ב"ה
PURIM 5785
Halachic Digest
ב"ה
הלכות פורים בערב שבת קודש תשפ"ה
Halachic Digest Purim on Erev Shabbos 5785
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 this month מידת הדין was overturned into רחמים. We increase happy activities, even with music and dancing throughout the month.
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 (תצוה) we lain Parshas Zachor to remember what Amalek did to us.
On Shabbos Vayakhel we lain Parshas Para.
The following Shabbos (Mevorchim Rosh Chodesh Nissan) we lain Parshas Hachodesh.
There are varying customs whether we say אב הרחמים on Parshas Zachor and Para.
Those weeks we do not add the extra parsha of ד’ פרשיות to the reading of שנים מקרא.
If the מנין forgot the extra Parsha by Shacharis, there are various opinions if it could be read before mincha
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 be called for maftir, don’t allow it for Parshas Zachor.
Men refrain from המוציא, מזונות (and alcohol) more than a K’beitza (58 grams) before hearing laining.
If you missed Zachor, you could have in mind to fulfill your obligation at Purim laining.
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 tend to children and cannot attend Shul may read Zachor in a Chumash. Other 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 as the scroll is not muktzah
Thursday, 13 Adar, תענית אסתר
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.
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.).
No brushing teeth / mouthwash, (unless one is very sensitive, and he should be careful not to swallow).
Beginning of the Fast
The fast begins at alos hashachar, 5:45am 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.
Bedieved, if one did eat after waking up, 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.
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).
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.
The Gabbaim prepare 3 half shekels (half dollar) coins. Some use half dollar coins of 9.6 grams of pure silver.
It is best to pay the value of the silver - approximately $10 for 9 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, 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 "Teruma" is mentioned in the Possuk.
(b) The three days that Esther 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, 7:01 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 Erev Purim, we do not 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 7:28pm.
In actuality even those who find fasting difficult, should fast until after Megillah laining,.
In case of great distress, there is room to be lenient and snack on fruits and vegetables , or drinking non-alcoholic beverages, or even mezonos less than a kebeitzah.
One who is weak - and snacking is insufficient - may eat. He should appoint someone to remind him to hear the Megillah after.
A woman who is waiting for her husband to return so she can hear the Megillah, may snack, as above.
Earliest time for Megillah
In extenuating circumstances eg when laining for someone who is ill, one may lain, with the brochos, from 4 minutes after sunset (7:01pm) ie 7:05pm in NYC
When there is absolutely no other choice one may lain, with the brochos, from plag hamincha 5:50pm in NYC
This heter only applies where there is no choice. Anyone who is able to, should have in mind to hear the megillah again at the right time
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 completely 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 at night or before the reading of Megillah by Shachris.
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).
One does not fulfil the Mitzvah of Megillah by microphone, phone, radio, Zoom or other electronic mediums since the voice is mechanical, not the voice of the Baal Koreh. One who uses hearing aids should consult a Rav.
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 שושנת יעקב and ואתה קדוש followed by 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 on Purim (food made from) seeds to commemorate the seeds Ester ate to avoid eating Treif.
Laining by day
The Megillah may be read from sunrise 7:09am in NYC until sunset 7:02pm. 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.
If laining bedieved after sunset, you may lain - even though Shabbos has already begun
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 Purim).
A goy may work for you on Purim
Taking a haircut and trimming nails - if it adds to the simcha of the day - is permissible. Especially this year since it is on Erev Shabbos, in honor of Shabbos, too
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 involved
To prove we are one, באחדות , contrary to Haman’s accusation that we are divided
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).
Some specifically give to at least three people
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
If you forgot to give Mishloach manos before sunset, you may do so - bedieved - after sunset. Even though it is Shabbos when gifts are forbidden, but gifts of food that can be used today are permitted on Shabbos
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 by 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 on Erev Shabbos
It is proper to learn a little Torah before the Seudah despite the hustle-and-bustle of Purim, even for a short period of time. Since Purim is thirty days before Pesach, it is proper to begin reviewing Hilchos Pesach.
On Erev Shabbos you should never begin a big meal too close to Shabbos so that you should have a full appetite at the Shabbos Seudah. The Rama says the Seudah should thus be done in the morning before midday, 1:05pm in NYC. Or at least before the beginning of the tenth hour, (round 4:06pm).
If you started early, you may continue the meal even after the 10th hour, but make sure not to eat too much that you have no appetite for Shabbos seudah.
If you missed this time you should still wash and eat the seudah before sunset
If you begin the seudah before chatzos, you can daven Mincha after. If you begin after chatzos you should wait to daven mincha gedola first, after 136pm
Seudas Purim if you choose to do פורס מפה ומקדש
If one wishes to have the Seudah later and continue into the night, that is permissible, as long as one is well versed in this procedure, called פורס מפה ומקדש.
Though many Poskim prefer to avoid this practice, the Meiri testifies that they indeed practiced it in his time
The idea is that you combine the Seudah of Shabbos and Purim together. It is one long Seudah with candle lighting and kiddush in the middle of the seudah when Shabbos comes in. You daven Kabbolas Shabbos and Maariv after bentching.
It is preferable to begin the Seudah before midday or at least before the tenth hour, 4:06pm, as above. However you may schedule to begin the Seudah if necessary, even later, before Shabbos. The reason it is permissible is because you are combining it with the Shabbos seudah. Only when it is two separate meals must you eat it earlier before Shabbos so that it doesn't clash with the appetite of Shabbos, but here it is the same long meal as Shabbos itself and is thus permitted even after the tenth hour.
To fulfill the obligation of a Purim Seudah you wash for bread and make hamotzi. You must eat meat and drink wine during the day, before sunset.
Women pause the meal and light candles as always at candle lighting time, 6:44pm. From then on, they should not eat or drink until kiddush. Men who do not light, should not eat or drink from sunset, 7:02pm, until kiddush.
It is best to make kiddush after tzeis (7:30pm) even though you could technically make kiddush before sunset, because we prefer to keep the Purim seudah going on Purim as long as possible before we switch to Shabbos mode. And because kiddush after tzeis is always preferable
Before kiddush, put lechem mishneh on the table and cover it like you do every Shabbos. You also cover all other challah that is on the table. This is called פורס מפה ומקדש - cover the challah and make kiddush.
Recite שלום עליכם and אשת חיל as usual
Make regular kiddush. However, if you drank wine during the meal and made a bracha “hagefen” then you skip the bracha of “hagefen” during kiddush
You do not wash for bread after kiddush because you already washed earlier
One person cuts the lechem mishneh and gives everyone a piece, like on every Shabbos.
You do not bentch hamotzi on the challah, because you already did earlier.
Here, however, is the complication of פורס מפה as follows: There is another opinion that says you SHOULD make hamotzi - because you broke the meal into two when you made kiddush. Since we have 2 opposing opinions, we opt to be lenient and eat the bread without another hamotzi.
In order to avoid the issue altogether Shulchan Aruch rules it is best to bentch, daven, and then do a regular Shabbos seudah, not פורס מפה. This is what a Baal Nefesh, a scrupulous individual will do.
But if we want to continue the seudah into the night we must come up with some halachic innovations - there are options how to get around the dispute of whether to make the bracha hamotzi:
(a) One idea is if you have someone who already benched and davened and is not obligated in hamotzi. If he makes hamotzi and everyone answers Amen, the problem is avoided.
(b) A second idea is to take two rolls of פת הבאה בכסנין, a dough wrap that we usually make mezonos on. If the wrap has inside it a significant and important delicacy that is more important than the dough, you may make a hamotzi on it as lechem mishneh, and that solves the problem. The reason is that on a dessert you are obligated to make a bracha. And this dessert you can even halachically make hamotzi on.
However, the halacha remains, and if these options are not feasible, simply eat lechem mishneh without another bracha
Eat a sizable quantity of bread (kebeitza, 58g) to fulfill the seudah on Shabbos - preferably after tzeis, not after sunset
At the end of the Seudah you bentch and say retzei
Do you also say al hanissim? (Assuming you did not yet daven Maariv,) some say not to say. Others say you should say it especially since Shushan Purim is also part of the miracle
After bentching daven regular Kabbolas Shabbos and Maariv
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.
Preparing for Shabbos
It is best to wash off before Shabbos all make up from Purim costumes
If you didn’t, you may wash it off on Shabbos. However, you may not erase any lettering that is painted on your skin, on Shabbos, as this is the melacha of Mochek
שבת שושן פורים
No אב הרחמים nor צדקתך
Sunday 16 Adar
Since the festivities continue today in Yerushalayim, and all Jews across the world are united with Yerushlayim, it is proper that across the world we increase in festivity and Simcha - through extra Torah and giving some type of Mishloach Manos and Matanos la’evyonim.
We do recite Tachnun today
We also increase in Seudah today in unity with Yerushalayim just like on other years on the 15th of Adar
Please help My Extended Family Matanos La’evyonim Fund
We are helping 115 families this year!
MYEF.org/Donate (Enter memo: Matanos La’Evyonim)
May we merit celebrating this Purim in the Bais Hamikdash haShlishi!