Question:
When Purim falls on Shabbos when should one eat se’udas Purim?
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, writes the Shulchan Aruch, 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.
The opinion of the Maharalbach (Shut Siman 32) is that se’udas Purim should be eaten 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).
Many are choshesh for this opinion and fulfil the mitzvos of se’udas Purim and mishloach monos on Shabbos itself. The minhag is to increase in the regular se’udas Shabbos, and not to have a separate se’udah for se’udas Purim (Rav Moshe Shternbuch, Teshuvas v’Hanhogos Volume 7, Siman 92). Obviously, mishloach monos can only be sent within an area that has an eruv. The Poskim mention that those who wish to be choshesh for this opinion should send mishloach monos discreetly, in a way that other people do not realise that mishloach monos are being sent on Shabbos.
There are some minority opinions who maintain the correct time for se’udas Purim and mishloach monos when Purim coincides with Shabbos, is Erev Shabbos. Consequently, there are pious individuals who try to fulfil these two mitzvos on Erev Shabbos, as well as on Sunday. Those who will be eating a se’udas Purim on Erev Shabbos should ensure to have the se’udah in the morning, or at least to begin the se’udah before chatzos (because of kovod Shabbos, as enumerated in Siman 249 Se’if 2).
Conclusion: Those who live in Yerushalayim (or in any other city that was surrounded by a wall in the times of Yehoshua bin Nun) celebrate Purim on the 15th of Adar. This year, [5781] when the 15th of Adar coincides with Shabbos, the Shulchan Aruch rules that se’udas Purim is deferred to Sunday. This is also the conclusion of the Magen Avraham and the standard and accepted practice.
However, the Maharalbach maintained that the correct time for se’udas Purim is Shabbos itself. Many are choshesh for this opinion and intentionally increase in the regular se’udas Shabbos to be choshesh for the opinion of the Maharalbach.
There is in fact a third, minority opinion that maintains that the correct time for se’udas Purim is Erev Shabbos. Some pious individuals are choshesh for this minority opinion as well, and partake of a se’udas Purim on Erev Shabbos, as well as on Sunday. Those having a se’udas Purim on Erev Shabbos should ensure to have the se’udah in the morning, or at least to wash before chatzos. |