that both bread and
mezonos should be covered. Others
suggest that it is sufficient to cover the
bread.
Kiddush On Challah
If one has no wine, he is permitted to
recite Kiddush over the challos. Would
one be obligated to cover them during the
Kiddush? If the reason is kavod Shabbos
or zeicher lemann, one should cover the
challah, but if the reason is not to
embarrass the bread, there is obviously no

reason to cover the challah while making
Kiddush on it.
A Clear Challah Cover
If one only has a clear plastic cover with
which to cover the challos, it would seem
that he has accomplished the zeicher
lemann, as it is more similar to a cover of
tal. For the reason of kavod Shabbos and
so that the bread should not be
embarrassed, it would seem that a clear
cover is insufficient. Indeed, Rav Nissim
Karelitz (85:15) rules this way. Rav
Shlomo Zalman Auerbach is quoted
(Shulchan Shlomo 271:16) as ruling that
as long as the challos are covered, it is not
important whether they are visible or not.
A White Cover
According to the reason of zeicher
lemann, it might be a hiddur to specifically
use a white cover, as the mann is described
(Bamidbar 11:7) as being white. This is
recommended by the Be’er Moshe
(6:134). Indeed, the Malbim (Shemos
16:31) suggests that the mann was clear
during the week and white on Shabbos.
Bringing the Challos to the Table After
Kiddush
The Sefer Maaseh Rav (118) writes that
the Vilna Gaon would not bring the
challah to the table until after Kiddush. If
the reasons for covering the challah are
kavod Shabbos and avoiding embarrassing
the bread, there would be no reason to
cover them at this point. If the reason is
zeicher lemann, it would still make sense
to cover them while one recites HaMotzi.
Conclusion
In general, it is proper to try to cover as
many opinions as possible when observing
halacha, especially when it is fairly easy
to do so. Thus, when one is able to, he
should try to cover all three reasons when
covering the challah. If it is difficult, or if
one has a family minhag to follow a
specific reason, one can certainly be
lenient, as long as the challos are covered
during Kiddush.