In this week’s parsha we learn all about the manna. On Shabbos we use lechem mishnah [two loaves] to remind us about the special double portion of manna which fell on erev Shabbos. The Shulchan Aruch (Orach Chaim 271:9) rules: צריך לכסות את החלות המונח על השלחן בשעת קידוש – “One should cover the challos which are on the table whilst reciting kiddush”. The question is, what exactly is the reason for doing so?
A number of different reasons are mentioned by the poskim:
- The Tur (271:9) cites the Yerushalmi which explains, that bread is mentioned in the pasuk before wine. Since bread is mentioned first, we should ideally recite a berachah on the bread before reciting a berachah on the wine, however, practically we make kiddush on wine first - to avoid embarrassing the bread which should really come first, we cover it.
- The Tur mentions a second reason, which is that when the manna fell it had a layer of dew on both the top and the bottom, as a remembrance to this, we cover the challos both on the top and on the bottom.
- The Tur then offers a third reason משום יקרא דשבתא – “to give honor to Shabbos”. We want it to look like the challos were brought to the table specially in honor of Shabbos. We cover them over and uncover them after to kiddush, to make it look like they have just been brought to the table.
Now we know the various reasons, the question is, may a transparent cover be used?
In a sefer written by one of the Rishonim, the Ri Even Sho’iv a talmid of the Rashba brings that one should place the challos between two white clothes. From the fact that he stresses that one should use white clothes, it would seem that one must use a cover which is non-transparent.
The Elyah Rabbah (271:16) also cites the Tzedah Laderech (Ma’amer 4, Klal 1, Perek 5) who writes, that one should cover the challos with a white cloth.
However, the Tehillah L’Dovid (271:13) writes, that he doesn’t mean that one must use specifically a white cloth, rather, he means that one should use a cloth which is clean and hasn’t been eaten on, however, if the cloth isn’t white it doesn’t matter.
The Bris Oilam (Dinei Kiddush s.k. 35) writes, that one shouldn’t use a transparent cover for the challas, as one of the reasons for covering the challos is to ensure that they don’t get embarrassed when they see kiddush is being recited first, if the cover is transparent they can still see, and they get embarrassed.
However, R’ Shlomah Zalman in Halichos Shlomah (271:16) writes: דנראה דאין הכוונה מפה שאין נראה דרכה החלות אלא דגם מפה שקופה בשם כיסוי נקראת ואין בזה חשש שהפת רואה בושתו כיון שהעיקר היא שהלחם יהיה מכוסה וגם הפת זקוק לקידוש על היין וגם צריכים שהקידוש יהיה במקום הסעודה אך העירו לי שבמנחת שבת בשיורי מנחה סימן ע''ז כתב לא לכסות במפה שיש בה נקבים שלא יהא נראה הפת דרך הנקבים – “It seems that one doesn’t need to specifically use a cover which the challos can’t be seen through - even if the cover is transparent, it’s still a cover. There is no problem of the challos getting embarrassed, as the main thing is that it’s cover. Moreover, the challos need the kiddush, and kiddush needs to be made followed by a meal. However, the Minchas Shabbos in Shiurei Mincha (siman 77) writes, that one shouldn’t cover the challos with a cover which has holes in, to make sure that the challos can’t be seen.”
Although from Halichos Shlomah it’s not so clear what R’ Shlomah Zalman holds, in Shemiras Shabbos K’Hilchosah (47, he’orah 116) it’s brought down that R’ Shlomah Zalman held, that halachah lemaseh one may cover the challos with a transparent cloth.
Similarly, in Ashrei HaOish (Vol. 2, pg. 125) it’s brought down that R’ Elyashiv held that a transparent cloth is suitable for covering the challos.
Just before we conclude, I would like to mention an important insight I once heard: There are people who are very particular about covering the challos during kiddush, to ensure that they don’t get embarrassed. It’s equally if not more important, to remember that one also has to be careful not to embarrass his wife and other family members if upon arrival home from shul the table isn’t quite ready.
