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When you make Hamotzi on Shabbos you use the top Challah. However, on Friday night you use the bottom. Therefore, so as not to pass over the Mitzvah you hold the bottom one closer.
My question is why on Friday night do we use the bottom and not the top like the rest of Shabbos?
Curiouser wanted the Kabbalistic reason, so
R' Shneur Zalman of Liadi brings two reasons:
In Torah Or, he explains that according to Nigla, one should place the breads one on top of the other, since the source of nigla is Hishtalshelus (the G-dly revelation within the worlds coming down in an orderly and progressive manner [Or Yashar]), and placing the bread one on top of the other symbolizes this Hishtalshelus.
However, according to Kabbalah (whose source is from Or Chozer [the reflecting light]) the source of Shabbos is from a higher level (the level of Makkif [also known as "Soveiv kol almin"]) so one should place the two loaves side by side as that shows on their unity (He further explains that the sefirah of Malchus receives from the six emotional sefiros, which is represented by the two commands regarding Shabbos - Shamor and Zachor and the two Challas. Normally, the six emotional attributes are higher than Malchus. However, with regards to Hashems essence the two commands of "Shamor" and "Zachor" were given together as they are both equal [the high and the low are equal with regards to Hashem's essence]. As they are both equal, according to Kabbalah they should both be placed on equal footing.)
In Likkutei Torah, he explains that on Shabbos, the achorayim, the "back sides" of the world get elevated to be the level of the Pnimius ("the inner") of the worlds. Therefore, by putting the two breads together, we show that there are no "backs" to this bread (like the lechem Hapanim).
And as he finished off both explanations: וד"ל - ודי למשכיל - It's enough for the knowledgeable.
It seems there are actually different customs. As for the reason, it seems to be Kaballah (per Rama and Taz there (O.C. 274:1)
My recollection is that this is done to emphasize that Kavod HaYom (honoring Shabbos at the day meal) takes precedence over Kavod HaLaylah (honoring Shabbos at the night meal), as specified in O.C. 271:3. I don't remember who (if anyone) said this.
Right. Unless you do some maneuvering, the top challah would be the closest, and mitzvas are first-come-first-serve, so all times other than Friday night, you make the bracha on the top one.
As for Friday night: we focus on Shabbos vis-a-vis the creation of the world. Then the world was there; but it's passive, serving as a basis for history. Hence, bottom challah.
Shabbos day we focus on Shabbos vis-a-vis the Exodus, and generally G-d's involvement in the world, that's active (riding on top of nature, so to speak). Top challah.
(From what I've heard, they correspond to the kabbalistic notions of Atika Kadisha and Chakal Tapuchin Kadishin, respectively, as referenced in their Askinu Seudasa songs.)
http://e.yeshiva.org.il/ask/?id=1485
The Challah we cut from represents the position of the Jewish people (who are eating the challah). At night, we are below because HaShem Who created the world is the active presence, (as emphasized in the evening davening) while in the day, when we emphasize the receiving of the Torah, the Jews are actively present, hence “on top”.
I once heard the following explanation, although I don't remember where.
We have two loaves of Challah on Shabbos to commemorate the double portion of Manna that came down for Shabbos - each morning a portion came for that day's Manna, and on Friday, double fell.
So, the Manna for Friday fell, followed by the Manna for Shabbos. Thus, the Manna on the bottom was Friday's Manna, and the Manna on top was that of Shabbos.
Friday night, we want to take the loaf of bread that corresponds to that day's Manna, which was the Friday Manna, which was on the bottom. Shabbos day, the loaf of bread that corresponds to that day's Manna was the top. So Shabbos day, lunch and third meal, we use the top, whereas Friday night we use the bottom.
I believe the top-bottom rule contrasting Friday night from Shabbat day (as well as all meals on chagim) is related to the change in tefilla of בה and בו. Friday night is more female and Shabbat day is more male. (I have no idea what this means.) I will leave how that relates to hamotzi to your imagination.(Kabbalists were not prudes.)
I'm quite sure I once saw this and am not making it up. But I haven't found any source for this.
