Melave Malka and the Secret of Resurrection

Our Gemara on Amud Beis states a position that in the wilderness the Jews were not allowed to consume ordinary meat. The only time that one could eat meat is if it is part of a sacrifice such as a shelamim. In Sefer Daf al Daf, he quotes the Sar Shalom Mi-Belz that this Gemara proves that one is not obligated to have meat at Seudas Melave Malka. His reasoning is as follows: if in the wilderness they could only consume sacrificial meat, such meat would be from a shelamim sacrifice brought on Friday before Shabbos. Such meat would be forbidden by Saturday evening as nosar — a shelamim must be consumed within the period of the day of the sacrifice, the evening after and the day after, which would be Friday, Friday night and Shabbos day. After that, it must be burnt. If so, in the wilderness it would not have been possible to have Melave Malka from meat.

While on the topic, let’s take a closer look at Melave Malka. Regardless of what food is to be eaten, the ritual itself is part of honoring the Shabbos. It is our last experience and the way of transitioning from Shabbos. The Gemara (Shabbos 119b and Rashi) compares it to escorting a dignitary on his way out of your home.

There also is a tradition (Mateh Moshe 513, and see Eliyahu Rabbah OH 300:2) that one who eats Seudas Melave Malka will merit the resurrection of the dead. This........

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