Q&A: Sabbath
Sabbath
Question
Hello, honorable Rabbi,
A) Is the Jewish law that the honor of the day takes precedence over the honor of the night necessarily connected to the law of the Sabbath meal? If so, on the Sabbath day does one need to eat the more important dishes specifically within the meal itself (because the honor of the day comes first), or even outside the meal?
– My specific example is that there is a food I like to eat in the evening, and it is my favorite food, but in the morning I do not like to eat it. What should I do?
B) If someone did not eat the Friday night Sabbath meal, and on the Sabbath day eats three meals, does he fulfill the Jewish law that the honor of the day takes precedence over the honor of the night in the first daytime meal, or in the second daytime meal, or does it make no practical difference at all?
Answer
What is the question? If you like eating it at night, eat it at night. What kind of honor is it for the day if you eat something you do not like during the day?
As for the basic relation between the honor of the day and the night, see this overview here: https://ph.yhb.org.il/plus/01-07-04/
It depends on the reasons. According to the first reason, it applies only to the meals.
But practically speaking, I do not see much practical difference, because this is only relevant if you have a zero-sum situation and need to decide between two equal options. But if you like something at night, then certainly eat it at night.
Discussion on Answer
Even if you have no other way, then you do not. That is the situation. But usually there are other ways. Find something that you do not mind eating during the day.
Thank you very much, honorable Rabbi. With your permission, one last point on the subject: can I say with certainty that according to Rashbam, “the honor of the day takes precedence” is a rule that applies only under constraint—meaning only when there is some shortage that forces a choice can it be implemented—and this is unlike Rashi, for example, where there is an idea of doing something in order to give greater honor?
Rashbam: “The honor of the day and the honor of the night” — if he does not have much wine for the meal or delicacies, he should leave them for the day.
Rashi: “The honor of the day and the honor of the night” — if he has much wine for one meal or delicacies, he should leave them for the day.
If so, can one say that this means that even if in the morning you eat only bread with chocolate because that is what gives you pleasure, that does not mean you have detracted from the honor of the day compared to the night, when you ate a more expensive dish, for example—because the honor of the day comes first only when you do not have the possibility of having enjoyable food at both?
Maybe. But still, when it is impossible to honor the day more, then it is impossible. As I wrote, usually it is possible.
According to the first reason, that it applies only to meals, how can I express that the honor of the day is greater than the honor of the night when I eat a food at night that is more beloved to me, more expensive, and more important? Eating it in the morning just does not suit me.