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In the absence of a challah cover, one may use a napkin, doily, tissues, or similar covering.
Each morning the Israelites found the manna in the fields, encased in two layers of dew to preserve its freshness. Rashi describes the way the manna was found:
Thus we see that the dew fell upon the ground and the manna fell upon it, and then dew fell again upon this, and so it was as though it were carefully packed in a chest (Rashi on Exodus 16:13, quoting Mechilta, Yoma 75b).Silbermann Chumash.
Thus, we place the challot beneath a challah cover and over a tablecloth (or challah board) to recreate the miracle of the manna at our own Shabbat tables.Tosafot, Pesachim 100b.
Covering the challah so as not to "shame" it while the wine is being blessed has been cited as an object lesson for the importance of not shaming one's fellow humans. The following story is told about Rabbi Yisroel Salanter: Shabbat Shalom: Parshat Mishpatim by Rabbi Shlomo Riskin
Rabbi Yisroel was once stranded in Kovno for Shabbat. Everyone wanted to host him, but he chose to spend the Shabbat at the home of a baker who had no children to feed, so he would not take away anyone's portion of food. The baker was an observant Jew but hardly a man of intelligence.As he ushered his esteemed guest into his house, he shouted at his wife, "Why are the challahs not covered? How many times must I remind you to cover the challahs?" The poor woman, recognizing her distinguished guest, hurried to cover the challahs with tears in her eyes.
When the baker asked Rabbi Yisroel to do the honors by reciting the Kiddush, the Rabbi first asked him, "Can you tell me why we cover the challahs?"
"Of course," replied the baker. "Every child knows the answer. When there are many different foods on the table, the first blessing is always made over the bread, after which no other blessing need be made. On Friday night, however, the first blessing has to be made over the wine. In order not to shame the challah, who expects the blessing to be made over her, we must cover her over until after the sanctification of the wine."
Rabbi Yisroel looked at the baker incredulously. "Why do your ears not hear what your mouth is saying?" he asked. "Do you think that our Jewish tradition does not understand that a piece of dough has no feelings and would never become embarrassed? Understand that our laws are trying to sensitize us to the feelings of human beings, our friends, our neighbors, and especially our wives!"
[[File:Matzah cover (5607454481).jpg | thumb | 220x124px | right | alt= A white circle of fabric trimmed with lace, blue ribbons, and embroidery, including embroidered Hebrew letters | Matzo cover, circa 1930s]]
According to the Gemara, matzo is called lechem oni (poor man's bread); Pesachim 36a. the Hebrew word oni (עוני) can also be construed as "answers," yielding, "bread upon which answers are spoken."Beit Yosef. Thus, the matzos are uncovered during the telling of the story of the Jews' servitude in Ancient Egypt. However, when the wine cups are raised to express praise to God for the The Exodus, the matzos are covered so that they will not be "shamed", as one is giving preference to the wine. Gelbard, Shmuel Pinchas (2000). Rite and Reason: 1050 Jewish Customs and Their Sources. New York: Feldheim Publishers.
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