Question:
What are the Halachos relevant to the day of Purim?
Answer:
One is obligated to read the megilla at night and during the day on Purim.The megilla can be read all night until alos hashachar.If one misses the reading at night, he cannot make it up during the day.
Before reading the megilla at night, three brochas are recited: Al Mikra Megilla, SheAsa Nissim, and Shehecheyanu.The day-time megilla can be read any time during the day from sunrise to sunset. If one read it after also hashachar but before sunrise, he nevertheless fulfilled his obligation.
According to Sephardim, the beracha of shehecheyanu is not recited during the day. According to ashkenazim, it is recited during the day – Rama 692:1.Women are also obligated to hear the megilla.
A man who already heard the megilla in shul can still read it for his wife. He should recite all of the brochas before.Children should be trained to hear the megilla.
When one has the Seudah, one should have intent that one is eating the meal in order to fulfill the mitzvah of Seudas Purim. The meal should be eaten with friends and family. It is improper to fast on Purim unless it is a fast for a nightmare. If purim falls on a Friday a person should have the meal in the morning but if he didn’t he can have it after chatzos until the beginning of the tenth halachic hour (which is a half hour before Mincha Ketana). After the fact if he didn’t have it until the end of the day he should still have the meal then.
Many Ashkenazim have the minhag to eat the meal after mincha but they should be careful to have majority of the meal during the day, while many Sephardim have the minhag to eat the meal in the morning. Some have a minhag to eat a small additional meal the night of Purim.
The mitzvah of Seudas Purim is during the day and not the night, yet one should have simcha and a small meal at night (and make the meal of the day greater). If Purim falls out on Motzei Shabbos and Sunday, having Seudas Shelishit isn’t considered as having a small meal during the night of Purim. Rather, one should have a special meal for the sake of Purim. If one began the meal on Purim and ate past nightfall, one should still mention Al HaNissim in Birkas HaMazon unless one already said Maariv, in which case one shouldn’t say Al HaNissim. Some, however, say that one can say it even after davening Maariv – Mishna Brurah 695:16
Many poskim hold that one should eat bread and meat in the meal.If one forgot Al HaNissim in Benching, one doesn’t repeat benching. However, if one remembers that he forgot Al HaNissim while still benching one should add it in the Harachaman’s by saying Harachaman Hu Yaaseh Lanu Nissim and continue with Al HaNissim. The mitzvah to drink only applies to wine. Although most Rishonim seem to require one to reach a level of drunkenness, most later authorities, Ashkenazic and Sephardic, hold that one should only drink a little more than what one is accustomed to drink and then sleep. All agree that if one going to end up violating or degrading any halacha such as Birkas HaMazon, one should not get drunk.
If one’s parent tells one not to drink on purim one should listen to them and only drink a little more than usual. Women are not required to drink as much. One cup or less is sufficient. If one unintentionally causes minor damages as a result of celebrating purim, one is exempt from paying for the damages. |