PBA – That’s not really accurate either, Rabbeinu Yerucham says 3 hours, with the reason being that it’s bein seuda l’seuda. He says it b’sheim Rashi (though we don’t appear to have such a Rashi). Maharil says 1 hour for the same reason, adding that if one wishes to be machmir one should wait 3 hours. Again, the reason is bein seuda l’seuda. Mabit brings no less than 10 Rishonim who all hold of 3 hours as being bein seuda l’seuda. There seems to be some historical reasons for this; I have heard (though cannot confirm and have not seen any mareh mekomos, so I may very well be mistaken) that it depended on both the length of day and how many meals per day various communities ate. The Middle-Eastern kehillos apparently ate 2 meals a day, one in the late morning, one in the late afternoon and seeing as the length of day near the equator is fairly evenly split for most of the year this results in a 6 hour gap between meal 1 and meal 2. Northern European kehillos either had 2 meals per day, but with shorter daylight hours, making 3 hours between meals, or 3 meals making 1 hour. Like I say, I have never seen this inside, but have been told so by multiple sources that I believe to be reliable. Anyhow, it is quite clear from the Rishonim that 1, 3 and 6 hours are all based on bein seuda l’seuda and have very good mesoras. And yes, I am aware of the Shach…
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