What is the Mitzvah of Lehem Mishne (having two loaves of bread at the Shabbat meals)?

The Gemara (Shabbat 117b) teaches that on Shabbat one is obligated to recite HaMotzi on two loaves of bread. This serves as a remembrance to the double portion of Man (manna) that fell every Friday during the forty years that the Children of Israel traveled through the desert. Although the Bi’ur Halachah (263:2) maintains that this is only a rabbinic requirement, the Aruch HaShulhan (274:1) writes that having two loaves of bread at the Shabbat meal is derived from a Biblical reference.

Women are obligated as well, since they too were included in the miracle of the Man. Therefore, everyone should be given a piece of challah from one of the two loaves (Mishna Berura 167:83). If an individual at the meal has a dietary restriction and can only eat certain special types of bread (e.g., gluten free, spelt), that individual should place the special loaf (even if it is not whole) together with the loaves of the one reciting HaMotzi, so that this bread too will be included in the Lehem Mishne.

What bread products are acceptable for Lehem Mishne?

Bagels, pitas, or any other type of bread, may be used for Lehem Mishne.

It is preferable to eat only Pat Yisrael on Shabbat. One who does so, may use bread that is not Pat Yisrael for the second loaf. The Pri Megadim explains that if one only has loaves that are Pat Akum, they may be eaten on Shabbat, even though one is normally stringent. (Pri Megadim, M.Z. 274:2).

One may borrow a challah (or any other bread) from a neighbor to use as Lehem Mishne, even though it must be returned and cannot be eaten (Shemirat Shabbat K’Hilchata 55:13).

The Rivevot Efraim (1:202) writes that one may even use dairy bread (which was made according to Halacha, either made in a small batch or with a unique shape) as the second loaf for a meat meal, even though it may not be eaten at the meat meal.

If one does not have a second loaf, HaMotzi should be recited on a single challah.

Can I use a frozen challah for Lehem Mishne?

There is a disagreement among Poskim as to whether a frozen challah that cannot be eaten at the moment may be used as the second loaf for Lehem Mishne. The Shevet Halevi (6:31) writes that this should be avoided if possible, since it is questionable if bread that is currently inedible can be used for Lehem Mishne. Rav Shlomo Zalman Auerbach, zt”l (Shemirat Shabbat K’Hilchata 55:39) held that if one anticipates eating the bread when it defrosts later in the meal, it may be used. However, many Poskim including Minhat Yitzhak (9:42), Hacham Ovadia Yosef (Orah Haim 8:32), and Tzitz Eliezer (14:28) held that a frozen challah may be used in any event. The Minhat Yitzhak explained that since the bread is fully baked, and the thawing is something that happens on its own, the bread is viewed as being completely edible even while it is in a frozen state.

A small piece of my challah broke off. Can it still be used for Lehem Mishne?

Ideally, one should use challahs that are completely intact. If a challah is missing a small piece, less than 1/48, there is a disagreement as to whether it is still considered whole (see Sha’arei Teshuva 274:1). Many poskim are lenient (Minhat Yaakov, Mahatzit HaShekel). The Aruch HaShulhan (274:5) writes that if one has no other bread, they should still use two loaves, even if they are both missing more than a 1/48.

If one can attach two halves of a loaf with a toothpick so that it appears that it is one complete loaf, then this may be used for (one loaf of) Lehem Mishne as well (see Magen Avraham 168:4).

May I use very sweet cinnamon challahs for Lehem Mishne (the two Shabbos loaves), even though they are more like cake than bread, and their Beracha would be Bore Mine Mezonot?

Rav Moshe Feinstein (Igrot Moshe, Orah Haim 1:155) was asked a similar question: May one use egg matzos for Lehem Mishne? The dominant opinion is that egg matzah is considered Pat HaBa’a B’Kisnin, and is therefore Mezonot. If so, one would assume that egg matzos cannot be used for Lehem Mishne. Nonetheless, Rav Moshe ruled that egg matzos can be used for the following reason: Pat HaBa’a B’Kisnin has a status of Mezonot because it is a dessert item. However, when egg matzoh is used for Lehem Mishne, it is considered to be the staple item of the meal. In Halachic terms, we refer to this as Kevi’ut Se’uda, and the Beracha is elevated to HaMotzi. Therefore, one may use egg matzos for Lehem Mishne. From this ruling of Rav Moshe we can extrapolate that cinnamon rolls, or any other cake roll, can be used for Lehem Mishne, and the Beracha of HaMotzi would be recited.

The Mahatzit HaShekel (274:1) writes that if one will be reciting HaMotzi on a regular loaf of bread, they may not use Pat HaBa’a B’Kisnin as the second loaf. In this situation, there is no Kevi’ut Se’uda on the cake since they are reciting HaMotzi on the bread and not the Pat HaBa’a B’Kisnin. The cake roll remains Mezonot and cannot be used for Lehem Mishne.