Here in TRLEOOB*, we take a rather mixed approach to seudah shlishit (aka shalosheudes) on short Shabbatot in the winter.
In principle, we try to wash and have lechem mishneh – even on the earliest Shabbat. But then, each member of the family does something different.
Some stop after the challah and wait for after Shabbat to eat a real meal (i.e. Melaveh Malkah). Others have things like chocolate spread (see how Israeli we’ve become!), peanut butter and jelly, assorted salads, hard boiled eggs, and nuts. Then there are those who dine on leftovers from Shabbat lunch – such as deli, schnitzel, and even cold chicken.
So, how does YOUR family handle seudah shlishit in the winter? Do you:
- Skip it altogether?
- Hold that one can be yotzai with Torah learning?
- Make do with just fruit or cake?
- Wash and have some bread but nothing else?
- Wash and have a very light meal?
- Partake of a traditional seudah shlishit with all the trimmings – fish, salads, quiches, pashtidot, etc.?
- Enjoy an ice coffee, as you lord it over everyone around you that you’re a yekke** – or married to one - and thus only wait three hours…
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*TRLEOOB=the real life equivalent of our blog
**This doesn’t apply to us. As I noted here, we wait 5½ hours.
We do the washing bit but the pickings on the table are slim...just chummous and peanut butter. When we were by my sister for Shabbos we davened at the hashkama minyan (7 am) and at 845 washed and had coffee, cake, spreads and then ate lunch at 12. That is the best approach on these short Shabbatot-first of all you don't feel sick stuffing down a piece of challah at 4 PM when you just finished a heavy lunch 3 hours ago and you also feel like you have something of a day, instead of just davening, eating and sleeping.
ReplyDeleteIce coffee is really good Shabbat afternoon, though in the winter we usually drink Hot Cocoa and hot coffee. I am not "lording it over", just commenting. :)
ReplyDeleteMalke - I agree. That really is the best approach, and as you know, it's what they do in most hotels. Of course, the only downside is that one has to get up for hashkama minyan...
ReplyDelete:-)
Miriam - Somehow I figured you would choose to, ahem, "comment" on that last option...
:-)
I usually skip it. When I was single I was told that if I wanted to get married, seudat shlishit is a segulah for it. I didn't listen and got married anyway. :-0
ReplyDeleteBaila - Hmm. I was told that seudah shlishit is a segulah for an easy delivery. I guess it's a one-size-fits-all segulah which automatically adapts itself to one's specific needs...
ReplyDelete:-)