By Rabbi Yair Hoffman for the Five Towns Jewish Times

There are two pretty fascinating questions that are currently being tackled by the Shivti Learning program of Beis Midrash Gavoah of Lakewood.

1] Do you have to cut both Challahs at the Shabbos meal or just one?

2] Can you use a frozen Challah as one of the two Challos of Lechem Mishna?

The alternative to the first question is whether the reuirement of Lechem Mishna just necessitates reciting the blessing on the two Challos.

This morning, the Shivti program has just emailed a 46 page downloadable Marei mekomos sheet for those who wish to cover the sugya of “Lechem Mishna” in great depth. It starts at the Gemorah, and ends up with the views of modern day Poskim.

Shivti is an official BMG program that can be contacted at [email protected].

One can listen to the shiurim at 732 806 9090.

They have now 30 chaburos in ten different cities: Toronto, Dallas, Far Rockaway, Detroit, Los Angeles, Brooklyn, Miami Beach and more. Rabbi Elysha Sandler teaches a Chaburah in the Far Rockaway area.

BMG sends it out every Friday morning.

It is coordinated by Rav Avrohom Yishayah Frand, a chassidisha yungerman from England. He is an extremely talented Talmid Chochom who heads a whole team.

Rabbi Avrohom Colman, one of the coordinators, says, “The goal of the program, to quote Rav Aharon Kotler zt”l, ‘part of the mission of BMG is to provide opportunities for serious Torah learning.’ That is what this program does.”

So what are the answers to the two questions?

The answer, of course, is a machlokes. And that’s to both. The Vilna Gaon rules like the Rishonim that one must cut up both. The Shulchan Aruch (OC 274) rules that one just has to recite the bracha on two Challos.

What about the issue of a frozen Challah, according to the Vilna Gaon’s view? The B’tzel HaChochma rules that it is permitted since by the end of the meal it would be edible. Others disagree.

There is also an argument as to whether the requirement of lechem Mishna is derabanan or deoraisah.

The author can be reached at [email protected]