Melave Malka

Melava Malka (also, Melave Malka or Melaveh Malkah) is the name of this meal that, as per Halakha, is customarily held by Jews after the Shabbat, on Saturday evening. literally "Escorting the Queen", and the intent of the meal is to figuratively escort the "Sabbath Queen" (the traditional metaphor for Shabbat in Jewish liturgy) on her way out via musical performances, singing and eating, as one would escort a monarch upon his departure from a city.

The melave malka meal is also referred to as "the meal of King David". This is because G-d had revealed to David that he would die on a Shabbat. As such, David would hold a celebratory meal each week at the conclusion of Shabbat in order to thank G-d that he was alive and for being given the opportunity to live and serve HaShem at least another week.

As per Halakha, melave malka is customarily held by Jews after the Shabbat, on Saturday evening. This meal is alternatively called "the fourth meal”, linking it to the three meals which one is required to eat over the course of Shabbat.

One should eat the melave malka while still wearing one's Shabbat clothes. Some Communities hold that the melave malka meal may only take place after havdalla has been recited. Some Communities even allow one to eat meat for the melave malka even during the "nine days" when eating meat is ordinarily forbidden.

-When After Shabbat is Melava Malk-

It is preferable for one to enjoy the melave malka meal within fours hours following the conclusion of Shabbat. Nevertheless it can still be held any time until midnight. Under extreme and extenuating circumstances one can still fulfill the mitzvah of eating the melave malka meal until dawn Sunday morning.

It is customary to set one's table in a lavish manner complete with candles as if the melave malka was actually a Shabbat meal. One should endeavor to recite the hamotzi blessing over two whole loaves at the melave malka meal just as is done on Shabbat. It is also recommended that one eat meat or fish at this meal as well as garlic and onions along with a hot drink. It is considered praiseworthy to reserve a costly delicacy especially for this meal. or to at least dine on foods which were prepared specifically for the melave malka meal. It is also advised to eat one's favorite foods at this meal.

-One Should Make The Effort To Eat Melave Malka Even If-

• One may not have an appetite to eat one should still make every effort to do so.

• One should even if one is ill.

-If One Is Too Full To Eat Bread-

• One can eat cake, or even fruit in honor of the melave malka.

Ultimately however, partaking of the melave malka meal is essentially optional and not an outright obligation. However if you intended to but later for one of the already stated reasons, some authorities say that one can discharge the melave malka '"meal"' with merely a hot drink. There is also an opinion that one can discharge one's melave malka meal by extending one's seudat shlishit into the night if one is sure to eat some bread after dark.

We are taught that The melave malka meal serves as the intermediary to ensure that all meals one eats during the coming week will be imbued with holiness.

One who completely dismisses the melave malka meal and never partakes of it is considered as "one who was never created".

-Why Should Women Be Sure Eat The Melave Malka Meal-

It is taught that the well of Miriam, which accompanied the Jewish people throughout their wandering in the desert and supplied them with water, flows into our water supply each Motzai Shabbat. The term Motza'ei Shabbat (literally, the going out of the Sabbath) in Judaism refers to the time in the evening immediately following Shabbat.

As such, it is believed that drinking water Motzai Shabbat has beneficial healing properties. Eating the melave malka meal is also said to be a segula for women to experience an easy delivery in childbirth. It is customary to tell stories of the Baal Shem Tov, as well as other tzadikkim, on Motzai Shabbat.

It is also fitting to bless one's children as well as to seek the blessings of great rabbis on Motzai Shabbat. One should also be sure to bathe or shower in hot water every motzai shabbat. Some authorities recommend not writing tefillin or Torah scrolls on Motzai Shabbat, though this is not halachically required.