One has to be blind and deaf not to realize that we are going through the period of Chevlei Moshiach – the birth pains that precede the arrival of Moshiach. The Gemara tells us that many scary events will occur during that time, and they are clearly unfolding in front of our eyes. A nuclear Iran is just a matter of time, anti-Semitism is rising rapidly, and we all feel threatened by the bloodthirsty craving of radical Muslims to conquer the world. So what can we do to ensure that we will merit greeting Moshiach? The answer lies in one simple word: Shalehshudes.
No, it is not a magical incantation or a secret Kabbalistic ritual. It is how many people refer to the third meal on Shabbos, basically a shortened version of “shalosh seudos – three meals.” This is very interesting, because it means that they refer to the third meal as “three meals.” We see the same custom in the title of the siman in Shulchan Aruch that discusses it (O. C. siman 291): “The Laws of Three Meals.” Why is this one meal referred to as “three” and not “seudah shlishis – the third meal,” as many are accustomed to call it?
Three Meals vs. Three Tribulations
The Gemara in Shabbos (118a) states, “Whoever fulfills three meals on Shabbos will be saved from three tribulations: chavlei Moshiach, the judgment of Gehinom, and the war of Gog and Magog.” This requires explanation. First, how does simply eating three meals merit such an unbelievable reward, and why specifically this reward? Second, why does it say one who fulfills three meals – shouldn’t it say one who eats three meals?
The Bach, using the words of the Tur (whom we have quoted many times), explains that the three parts of Shabbos correspond to a different special Shabbos. Therefore, each one of these rewards parallels the essence of the meal of that time.
Friday night corresponds to Shabbos B’reishis, when Hashem caused His Glory to dwell in this world. Therefore, during this part of Shabbos we work on strengthening our emunah and becoming more aware of His presence. The Mishna in the end of Sotah describes the different ways society will deteriorate before Moshiach comes. It ends with, “And we do not have anyone to rely on besides Hashem.” The point of all these trials and tribulations is to help us realize that Hashem is our true master. A person who not only strengthens this awareness on leil Shabbos but also celebrates it through a lavish feast will not need to be taught this same lesson through chevlei Moshiach.
Shabbos morning corresponds to the Shabbos when we received the Torah. On that Shabbos, through the great revelation of Hashem’s Glory, we understood the purpose of Creation and received His Torah, which tells us exactly how to live our lives. By celebrating Matan Torah we instill in our hearts that Torah is not just theory – it’s reality, and we live according to its dictates. This saves us from Gehinom, the place created for those who have not accepted this great truth and require rectification for their sins.
And finally, the end of Shabbos corresponds to the Shabbos of the World to Come. We say in Mincha, “Ata echod, v’shimcha echod, u’mee k’amcha Yisroel, goy echod ba’aretz – You are One, Your name is One and who is like Your people Yisroel, one nation on earth!” In the World to Come it will be just Hashem and us, making the meal that corresponds to that time the most special part of Shabbos, the “Ravah d’Raavin” (see “A Time Of Favor,” 11-7 for elaboration on this idea). The Maharal writes (Netzach Yisroel chapter 38) that the war of Gog and Magog will occur after Moshiachcomes. Moshiachwill declare the Oneness of Hashem and all the nations of the world will gather together to try to prove otherwise. After their grand downfall, it will be unequivocally clear that Hashem is truly One. Seudah shlishis is an intimate time with Hashem, and thus, there is no need for an abundance of food. When we eat this meal, we celebrate the fact that Hashem is One and that He chose us to be His only nation. Since that is so clear to us, we will be saved from this war that will prove that Hashem is One.
Three in One
Perhaps the Gemara writes “one who fulfills these meals” to teach us that someone who merely eats, without intending to honor Shabbos, will not merit these special rewards. This brings us to why the third meal is so crucial. The Imrei Emes explains that it is called “shalosh seudos” because it has the power to sanctify all three Shabbos meals. Until a person eats the third meal, we do not necessarily know why he ate the other two – maybe it was just his Friday night supper and Saturday lunch! But when even on a short winter afternoon a person sets the table in an honorable manner and sits down to a meal only a few hours after he finished lunch, he shows that his three meals were for the sake of Heaven, not merely to fill his belly. The sefer Tikunei Shabbos adds that when we eat in the winter it also elevates the seudah shlishis of the summer, for we demonstrate that we ate this meal for the sake of the mitzvah during the summer as well.
The Shulchan Aruch (siman 291) tells us that both men and women are obligated to eat this meal. It also rules that one must eat bread (ideally the size of an egg, but if that is too difficult an olive’s worth is okay) and use lechem mishna. If someone is too full and it will be painful to eat bread, he may rely on the other opinion that, if he is really stuck, he may eat cake. If that is not possible then he can eat meat or chicken, and if not that, then fruit.
But let us not forget! Not only does the Shulchan Aruch start off the siman that “one should be very careful to fulfill [the obligation of] seudah shlishis,” it also makes a point of telling us that one should be smart and make sure to leave room for seudah shlishis. Perhaps because if a person is not able to eat the third meal, he will lose out entirely on the great reward!
So let us make sure to fulfill this meal in the best possible way. Set the table nicely and serve a special delicacy. Sing zemiros that express our desire to come close to Hashem with feeling and realize that this is a very special time – now it is just us and Hashem!
Yes, the best insurance during these scary days is a little roll with the right intentions!
