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Se’udas Mitzvah with Divrei Torah

The Rema in Hilchos Channukah Siman 670 writes that if zemiros and shvachos (songs and praise) are said by a Seudah on Channukah it becomes a “Seudas Mitzvah” (without this it only has in it “katzas mitzvah” according to the Rema. Or according to the Machaber is a seudas reshus.) The M”A there in Sif-Katan Daled says so to by the marriage of a bas Talmud Chacham to an Am HaAretz if shiras are said then it becomes a seudas mitzvah. What about a seudah in general that is made in the middle of the week, at no special time of the year. If I get a few friends together and sing zemiros v’shvachos does the seudah become a seudas mitzvah? Or is it only when there is an “additional factor” or reason that in and of itself doesn’t make the seuda a seudas mitzvah, only together with the singing would it become a seudas mitzvah that the status of the seudah can be turned over.

If it’s yes only when there is an additional factor, then what would be more examples and what are the requirements exactly?

Answer:

It appears from the wording of the Magen Avraham and the Mishnah Berurah that it is only an “additional factor,” which is added to the status of the marriage feast of Chanukah meal to make the meal into a se’udas mitzvah.

In the case of a regular meal, we find a requirement to say divrei Torah in order that the meal should not be “zivchei meisim,” but not that the meal becomes a se’udas mitzvah.

Another example of the concept is a se’udas bar mitzvah.

The principle is apparently that the fundamental purpose and nature of the meal should be related to some mitzvah concept. If this is the case, the presence of divrei Torah (etc.) turns the meal into a se’udas mitzvah, even where there is no formal halachah that considers the meal to be a se’udas mitzvah.

Best wishes.

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