Using two pieces of bread for Lechem Mishneh – an answer written for kids Rabbanit Surale Rosen

Lechem Mishneh on two pieces of bread  – A question sent to Shayla by a 10 year old girl

We learn the Mitzvah of Lechem Mishneh from Chumash Shemot (ch. 16) where we read about Bnei Israel getting two portions of Manna before Shabbat.

Rav Yechiel Michel HaLevi Epstein zt”l, who lived in Belarus 113 years ago and wrote a very important book of Halakha called Aruch HaShulchan writes:

“One should use two whole loaves. But if mice ate some of the loaf (things like that happened back then..) and you only have two half loaves, you can stick a toothpick inside the two halves to bind them together and use as a whole loaf + another loaf for the Beracha.

And if you don’t even have that, you can take two pieces of bread for the Mitzvah of Lechem Mishneh, even though it shows less respect for the Mitzvah.”

Of course Rav Yechiel Michel did not mean that people who are stuck and can’t get hold of 2 whole loaves of bread are disrespectful. What he means is that if you can, you should use two loaves but if not – you can fulfill this important Mitzvah with two pieces only.  

Similarily, Rav Shlomo Zalman Auerbach zt”l who lived in Yerushalayim till 1995 writes in his book Shemirat Shabbat KeHilkhata:

 “If somebody has one whole loaf and another loaf of sliced bread in a bag, they can use both for Lechem Mishneh.

If you only have loaves of sliced bread, you can use these two for Lechem Mishneh.

And if you don’t even have that – take 2 pieces of bread for the Mitzvah.”