In last week’s edition, we discussed the Halachic details of how to be Pores Mapa Umekadesh. This would be relevant to this year’s Purim Seuda if one wanted to schedule their Seuda for late in the afternoon and continue into Shabbos. In this edition we will look at the implications for Bentching.
When one is Pores Mapa Umekadesh, the Friday Purim meal continues into and becomes the Shabbos meal as well. How does this affect Bentching with regards to saying Al Hanissim for the Purim Seuda and Retzeh for Shabbos?
Continuing from Shabbos into a Weekday
When one eats a meal on Shabbos (or Yomtov) afternoon that continues into the night, they still say Retzeh (or Yaaleh Veyavo) in Bentching, even if they conclude many hours into the night. This is because the obligation to Bentch is based on when the Seuda began.
Whilst some authorities write that this does not apply to Rosh Chodesh, Chanukah and Purim, the accepted Halacha is that we do not make a distinction. This is why we in regular years, we add Al Hanissim in the Bentching of the Purim Seuda, even when the meal concludes at night.
This only applies if one did not Daven Maariv. If one Davened Maariv before Bentching, they would no longer be able to say Retzeh, Yaaleh Veyavo or Al Hanissim in Bentching. This is because to do so would appear contradictory, since by Davening one has already “made it” the next day, which is no longer Shabbos or Yomtov or Purim.
Continuing from a Weekday into Shabbos
When a weekday meal continues into Rosh Chodesh or into Shabbos (i.e. where one is Pores Mapa Umekadesh), even though the meal began on the weekday, Yaaleh Veyavo or Retzeh is added.
According to the Magen Avraham, this is only if one ate a Kzayis of bread after nightfall. According to the Ta”z, one would add the Shabbos or Rosh Chodesh inclusions, even if they did not eat a Kzayis after nightfall.
Halachic practice follows the Magen Avraham that if one did not eat a Kzayis after nightfall, they do not say Retzeh or Yaaleh Veyavo even if they are Bentching after nightfall. They may however recite the Harachaman for Shabbos. This is because unlike Retzeh which is said in the middle of Bentching which would be a Hefsek if it is not required, the Harachaman is said after the main part of Bentching and would therefore not be a Hefsek.
From Shabbos into Rosh Chodesh
What happens when one eats a meal on Shabbos that goes into Motzai Shabbos which is Rosh Chodesh?
Since the beginning of the meal was on Shabbos, one should say Retzeh. Since one ate a Kzayis after nightfall, they also have to say Yaaleh Veyavo. Some Poskim consider this to be contradictory and one should only say the current obligation of Yaaleh Veyavo and not Retzeh.
However, the Halachic practice follows the Poskim who write that we say both. Since Retzeh is said before Yaaleh Veyavo, it does not appear contradictory. The same would apply when Motzai Shabbos is Yomtov.
The implication is that if it were the other way around i.e. Erev Shabbos was Rosh Chodesh or Yomtov, one would not say both Retzeh and then Yaaleh Veyavo as this would be contradictory. Rather one would just say Yaaleh Veyavo. Alternatively, one would say both but say Yaaleh Veyavo before Retzeh.
Going from Purim into Shabbos
Based on the discussion above, it seems that if one was Pores Mapa Umekadesh and continued the Purim Seuda into Shabbos, they should say both Al Hanissim and Retzeh in Bentching. Since the Al Hanissim for Purim is said before the Retzeh for Shabbos, it does not appear contradictory.
Ketzos Hashulchan suggests that Purim may be different to Rosh Chodesh. This is because unlike mentioning Rosh Chodesh (and likewise Shabbos and Yomtov) in Bentching which is an obligation, saying Al Hanissim on Purim and Chanukah is not an obligation.
As such, perhaps we should be concerned for the opinion that it would be a contradiction to say both (irrespective of the order) and leave out Al Hanissim. This is especially so since, as discussed above, some authorities maintain that Al Hanissim is never added after nightfall.
Nonetheless, accepted practice is to say both Al Hanissim and Retzeh.
Chabad custom on Pores Mapa
The Rebbe Rashab would not be Pores Mapa Umekadesh. At one stage, he told the Frierdike Rebbe that due to various considerations, it is not appropriate to do so. From then on, the Frierdike Rebbe would also not be Pores Mapa Umekadesh.
The custom of the Chabad Rebbeim was to hold a Farbrengen on the last day of each Yomtov, including the second day of Rosh Hashana and Simchas Torah.
When these days fell out on Friday, the Rebbe would continue the Farbrengen into Shabbos, but would not personally be Pores Mapa Umekadesh. However, in order for the crowd of Chassidim to be able to continue to eat and say Lechaim, the Rebbe directed that one of the attendees should be Pores Mapa Umekadesh and make Kiddush on behalf of those who wished to be Yotzai.
This was done throughout the earlier years of the Rebbe’s Nesius as was done at the Frierdike Rebbe’s Farbrengens.
On the second day of Rosh Hashana 5744 which fell on Friday, the Gabbai making the announcement confused the details of the order of being Pores Mapa and had to be corrected. Two weeks later on Simchas Torah, which was also on Friday, the Rebbe said that due to the error on Rosh Hashana, they would not be Pores Mapa at the Farbrengen.
At the Farbrengen of Simchas Torah 5748, which was also on Friday, the Rebbe instructed that before Shekiya they should announce a reminder that people should not eat or drink after sunset before making Kiddush and that they would not be Pores Mapa Umekadesh, since we no longer practice this in Chabad.
