The Hidden Power of Melaveh Malkah: A Sacred Send-Off for Shabbat

Honoring the Departure of Shabbat
Our Sages teach that it is a mitzvah to prepare a special meal on Saturday night, known as Melaveh Malkah (literally, “escorting the queen”), to honor the Shabbat as it departs (Shabbat 119b). Just as one lovingly accompanies a cherished guest to the door (and beyond) so too we linger in the glow of Shabbat, reluctant to let its holiness fade.

Shabbat brings an infusion of spiritual and physical elevation. The Arizal explains that by reciting “Vayehi Noam” (Psalms 90:17–91:16) during Maariv (the evening prayer) on Saturday night, we carry over the added spiritual light of Shabbat into the weekdays, asking that Hashem’s pleasantness rest upon our work. Similarly, Melaveh Malkah extends that sanctity into our weekday meals.

According to tradition, every person has a small bone called the luz, which did not benefit from the forbidden fruit in the Garden of Eden and therefore does not decay. This bone, it is said, is nourished solely by the Melaveh Malkah meal and will serve as the seed of resurrection in the World to Come (Vayikra Rabbah 18:1).

Stories, Songs, and Traditions That Illuminate the Night
The Talmud (Shabbat 119b) recounts how the household of Rabbi Abbahu would slaughter a calf each Saturday night for this sacred meal, and the rabbi would eat one of its kidneys. When his son suggested saving a portion from the calf slaughtered for Shabbat, rather than slaughtering a new one, they followed his advice, but a lion came and devoured the remaining meat. The story teaches that Melaveh Malkah deserves its own special preparation, not mere leftovers.

Many enhance the meal with singing. Traditional zemirot (songs) express hopes for the new week, prayers for Elijah the Prophet (who, according to tradition, may arrive on Saturday night) and longing for redemption.

In the writings of Rabbi Levi Yitzchak of Berditchev, we find a heartfelt prayer recommended to be said three times at Melaveh Malkah. It includes pleas for faith, health, success, and the coming of the redemption. The prayer opens: “God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, guard Your beloved nation Israel from all harm... As the beloved Shabbat departs, may the coming week bring perfect faith, love of fellow Jews, and closeness to You…”

A Night of Blessing, Protection, and Spiritual Power
The Shomrei Emunim Rebbe taught that Melaveh Malkah serves as a preparation for the light of Mashiach. It should be conducted joyfully, with singing, shared with friends, and during the meal we should tell stories about tzaddikim (righteous individuals).

The meal is sometimes called “the meal of David, King of Israel,” based on a Midrashic tradition. King David once asked Hashem to reveal when he would die. Hashem responded that it would be on Shabbat. Each week, when Shabbat ended and he had lived, David would rejoice with a celebratory meal, a tradition that spread to all of Israel.

The ideal time to eat the meal is within four hours after Shabbat ends, or at the latest, before midnight. Some authorities permit eating the meal any time on Saturday night, and others even allow a belated Melaveh Malkah on Sunday if it was missed (Eshel Avraham, OC 300:4).

The spiritual merits of this meal are wide-ranging. Rabbi Yaakov of Pshischa reportedly told those suffering illness that observing Melaveh Malkah could protect them. Rabbi Elimelech of Lizhensk taught that women who partake in the meal, and make a point of saying that it is for Melaveh Malkah, may merit an easier childbirth. Other traditions link the meal to livelihood, redemption, and protection from heresy (Minchat Shabbat 96), and even to long life.

Finally, the Yesod VeShoresh HaAvodah teaches that recalling Elijah the Prophet during this time, through songs and verses, is a great spiritual remedy for the soul and a protection from Gehinnom.

Conclusion
Melaveh Malkah is far more than a final bite before the workweek. It is a window into the lingering sanctity of Shabbat and a source of blessing, healing, and hope. By setting the table one more time, singing just a bit longer, and welcoming the weekday with faith, we carry the holiness of Shabbat forward into the new week.