Shulchan Aruch

 

Chapter 608:The arrangement of the concluding meal (4 Paragraphs)

 

The REMA is in brackets []

 

1.  We eat the concluding meal before sunset[1] (בין השׁמשׁות) since one must add from the ordinary day to the holy day[2]. This adding has no requirement except that it must be before sunset; which is the length of time needed to walk one thousand five hundred cubits before the night (M.B: equivalent to fifteen minutes before the stars come out). One must add from the ordinary day to the holy day a little or a lot.

 

2.  Regarding women who eat and drink until it becomes dark since they do not know that it is a Mitzvah to add on from the ordinary day to the holy day, you should not protest to what they are doing so it should not become an embarrassment. [The same applies to all forbidden matters.  We say the following: It is better that it should be done by accident then be done on purpose.  This only applies when it is not explicitly stated in the Torah, even if it is a Biblical (commandment).  But if it is explicitly stated in the Torah, we do tell them.  And if you know that they will not accept your words, you should not tell them publicly to rebuke them except one time; and do not rebuke them any more after you know that they will not listen to you.  However, privately one is obligated to rebuke them until they either hit you or curse at you. ]

 

3.  If one interrupts his meal when it is still day, one is able to eat again as long as he did not accept the fast on himself.  [See later in 553 on whether accepting mentally is (or is) not an acceptance.]

 

4. On Erev Yom Kippur one should only eat foods that are easy to digest[3] in order that one should not be bloated and disgusting when he prays. [Also we don't eat foods that heat up the body[4] in order that it should not lead to emissions.  Similarly we don't eat dairy products since they increase seed[5] except for breakfast where it is the custom to eat them.]

 

Translated by Jay Dinovitser www.shulchanarach.com