As Rivky was setting up the table for Melave Malka, she asked her mother, “Imma, should I set up plates for you and the girls also?”
“Well maybe for the girls. But I am not so hungry,” replied Imma.
“But isn’t it a mitzva to have Melave Malka?” asked Rivky.
“It is,” replied Imma, “But I am not sure if it applies to women as well.”
Chaim overheard the conversation, and voiced his opinion: “I think Melave Malka is a mitzva for women as well, because women need to honor Shabbos just as men do, and we eat Melave Malka l’kavod Shabbos as we escort out the Shabbos queen.”
His brother Shmuel objected: “Melave Malka was established by David HaMelech. Maybe he made this extra mitzva only for men.”
Question: Should Rivky set up the plates for the girls and Imma?
Hints & Answers* HALACHA CHALLENGE: Piskei Teshuvos (300:1) quotes the Pri Megadim who says, “It’s possible that women are not obligated to have Melave Malka. But nevertheless it is appropriate that they should have this seuda as well.” The Piskei Teshuvos explains that this opinion would be according to those poskim who hold that women are not obligated to have Havdala; but since we hold that women are obligated in Havdala, this leniency does not apply to us (Piskei Teshuvos O.C., note 18). Piskei Teshuvos further writes that based on the Magen Avraham, the Machtzis Hashekel rules that women are obligated to have seudas Melave Malka just as men are. Women’s segula for honoring Shabbos with seudas Melave Malka is easy childbirth (ibid., note 19). [Regarding the level of obligation of seudas Melave Malka see Mishna Berura 300:2]
RHYMES: “give”
RIDDLE: Levi missed the camp’s Maariv and is planning to daven later on his own. Once three stars emerge, a person is not allowed to learn Torah if he is planning to daven Maariv on his own, unless he asks someone to remind him to daven (see Mishna Berura 235:17).
| *Menucha answers are not to be taken as final decisions in halacha.
