Halachot and Customs
Is It Permitted to Eat Meat at Melaveh Malkah During the Nine Days?
Eating Meat at Melaveh Malkah in the Nine Days
Question
Is it permitted to eat meat at Melaveh Malkah during the Nine Days?
Thank you very much.
Answer
Hello,
One should not eat meat at the Melaveh Malkah meal during the Nine Days. However, the view of Rabbi Ovadia Yosef zt"l is that one need not protest against those who are lenient and eat meat left over from Shabbat meals during the Nine Days, since they have whom to rely on. This is especially so if one is eating the leftover meat at the fourth meal and he is accustomed to eating meat at the fourth meal. This applies so long as he does not deliberately prepare too much food for Shabbat in order to leave it over for the weekday. Sources: Yabia Omer, vol. 10 (Orach Chaim, siman 40), Chazon Ovadia: The Four Fast Days, p. 177, and Kitzur Shulchan Aruch Yalkut Yosef (siman 551, seif 10). See also Yabia Omer, vol. 11 (Orach Chaim, siman 55).
With blessings,
Hillel Meirs
