ב"ה

PURIM 5784

Halachic Digest 


ב"ה

פורים תשפ"ד 

Halachic Digest 

Compiled by Rabbi Yoseph Vigler & Rabbi Mendel Zirkind. Edited by Rabbi Y. Zirkind ע"ה

לעילוי נשמת הרב יצחק בן הרב אליעזר צבי זאב צירקינד ז”ל


חודש אדר


  • “משנכנס אדר מרבין בשמחה”. The entire month we add simcha, since in Adar מידת הדין was overturned into רחמים.  We increase happy activities, even with music and dancing throughout the months. 

  • Lawsuits or court-related matters with Goyim are best in Adar as the mazal of Yidden is strong. 

  • Adar is an auspicious time for weddings.


ד' פרשיות

  • The Shabbos before Purim (Vayikra) we lain Parshas Zachor to remember what Amalek did to us. 

  • On Shabbos Parshas Tzav, we lain Parshas Para. 

  • The following Shabbos (Mevorchim Chodesh Nissan) we lain Parshas Hachodesh.

  • There are varying customs whether we say אב הרחמים on Parshas Zachor and Para. 

  • In preparing the Parsha, Shnayim Mikra, we do not add that week’s extra parsha of ד’ פרשיות.   

  • If the מנין forgot the extra Parsha by Shacharis, there are various opinions if it could be read before mincha


Thursday, 11 Adar, Early Taanis Esther

  • Taanis Esther commemorates 

  • the day the Jews fasted and davened to Hashem when they defended themselves from their enemies. 

  • the 3 days Esther and the Jews of Shushan fasted during the month of Nissan for the success of Esther before King Achashverosh.

  • Because Taanis Esther is not counted among the four public fasts instituted by the Nevi’im, (10  Teves, 17 Tammuz, 9 Av, Tzom Gedalya), there are in general more leniencies.

  • This year, since 13 Adar is Shabbos, Taanis Esther is observed on Thursday before. As a result, it is even more lenient . The leniencies do not necessarily apply to other years and other fasts. 

  • Needless to say, Taanis Esther is nonetheless a fast that must be observed scrupulously (especially at a time like this when we need Rachmei Shamayim.). 

 

Who does not fast?

  • One who is ill and mothers within 30 days of birth, pregnant and nursing women - need not fast.

  • If there is a bris, the father of the boy, the mohel and the Sandak, can eat after the bris. Some wait till the seudah after the fast. 

  • A Chosson and Kalla during the 7 days of Sheva Berachos need not fast. 

  • Children under Bar/Bas Mitzvah need not fast. From age nine upwards, the minhag is to train children to fast partially, as per the child’s abilities. [But no need to be too strict in this.]

  • There are leniencies for those who find fasting difficult. A Rov should be consulted in each specific case.

  • One should not seek an excuse not to fast, in order not to be Porash Min Hatzibur.  

  • Even those who don’t need to fast should not eat for pleasure (e.g. meat, wine, nosh).


Beginning of the Fast

  • The fast begins at alos hashachar, 5:30am in NYC. 

  • However, in some ways, the fast begins for you, as soon as you go to sleep the night before the Taanis (not merely dozing off). Even if you wake up in the middle of the night, you may not eat (but you may drink). To avoid this, you should declare your intention to wake up to eat before going to sleep. Or, if you are a person accustomed to often wake up and eat in the middle of the night it also doesn't apply.

  • However, if one did eat after waking up, bedieved, as long as it is still before Alos, one may still say Anenu.

  • Even if one didn’t go to sleep yet, it is always forbidden to start eating המוציא or מזונות  (more than a Kebeitza - 58 grams) or drink alcoholic beverages from half an hour before Alos. 

  • No brushing teeth / mouthwash, (unless one is very sensitive, and he should be careful not to swallow).


Shachris

  • Slichos are said even by those who are not fasting.

  • The chazan says Anenu as a Bracha on its own before Refa’enu. If he forgot to recite Aneinu, then: 

    • if he remembered before reciting Hashem’s name at the end of Refa’enu, he recites Aneinu immediately, and then repeats the Bracha of Refa’enu;

    • if he remembered after concluding the Bracha of Refa’enu, he recites Aneinu in the Bracha of Shema Koleinu, ending the Bracha with a double conclusion, i.e. Ha’one B’eis Tzara V’shomea Tefillah

    • if he remembered after he already concluded the Bracha of Shema Koleinu, he recites Aneinu as a separate Bracha immediately after the Bracha of Sim Shalom.


מחצית השקל

  • מחצית השקל is given before Mincha on Taanis Esther. 

  • The Gabbaim prepare 3 half shekel (half dollar) coins. Some use half dollar coins of 9.6 grams of pure silver. 

  • It is best to pay the value of a mazchtis shekel of silver - approximately $7.70 for 9.6 grams (although the amount fluctuates).

  • If one doesn’t have silver half dollar coins, one could substitute with any regular half dollar coins.

  • If half dollar coins are unavailable, three one dollar coins (or bills) could be used. 

  • Some say it is best to distribute the funds to the poor, especially Talmidei Chachamim.  Others allocate it to a Beis Medrash, which represents a “miniature בית המקדש”, and thus closest in comparison to the original Machtzis hashekel.

  • Since Haman offered 10,000 silver coins to the king to kill us we preempt him by giving coins away for tsedaka. 

  • We give specifically THREE half shekels to represent 

  • The three times the word "Truma" is mentioned in the Possuk. 

  • The three days that Ester and the people fasted.

  • Those over 20 give. Preferably from bar mitzvah. 

  • Some hold that even a woman is obligated, but the custom is for the husband to give on her behalf. 

  • The prevalent custom is for every father to give separate 3 coins for each of his male (and some even for the female) children, and if his wife is pregnant, to give for the unborn child as well. 

  • It is best to educate kids to give Machatzis Hashekel from their own money.

  • If a father gave for a child one year, he must continue every year, unless he expressly stipulated otherwise. 

  • If the father, at any point, stops giving on behalf of his children, they should start giving themselves.

  • The money for Machtzis hashekel should not be from Ma’aser.


Mincha

  • Minchah should be completed before shkiah, 7:09 pm, so that davening does not run into the time of bein hashmashos. However, if Mincha was delayed, proceed as normal, with laining, Haftorah and Amidah.

  • The parsha of ויחל is read. 

  • Since it is not Erev Purim, we recite Tachanun and Avinu Malkenu.

  • The minyan says Anenu in Shma Kolenu.

  • Anyone not fasting for whatever reason does not say Anenu.

  • If you forget to say Anenu, you say it after "אלוקי נצור", before the second "יהיו לרצון". 

  • If you forgot totally, you don’t go back and repeat Shmoneh Esrei. 

  • You should only accept an aliya if you are fasting. 


Fast ends

  • In NYC, the fast ends at 7:37pm. 


Erev Shabbos Zachor

  • An individual who forgot to fast on Thursday should fast on Friday.

  • If one needs to fast to make up not fasting on Thursday, one davens Shacharis with אבינו מלכנו and slichos. However by mincha, Tachnun and אבינו מלכנו would not be said.


Shabbos Zachor 

  • Hearing Zachor (and Para according to some) is d’oraisa and effort is made to hear it with a Minyan.. 

  • Even those who allow children under bar mitzvah to get the aliya of maftir, don’t call up children for Parshas Zachor. 

  • Men refrain from המוציא, מזונות (and alcohol) more than a K’beitza (58 grams) before hearing Zachor.

  • If you missed Zachor, you could have in mind to fulfill your obligation at the Torah laining of Purim which is also about Amalek. 

  • Some say you may even have in mind to be Yotzeh when we read Zachor later in the year in כי תצא.

  • Some hold that the חיוב extends to women too and they should also be present in Shul. 

  • Women who are looking after children and cannot attend Shul may read Zachor in a Chumash. Otherwise, women and girls should go to Shul to hear Parshas Zachor.

  • Whether to allow taking out the Torah for a special Zachor laining for women only is a dispute amongst the Poskim.. However, if a man didn’t hear Zachor, you can take out a Sefer Torah and lain special for him (without saying a Beracha), since his chiyuv is definitely דאורייתא.

  • If you have no minyan, it is proper to at least lain Zachor from a Chumash (or Sefer Torah) with the trop.

  • Since מצוות צריכות כוונה have in mind to be Yotzeh remembering Amalek when listening to Zachor

  • Practicing Megillah laining from a Megillah scroll is permissible on Shabbos and the scroll is not muktzah


Shabbos Erev Purim Considerations

  • Tzidkascha is omitted in Mincha.

  • The Megillah may not be brought to Shul on Shabbos even if you have an Eruv so as not to prepare from Shabbos to a weekday. [Many Shuls therefore schedule a break before Maariv. Another option is to bring the Megillah to Shul before Shabbos and  leave it in a safe and respectable place.]

  • If one is still eating Seudah Shlishis after Tzeis - even if he ate a Kezayis of challah after nightfall, he would do a regular Shabbos bentching and not mention ועל הניסים.

  • You may not lain the Megillah before Shabbos is out, even if you daven Maariv earlier, since you’re not allowed to lain on Shabbos as you may come to carry the Megillah on Shabbos


Maariv and havdala

  • Shabbos ends at 7:52pm. If you need to begin Purim preparations or do other work before Maariv, say “ברוך המבדיל בין קודש לחול” first.

  • After Maariv we read the Megillah in shul.

  • It is best to hear the Megillah as soon as possible after this time. Even so, many Shuls delay Maariv slightly to give people time to make their way from home to Shul after Shabbos has ended. 

  • Atah Chonantanu is recited during Shmoneh Esrei. 

  • In shul we read the Megillah first and only afterwards make Havdala. 

  • However one who is reading alone at home, should make Havdalah first.

  • Unlike a usual Motzei Shabbos, the Chazzan recites Kaddish Tiskabel immediately after Shmone Esrei. The  Megillah is read immediately afterwards.

  • We don’t eat until after Havdala.

  • If someone feels weak, they may say havdala first and eat fruit or mezonos. 

  • If someone is really ill, he may eat a full meal, but should have someone remind him to hear Megillah.

  • The night reading of the Megillah may be read until alos 5:25am. 


Purim

Dressing up

  • Yom Tov clothing is worn on Purim. 

  • Children are encouraged to get into the spirit of Purim by dressing up in costumes. 

  • To dress up as or act as Haman is not constructive for chinuch.

  • Cross dressing, while the Ramah is matir, is overwhelmingly forbidden by Poskim

  • Be aware that costumes may contain Shatnez and thus may not be worn. (Especially hats or military costumes from Eastern Europe).


ועל הניסים

  • ועל הניסים is added in Shmoneh Esrei.

  • You do not lechatchila skip Ve’al hanissim to catch up to answer Kedusha or Modim.

  • If you forgot ועל הניסים and remembered before Hashem’s name in the bracha  הטוב שמך ולך נאה להודות, go back. 

  • If you already said Hashem’s Name, do not go back. But before the second יהיו לרצון add the following: "הרחמן הוא יעשה לנו ניסים ונפלאות כמו שעשה לאבותינו בימים ההם בזמן הזה". And then continue “בימי מרדכי...”

  • Likewise in bentching, if you forgot ועל הניסים – if you remembered before saying “Hashem” in the bracha על הארץ ועל המזון, go back. If not, then before הרחמן הוא יזכנו, add the following: "הרחמן הוא יעשה לנו ניסים ונפלאות כמו שעשה לאבותינו בימים ההם בזמן הזה". And then continue “בימי מרדכי...”

  • If you forgot ועל הניסים totally in bentching or in Shmoneh Esrei, you do not go back. 


Early Megillah Reading on days before Purim

  • Where it is impossible to read the Megillah on Purim itself, eg a soldier going out to war, or a patient undergoing an urgent procedure, you can lain Megillah on the thirteenth, the twelfth, or even the eleventh of Adar, albeit without any Brocho . Also, it must be lained in the presence of a minyan.

  • Still, the other three mitzvahs of Purim—seudah, mishloach manos, and matanos l’evyonim—may only be fulfilled on Purim itself

  • Still, if a Megillah later became available on Purim itself you should lain again with the Brochos


Megillah laining 

  • If you haven't yet given מחצית השקל, you may still do so now before Megillah by Shachris (but not at night). 

  • Before reading the Megillah three brochos are said על מקרא מגילה, שעשה ניסים, שהחיינו.

  • The megillah should be opened and folded like a scroll (איגרת) to remind us of the miracle. 

  • At the Minyan, the בעל קורא should read standing. If one is weak he may lean on the Bimah. Also, the Minyan is allowed to be מוחל their honor and allow the בעל קורא to sit. If one is reading for individuals, he is allowed to sit, but the brochos need to be said while standing.

  • The people listening should stand while the brochos are being said. 

  • One who is being Yotze should not answer Baruch Hu u’varuch Shemo, but answer amen.

  • The megillah should be lained with “trop” notes.

  • Special care must be taken to read properly. A mistake that changes the meaning of the word, invalidates the Keriah. One should also beware of words that have a קרי וכתיב and those that are read twice with variations.

  • The entire megillah has to be heard. 

  • If you missed even one word, you have to hear the reading again from the part that you missed.

  • Therefore, if you missed a word, even if you don’t have a kosher Megillah, read it by heart or from a printed megillah until you catch up to the Chazan and continue listening. 

  • One should follow along in a Megillah, so that if he misses a word he can make it up, However he should not verbalize the words. (If he has a Kosher Megillah, he can verbalize the words if he does not disturb others).

  • A microphone may not be used for Megillah because the voice is mechanical, not the voice of the Baal Koreh. 

  • If you find a פסול in the Megillah during laining you may continue bedieved - as long as the majority of the megillah is kosher

  • If one who heard the Megillah already is laining for others, preferably one of the listeners should say the Brachos but change the first Bracha to לשמוע מקרא מגילה (and have in mind anybody else there). 

  • If a man is laining for a group of women, it is best for a woman to make the brochos and have the others in mind. She would say לשמוע מקרא מגילה. (Some hold that each one should say their own brocho).

  • Some make noise every time Haman's name is mentioned, while others only do so only when Haman’s name is mentioned with a title (e.g. בן המדתא, המן הרע).

  • After the laining the chazan says the bracha הרב את ריבנו. Some roll the Megillah before or during the bracha; others say the Bracha first. We then say Shoshanas Yaakov Vihi Noam and ואתה קדוש followed by complete kaddish (without תתקבל) and Alenu.

  • The megillah is optimally read in a Minyan. If this can't be done, one could read for even one person who didn’t hear. However the brocho “הרב את ריבנו” should be said only in a minyan.


Seudah by night

  • Purim night, there is no חיוב of a Seudah but it is desirable to have one, with a set table and lit candles.

  • Some are מקפיד not to eat meat tonight.

  • Some eat (food made from) seeds on Purim to commemorate the seeds Ester ate to avoid eating Treif.

  • The regular Motzei Shabbos Seudas Melave malka is eaten


Laining by day

  • The Megillah may be read from sunrise 6:52am in NYC until sunset 7:13pm. If you are starting to lain before sunset and part of the laining will definitely extend later than sunset, do not make a bracha before nor after. 

  • One should not eat before the Megillah. In case of need, one may eat other foods, but not המוציא or מזונות (or alcoholic beverages) more than a K’beitza.

  • When the Baal Koreh bentches the bracha of  שהחיינו before the Megillah, everyone should have in mind to be יוצא with this שהחיינו all four mitzvos of Purim – Megillah, Seudah, Mishloach manos and Matanos la’evyonim.

  • There are varying customs if the Sefer Torah is returned to the Aron before the Megillah or after ובא לציון.

  • We hear the Megillah while wearing Tefillin. 


Purim day

  • Everyone, men and women, is מחוייב in all mitzvahs of Purim. I.e. to hear the Megillah both by night and day, and משלוח מנות, מתנות לאביונים, סעודת פורים which have to be done during the daytime of Purim.

  • Encourage and help other Jews to fulfill the Mitzvos of Purim.

  • We don't do manual labor on Purim, (unless it's needed for the sake of Purim itself).

  • It is better not to do any business on Purim, but if you need to you could, since it makes you happy. But be careful not to get engrossed it and forget about Purim

  • A goy may work for you on Purim

  • Haircuts and cutting nails should preferably not be done on Purim. But if you davka want to do it on Purim you may, since if it is for the sake of Purim and adds to the simcha of the day


משלוח מנות

  • There are two primary reasons for Shalach Manos –

  • To ensure that everyone has everything they need for Purim. We give to wealthy people too, so that there is no embarrassment to anyone 

  • To prove we are one, באחדות , contrary to Haman’s accusation that we were a divided people

  • You give two foods (at least a כזית each) or a food and drink (at least a רביעית) ready to eat, to at least one person (according to some, who is over Bar/Bas Mitzvah). 

  • It is best to give (to at least one person) a sizeable Shalach Manos, that contains food (at least) the size of 3 Kebeitza (172 gram).

  • There is no limit to how many people one may give to.

  • Men should only give to men and women to women. 

  • A husband and wife, each have their own individual obligation to give Shalach Manos and Matanos L'evyonim.

  • The mishloach manos need to be given on the day of Purim. It is questionable if one is יוצא if it’s sent before and it arrives on Purim.

  • Ideally, one should not give shalach manos directly rather give it through a שליח , so that it is regarded as sending (Mishloach means sending). Your Shliach who takes the shalach manos can even be a child. However using a שליח is not מעכב.

  • Some say that you are not Yotze the mitzvah of Shalach Manos if you are giving it in return for a favor once received. You should at least give to one person just for the sake of the mitzvah.

  • If you are buying new dishes (just) to send along with Shalach Manos, the one who receives it should טובל it. Notify them that it needs to be Toiveled.

  • You do not send to an אבל (within 12 months of a parent’s passing רח"ל or within 30 days for other relatives). A Rov who is in avelus may receive Shalach Manos.

  • However, the אבל  must fulfill the mitzvah of Shalach Manos by sending it to someone else. (His shalach manos should not be too fancy though).

  • Children should be taught to fulfill the mitzvah themselves and give to other children


מתנות לאביונים 

  • You give to at least two poor people.

  • The minimum amount is a quarter to each poor person. It is best to give (to at least 2 poor people each) enough money with which they can buy bread the size of 3 Kebeitza (172 grams).

  • The minimal amount of Matanos L'evyonim should not be given from Maser money.

  • Although it is a Mitzvah to send Shalach Manos to many friends, it is better to increase in Matanos l'evyonim more than Shalach Manos

  • Men may give to women and vice versa. 

  • The more you give the better. 

  • כל הפושט יד נותנים לו – Whoever stretches his hand is given money.

  • According to some, one is Yotze when giving money before Purim, if the money reaches the recipient on Purim.

  • If there are no poor people around, make a Shliach to give for you, or designate the money on Purim for the poor and give it to them after purim.


Seudas Purim

  • The prevailing custom is to have the Seudah after Mincha.

  • It is proper to learn a little Torah before the Seudah.

  • The main part of Seudas Purim should be by day, even if it continues into the night. At the very least begin the Seudah in good time before sunset. 

  • There are varying opinions if there is an obligation to eat bread (or meat) by this seudah. 

  • If you wash, then even if the Seudah ended later that night, you would still say ועל הניסים  in bentching.

  • However, if you davened Maariv during the Seudah, you no longer say ועל הניסים  in bentching.


עד דלא ידע

  • Simchas Purim is עד דלא ידע. One should still drink responsibly and only out of יראת שמים.

  • Purim Torah does not mean mockery or false Torah chas veshalom. Rather it means dwelling on more superficial concepts that enhance the simcha.

  • One should make sure not to forget to bentch, and to Daven Maariv.

  • All four mitzvos of Purim may be fulfilled until sunset, or bedieved till Tzeis.


שושן פורים

  • No תחנון

  • We increase in festivity and Simcha



Please help MY Extended Family Purim Fund for Children from Single Parent Homes

www.MYEF.org/donate (Enter memo: Matanos La’Evyonim / Purim)



May we merit celebrating this Purim in the Bais Hamikdash haShlishi!

ליהודים היתה אורה ושמחה וששון ויקר!