“Sari - what are you looking for?” asked her sister Chavi as she noticed Sari looking in the shelves of the towels and tablecloths closet on motzei Rosh Hashanah.
“I am looking for a clean tablecloth,” answered Sari.
“Why?” asked Chavi.
“So that I can set the table for Melave Malka!” explained Sari.
“But it’s not motzei Shabbos!” said Chavi.
“But it’s motzei Yom Tov! We honor Shabbos by having a special seuda after Shabbos, to escort it out in a kavodik way. Are we not going to escort Yom Tov out in a kavodik way, after such a special Rosh Hashana?”
“Hmm...I hear your logic!” said Chavi.
Question: Is there a mitzva to have “Melave Malka” after Rosh Hashana?
Hints & Answers
SHMIRAS SHABBOS: In halacha, only after Shabbos there is a mitzva to have a special meal, to “escort” Shabbos in an honorable way. However, it’s praiseworthy to honor Yom Tom as well by arranging a seuda after Yom Tov to “escort” Yom Tom in an honorable way. Such was the custom of the Chazon Ish [source: Taame Dekra, quoted by Dirshu edition of the Mishna Berura, siman 300, note 3].
RHYME: “heart”
TRIVIA: 1: Nowhere. We learn it from a mesorah that was passed down to us through the Oral Torah. [Rambam, Laws of Shofar, 1:1] As we begin the year, we use the object of mitzva that shows our adherence to the Oral Torah! 2: It should be long enough that if an average size man will grasp it in his hand, a small part of the shofar will protrude on each side of his hand [Nidda 26a]. *Note: The answers are based only on the sources quoted and might not reflect opinions of other halachic authorities. As such, Menucha’s answer are not to be taken as final decisions in halacha, but rather as a springboard for discussions, questions to a Moreh Hora’ah, and further study.
