Shavuos Milky Meal: Night or Day?

Hi, I am planning to host the Yom Tov meals at my home, and I would like to know what the halacha is regarding eating a milky meal on Shavuos. Does it have to be specifically at the night meal, or can it be the morning meal?

Thank you for your question.

The custom to eat milky foods on Shavuos has many different practices.

The most common custom is to eat a milky meal on Yom Tov Morning after Davening and then to make a break and afterwards have a separate meaty meal.

Some have the custom to eat a milky meal at night, and so each person should follow their parents' customs.

However, HaRav Amrom Fried shlit”a writes in Azamroh L’Shmecho (perek 13) that a person who does not have a specific custom should eat a meaty meal at night. This is because there is a mitzvah of Simchas Yom Tov even at night, as we will explain, and then eat milky foods on Yom Tov morning, in the way that was explained above. Alternatively, one could eat milky foods at night at the beginning of the meal and then continue with a meaty meal. In such a case, one must make a break in between, which includes kinuach v’hadacha, cleaning out one’s mouth by eating pareve foods and drinking.

The answer explained in depth:

Is there a Mitzvah of Simcha on the first Night of Yom Tov?

One could ask from the Gemara in Pesachim 71a, where it states that on the first night of Yom Tov there is no mitzvah of simcha. If so, why do we need to eat a meaty meal on the night of Yom Tov?

Moreinu Harav Fried Shalita explains that although there is no obligation at night to bring a korban simcha, nevertheless, there is still a mitzvah of Simchas Yom Tov even at night. The exclusion mentioned in the Gemara refers only to the korban, which was brought during the time of the Beis Hamikdash during the day.

However, the main obligation of Simchas Yom Tov applies even at night. This chiddush can be learned from the Magen Avraham (siman 546, se’if katan 4). With regard to making a seudat nisuin (a wedding meal) on the first night of Yom Tov, the Magen Avraham writes that it is forbidden to do so, since there is a mitzvah of Simchas Yom Tov, and ein me’arvin simcha be’simcha.

We also find that the Shagas Aryeh (siman 69) explains that the Gemara which states there is no simcha at night refers only to a Torah-level obligation. However, on a Rabbinic level, there is indeed an obligation of simcha even at night.

Therefore, according to the Shagas Aryeh there would be a mitzvah de’rabannan to eat a meaty meal on the first night of Yom Tov to fulfill the mitzvah of Simchas Yom Tov.

However, Hagaon Harav Amrom Fried shelitah writes that we are able to bring proof to the chidush of the Magen Avraham mentioned above, that there is a chiyuv simcha min haTorah (on a Biblical level, unlike the opinion of the Shagas Aryeh), even on the first night of Yom Tov.

Since there seems to be a contradiction in the Halacha with regard to the first night of Yom Tov.

The Gemara in Pesachim 71a. states in connection with one who drinks the four kosos on Leil HaSeder all at once.

The Gemara says: “Amar Rav… yedei yayin yatza, yedei cheirus lo yatza.” The Rashbam and Tosafos there explain that “yedei yayin yatza” refers to Simchas Yom Tov.

So we see clearly from the Gemara that there is a concept of simcha even on the night of Yom Tov.

One could ask that this seems contradictory. On one hand, it says that the first night of Yom Tov is exempt from simcha. Yet here we see that one who drank the four in one go, has fulfilled the mitsvah of Simchas Yom Tov.

The explanation is that there is no contradiction. Rather, the Gemara in 71a is speaking specifically about bringing the shalmei simcha, which indeed does not apply on the first night of Yom Tov.

However, all other aspects of simcha, such as drinking wine, do apply even at night.

Therefore, since we see that there is a general chiyuv of simcha at night, and only a specific exemption regarding the korban, there would also be an obligation to drink wine during the meal on the first night of Yom Tov.

And if there is a mitzvah to drink wine, there is also a mitzvah to have a meaty meal, as brought in the Biur Halacha (siman 529), that whenever there is a mitzvah of wine, there is also a mitzvah of meat.

ביאור הלכה סימן תקכט

והאנשים בזמן שבהמ"ק היה קיים היו אוכלין בשר השלמים לשמחה וכדכתיב וזבחת שלמים ואכלת שם ושמחת וגו' ועכשיו שאין בהמ"ק קיים אין יוצאין ידי חובת שמחה אלא ביין שנאמר ויין ישמח לבב אנוש אבל בשר אין חובה לאכול עכשיו כיון שאין לנו בשר שלמים ומ"מ מצוה יש גם באכילת בשר כיון שנאמר בו שמחה 

In the times when the Beis HaMikdash was standing, people would fulfill the mitzvah of simcha by eating the meat of the korban shelamim, as it says, “You shall slaughter shelamim and eat there, and you shall rejoice…”

Nowadays, when the Beis HaMikdash is not standing, one does not fulfill the obligation of simcha except through wine, as it says, “Wine gladdens the heart of man.”

However, there is no obligation nowadays to eat meat, since we no longer have the meat of the korban shelamim.

Nevertheless, there is still a mitzvah in eating meat, since it is associated with simcha.

Wishing you a Chag Sameach.

• Gemara Pesachim 71a 
• Rashbam and Tosafos on Pesachim 71a 
• Magen Avraham Siman 546:4 
• Shagas Aryeh Siman 69 
• Biur Halacha Siman 529 
• Azamroh L’Shmecho, Moadim - Perek 13 (HaRav Amrom Fried shlit”a)