4. Question:
Can you elaborate on any differences in halochos for Purim this year [5771] which falls on Shabbos in Yerushalayim?
Introduction:
Cities that were surrounded by a wall during the period of Yehoshua bin Nun celebrate Purim on the 15th of Adar (Shulchan Aruch Siman 688 Se’if 1). Yerushalayim is a city that was surrounded by a wall during the time of Yehoshua bin Nun, and subsequently Purim in Yerushalayim is celebrated on the 15th of Adar, unlike the vast majority of other cities around the world that celebrate Purim on the 14th of Adar.
In contrast to the 14th of Adar that can never coincide with Shabbos, the 15th of Adar does occasionally coincide with Shabbos. Since the various mitzvos and dinim of Purim are distributed over three days when it coincides with Shabbos, as we will see, Purim in such a year is referred to as Purim meshulash.
Discussion: The Shulchan Aruch (Siman 688 Se’if 6) tells us [regarding cities that celebrate Purim on the 15th of Adar] that when the 15th of Adar falls on Shabbos the megillah is read on Erev Shabbos [14th of Adar, i.e. Thursday night and Friday morning] and matonos lo’evyonim is also given and distributed on Erev Shabbos. Se’udas Purim however, occurs on Sunday [16th Adar].
Although the Shulchan Aruch makes no mention of mishloach monos, it is clear from other Poskim (Bach, Taz and Magen Avraham) that mishloach monos are intrinsically connected to se’udas Purim and would therefore be sent on Sunday (16th of Adar) which is the day when se’udas Purim is eaten.
[It should be mentioned that the opinion of the Maharalbach (Shut Siman 32) is that se’udas Purim should be on Shabbos (15th Adar) and consequently, mishloach monos should also be sent on Shabbos. The opinion of the Maharalbach is quoted by the Bach, Taz and Magen Avraham (although the Magen Avraham himself rules in line with the opinion of the Shulchan Aruch).]
The Shulchan Aruch (ibid) also writes that on Shabbos (15th Adar) two Sifrei Torah are taken out; [the first Sefer Torah for the regular sedrah and] the second Sefer Torah is used to lein maftir of “vayovoh Amalek” [which is the regular keriyas hatorah for Purim]. The Magen Avraham (s.k. 8) writes that the haftoro that is leined is the same haftoro that is leined on Parshas Zochor. The Shulchan Aruch concludes that al hanissim is recited on Shabbos.
Returning to mikro megillah, there is another important detail that should be noted that is particularly relevant this year in Yerushalayim. This is the din of leining the megillah in the presence of ten people, which the Shulchan Aruch (Siman 690 Se’if 18) tells us is always the ideal (i.e. even when the megillah is leined bizmano) and it is considered b’dieved to lein the megillah without a minyan.
In Yerushalayim this year [5781], where leining the megillah is preceded to Erev Shabbos, the Mishna Berura (s.k. 61) maintains, based on the Gemoro (Megillah 5a) that preceding the megillah because of Shabbos is also considered shelo bizmano and thus the requirement of a minyan is more severe (c.f. Gemoro Megillah ibid), to the extent that without a minyan the brochos prior to the megillah should not be recited. It should be mentioned that various other Acharonim (Rav Yosef Chaim Zonenfeld, Chazon Ish, Rav Yechiel Michel Tuketzinski) argue with this ruling of the Mishna Berura and maintain that regarding Purim meshulash if the megillah is leined without a minyan, a brocho can still be recited. The minhag in Yerushalayim appears to be in line with these Acharonim and a brocho is recited even when the megillah is leined without a minyan.
Summary: We have seen regarding Purim meshulash that the mitzvos of mikro megillah and matonos lo’evyonim are preceded to Erev Shabbos (14th Adar), whereas se’udas Purim and mishloach monos are pushed off until Sunday (16th Adar) according to the Shulchan Aruch. However, the opinion of the Maharbach is that se’udas Purim and mishloach monos remain obligations on Shabbos itself.
On Shabbos, al hanissim is recited, for Maftir “vayovo Amalek” is leined, and the haftoros leined on Shabbos is the same haftoros that is leined for parshas Zochor. |