Laws of Purim
The Month of Adar brings much joy to our people. If a Jew has a lawsuit against a non-Jew he should bring the case to court during this month. Also if you have any medical problems that you have to take care of, you should do it in this month, because this month is known to be a month of luck and salvation to the Jews.
In the days of Mordechai and Ester, the Jews joined together on the thirteeth of Adar to defend themselves and take revenge against their enemies. They had to ask Hashem for compasssion, so that He should help them. We find that whenever the Jewish people were at war they fasted, in order to get help from Hashem. For example, we see this with Moshe Rabeinu, and when he fasted before they went to war against Amalek. Therefore, this shows us that Mordechai and Ester also fasted on the thirteenth of Adar. Therefore, all the Jews have accepted this day as a public fast day, which is called Ta’anit Ester (Fast of Ester). The fast is there to remind us that Hashem sees and hears the prayers of every person in his time of trouble.
Purim begins after the fast of Ester. This year Purim begins on the evening of Monday, March 13, 2006. And ends on Tuesday night, March 14th. Purim is a joyous day for us, and there are some mitzvot that we have to fulfill on this day. The mitzvot of Purim are: to hear the reading of Megilat Ester twice, Mishloach Manot (Sending Gifts of Food), Matanot L’evyonim (Gifts to the Needy/Poor), and Seudat Purim (Having The Purim Meal). Below will be each mitzva in it's detail.
1. Megilat Ester
A) After the fast in the evening we have the mitzva of going to shul and hearing the reading of Megillat Ester (Story of Ester). We have to hear the reading twice, once in the evening and once in the morning. In honor of reading the Megillah you should wear Shabbat clothing and come home to a clean and brightly lit house.
B) It is customary donate a coin, equal to the half of the standard monetary unit currently, this is as a reminder of the half Shekel the Jews used to give to buy the communal offerings. It is customary to give three half shekels because in Parsha Ki Tisa the word terumah (offering) is mentioned three times. (In our days the amount that we give is three dollars per person in the family). This money is given in the evening before the reading of the Megillah, and then distributed to the poor (they colloect it in shul, and send it to the proper place). If its difficult for one to give the money for each member of the family, then he should give only for the children that are 13 and above. However, if its still hard for one then they have to give from the age of 20 and up.
C) It is an obligation upon everyone, both men and women, to hear the reading of the Megillah, in the evening and during the day. Therefore, girls to should go to shul. If they do not go then someone has to read it for them at home. Children to must be trained to hear the Megillah, however, one shouldn’t bring extremly young children that will disturb the reading for others. (If small children are brought they shouldn’t just come to make noise upon hearing the name of Haman, they should be taught the importance of hearing the Megillah).
D) At night it is forbidden to read the Megillah before the stars come out, even if you suffer great discomfort because of the fast. But you may taste something before the reading of the Megillah, such as coffee, and similar beverages, to strengthen yourself from the exhaustion of the fast.
E) The mitzva done to perfection is to hear the Megillah in the synagogue, where there is a large amount of people (the Mishanh Berurah qoutes Chayei Adam who wrote that if you pray all year with a specific minyan, you don’t need to leave it to go to a shul where there are more people. However, if there is a minyan that is held at home, its better to go to the shul with more people). If you cant go to a shul with many people, you should at least read it with a minyan of people. If one can’t find a minyan then each individual at the place should read the Megillah on their own with a valuable source.
F) The person reading the Megillah says three blessings before reading it, and one blessing in the end. The listeners should only say Amen without Baruch Hu U’Baruch Shemo. The reader should have in mind that with the reading he is fulfilling the obligation of the listeners, and the listeners should have in mind that their obligation will be fulfilled with the reader.
G) The listener should only listen and not say the words along, because he might miss some words and his obligation wont be fulfilled. Its important that one listens to every word of the Megillah if one misses one word he should say it but make sure not to miss any others.
2. Mishlo’ach Manot (Sending Gifts of Food)
A) On Purim one is required to send no less than two gifts to one person. As it says “And sending gifts of food to one another” (9:22); which implies two gifts to one person. The more gifts you send the more praisworthy you are.
B) The term Mishlo’ach Manot implies only to food that is ready to eat without preparation, such as cooked meat or fish, but not if it is uncooked. (Some say that since raw meat or chicken is ready for the pot, it is permitted). You can send candy, fruits, wine or similar delicacies.
C) Women are also required to give Mishlo’ach Manot. However, women are suppose to give to women, and men are suppose to give to men. And not to intermix.
D) To fulfill the obligation of this mitzva is to do it during the day time. If you do it at night, you have not fulfilled the mitzva.
3. Matanot L’evyonim (Gifts to the Needy/Poor)
A) Everybody, even the poorest in Israel, who himself accepts charity is required to give at least two gifts for two people. Meaning you should give money to the poor on the day of Purim. If you live in a community where there are no poor people should either keep the money, or sent it to them. But it’s best if you fulfill the mitzva on that day.
4. Seudat Purim. (The Meal of Purim).
A) It is an obligation to eat, drink, and rejoice on Purim (it is proper to gather family and friends because it is impossible to rejoice yourself). Also on the night of Purim you should rejoice and have a more elaborate meal than usual. However, eating the meal at night you have not fulfilled your mitzva of having the meal. The mitzva is to have the main Purim feast during the daytime. You should light candles as you would do on Yom Tov and any other joyous occasion, even if the meal is during the day. Part of the meal can extend into the evening, since during the day we are busy delivering, the gifts. You should have the greater part of the meal during the day.
B) Since the entire miracle of Purim was brought about through wine: (the story of Purim (Megilat Ester) is typed up by OceanofMemories, in the General Torah section, for the story please refer there) Vashti the Queen was banished at the wine party, and Ester took her place; also the episode of Haman’s downfall came about through wine; therefore our Rabbis mandated that everyone should become intoxicated on Purim, until you cannot tell the difference between ‘Cursed be Haman’ and ‘Blessed is Mordechai’. Meaning, you should drink more than you usually do, to recall the miracle, until you fall asleep. When you are asleep you cant tell the difference between ‘Cursed be Haman, and ‘Blessed be Mordechai’. However, if a person is physically weak, or if you know that as a result of drinking you will ignore a mitzva or that it will lead to acting light headed, it is better not to become drunk.
5. General Laws of Purim
A) In Davening (Prayers), and Birkat Hamazon, we add Al Hanisim.
B) Whoever works on Purim, you wont see the blessing from that money made for that day. You are allowed to attend to business (because it is a source of joy). If you have to go to work, because you work for a boss, the you should go. However, if its in your hands its better not to.
C) You can write, and use electricity, and etc.
D) Weddings should not be held on the night that we read the Megillah.
Done with the help of the Kitur Shulchan Aruch, written by; Rabbi Avrohom Davis.
Topic: Laws of Purim (General) (Read 2251 times)