Obligation of the Melaveh Malkah meal
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Question
Is there an obligation to eat the Melaveh Malkah meal, and if so, what is the level of this obligation? If it is difficult for me to eat bread (with the “haMotzi” blessing), can I fulfill the obligation of the Melaveh Malkah meal with a mezonot food, or only with a hot drink?
Answer
Shalom u’vracha.
If possible, one should eat bread.
If this is difficult, one should eat a mezonot food.
If even this is difficult, one should eat a fruit or a vegetable.
Source
Mishnah Berurah, siman Shin (300)
And it is implied from the Gemara that ideally this meal should be established on bread, like the other Shabbat meals. It is also implied that, ideally, one should enhance it with meat or other cooked dishes if he has them. But if he does not have them, or he is concerned about overeating — for example, in the summer, when in our times people delay the third meal until late, close to evening — he should fulfill it with a mezonot food or at least with fruits.
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