[Avodah] Covering the Challah

[rebshrink at aol.com]

Here's a possible explanation for covering the Challah as well as 
answering the question of the use of a plastic bag.

The term "mevazeh" by Challah does not mean to embarrass, but rather to 
belittle, in the same way as 'Bizuy Mitzvah" means belittling a 
Mitzvah.  In the case of the Challah on Erev Shabbat we are faced with 
the following problem.  Even though both bread and wine are the two 
foods over which I can be Koveah Seudah, establish a meal, giving them 
equal status, the Pasuk in Devarim 8:8 lists the foods of Israel as 
follows: Eretz Chitah Us'orah V' gefen ..., giving precedent to grain 
products ie. bread over grape products ie. wine.   One should therefore 
make the blessing over bread before over wine.  If one blesses the wine 
first, than one is being M'vazeh, belittling, the importance of the 
bread which the Torah has given to it.  Therefore, one needs to remove 
the bread before one blesses the wine.   However, one is suppose to 
make Kiddush B'makom Seudah which is represented by the Lechem Mishneh, 
namely the bread.   The solution is to cover the bread, removing it 
 from sight, but leaving it on the table, thus allowing me to prefer 
what I can see, namely the wine. Since personal preference also plays a 
role in deciding over which somewhat equal foods I first make a 
blessing, I can bless the wine while still saying the Kiddush B'makom 
Seudah.

It would seem to me that from this analysis it would be important not 
just to remove the bread by covering it, but also to keep it out of 
sight so that sight preference can be given to the wine.   A see 
through bag would therefore be insufficient.

Shavuah Tov,

Stu Grant