Eating Before Siyum

At what point does a meal become a Seudas Mitzva? If one is invited to a Siyyum during the Nine Days may one eat meat after washing and making Hamotzi even before the actual Siyyum is made?

Shalom!

Thank you for your question.

A seudas mitzva is any celebratory meal that makes a religious event or performance of a mitzva such as a brit milah, Pidyon haben, Bar Mitzvah, Siyum Masechet and more.

 Ultimately, any meal can be turned into a Seudat Mitzvah. (with regard to the Nine Days, only specific Seudot Mitzvah allow one to have meat, wine, etc.)  if words of Torah are shared and if zemiros and shvachos (songs and praise) are sung. (OC 670:2). As the Maharshal writes: “…any seudah that a person makes…for the purpose of giving praise to G-d, or to publicize the performance of a mitzva, or to publicize a miracle, is called a seudas mitzva.” (Yam Shel Shlomo, Bava Kamma 7:37)

With regard to a Siyum during the nine days  it would be permitted to begin eating meat even before the actual Siyum is heard ( Please see further on our web-site, for details of who are allowed to partake in such a meal)