Q. Good evening Rav,
Is there an inyan or Halacha to have white tablecloths on Yom Tov.
I believe there are sources for Shabbos that one should have a white tablecloth. Does the same apply for Yom Tov?
I was thinking of serving on coloured tablecloth -due to the fact that some meals will be milchigs. ( A thick plastic will be put on top for the fleishig meals it"H)
Is this alright?
Thank you very much.
A. Nishmas Shabbos (268) maintains that even on Shabbos, Poskim fail to mention that the tablecloth used has to be white, they just assert that the tables should be covered. However, he writes that the tradition is to use white tablecloths. He adds that it may be due to various reasons. Firstly, we do cover tables even when we eat on them during week, so in a way similar to honoring Shabbos by having specially dedicated better clothes, we also use clean white tablecloths for the Shabbos seudos; we thus comply with the mitzva of Mikro Kodesh. He also adds that the white color alludes to teshuva and forgiveness, inherent in the kedusha of Shabbos.
Horav Shlomo Miller’s Shlit’a opinion is that these reasons would equally apply to Yom Tov.
Poskim do mention that a white tablecloth should be used at the seder.
Nishmas Shabbos (ibid.) adds that the linen or decorated table napkins used to cover the chalos, need not be white.
The Rov’s opinion in regards to changing the color of the table linen from white to other colors when eating milchigs during Yom Tov is that it is correct, if the tablecloths are equally elegant and refined and convey honor to the Yom Tov table.
Rabbi A. Bartfeld as revised by Horav Shlomo Miller Shlit'a
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