Q. In the winter, here in Eretz Yisroel for example, Tefillas Mincha on Shabbos can get as early as 3:45 pm. Our Minhag is to eat the 3rd Meal before Tefillas Mincha. because of this, our Minhag is to eat the 2nd Meal close to the time for Mincha Gedola, to bentch after Mincha Gedola, and to subsequently leave the table immediately after bentching to wash for the 3rd Meal without waiting. The source for this Minhag is in the Tur, quoting his father the Rosh. We have the cholent for the 3rd Meal and the food that normally precedes it for the 2nd Meal and we have dessert at both meals.
A critic claimed that I must wait some time between bentching and the 3rd Meal, as per a line he saw in the Mishna Berura, and that none of my Rebbeim have ever done what I'm doing. Should I comply with the approach of the critic and change my custom or not, and why?
A. Horav Shlomo Miller's Shlit'a opinion is that on the onset, one should not wait to eat the seuda on Shabbos morning until after chatzos, even if one drinks something before. (Rambam H. Shabbos 30: 9, Kaf Hachaim 291: 2, See Shulchan Aruch 288: 1, Mishna Berura ibid. 1, Piskei Teshuvos ibid. n. 6).
The Rov also maintains that one should avoid on the onset eating two meals, immediately one after the other, as one may incur in the prohibition of reciting unnecessary brochos (Mishna Berura 291: 14 -17) unless one makes a significant hefsek, such as taking a walk outside (ibid.) or waiting at least a half hour in between. (Piskei Teshuvos ibid. n. 50. He quotes a quarter hour )
Rabbi A. Bartfeld as revised by Horav Shlomo Miller Shlit'a
Important Numbers
