I’m trying to view this answer again but for some reason the link to the answer doesn’t work. Any way to reactivate it?
Is it halacha to davka use only 2 challos for lechem mishna or is it ok if 3 or 4.
Answer:
Unfortunately, a technical bug caused almost two months worth of posts to be deleted. This was one of them.
The answer given was basically that it is fine to use more than two Challos, and the Eliya Rabba (274) and other authorities mention various customs about this. Specifically, according to the Zohar it is correct to use four Challos for each meal, while the Arizal notes that one should use twelve Challos.
Although the Gemara (Berachos 39b) and the Shulchan Aruch (274:1) mention specifically two Challos, which recalls the manna of the wilderness, this can be interpreted as referring specifically to an even number of Challos, but not to two.
According to this, one should not use an odd number of Challos. I have not seen an explicit source for this, but it stands to reason.
Best wishes.
