The Laws of Purim

Hilchos Purim/The Laws of Purim
Mitzvah of Zecher/Remembering Amalek
1. Men & women must fulfill the mitzvah of ‘remembering (the nation of) Amalek’ by listening to a special reading of the story of how Amalek attacked the Jews in the desert, knowing they would lose (the epitome of evil).
2. This was established to be fulfilled on the shabbos before Purim because Haman was a descendent of Amalek.
(if one misses the reading, come to shul Purim morning and have the mitzvah in mind at Torah reading)ad)
4. It must be read out of a Torah Scroll (it is preferable to hear the blessings before and after)

Taanis Ester/The Fast of Esther
1. There is a strong custom that everyone must fast the day before Purim (daybreak until after reading the megillah)
(when Purim falls on Sunday, the fast is on Thursday because we’re not allowed to fast on or going into Shabbos)
2. Therefore, if you are not feeling well, you should not fast. (ie ANY type of difficulty - illness, pregnancy)
3. This is not a sad fast; rather it’s for soul searching (Therefore, you may play music, bathe, cut hair, etc.)
4. It is forbidden to eat until you have heard the Megillah. (or to start any manner of work from sunset)
5. “Aneinu” is added to the Mincha Amidah by those who are fasting and Avinu Malkeinu is said as well.

Mach’zis Hashekel/The Half Shekel
1. On the afternoon before Purim, the head of the household gives 3 ½-shekels for every member of the family
(3 shekels, because ½ shekels were donated 3 times: to buy communal sacrifices each year at this time, to melt down for the base of the wall around the mishkan, for the general upkeep of the Temple/Jerusalem)
2. If the head of the household can’t do this mitzvah, each member (above 12/13) does it on their own behalf.
(If one did not give then, one can donate during the whole month of Adar)
3. Ashkenazim give any three coins that are called "half" coins in that country (ie. half dollars)
Sephardim are accustomed to give the value of 9.6 grams of silver (according to the current market value).
(Most Shuls place three special coins on a tray, each person then buys the coins and acquires the coins by lifting them up, then donating them back to charity by replacing them on the tray, to be used by the next person).
4. One should be careful not to say that the donation is for "the half shekel" as it is forbidden to donate to the Temple in our days, but rather one should say "in commemoration of the half shekel".

Mitzvah #1: Reading the Megillah
1. Obligation to read the Megillah is upon every man & woman (and child past the age of understanding)
(But since we’re not all experts & it’s a Jewish principle to do things publicly, it’s read for us all together – therefore the reader should have all listeners in mind & all listeners should have fulfilling their mitzvah in mind)
2. Children that can’t remain quiet and will disturb those listening to the Megillah should not be brought to shul.
3. Every Jew is obligated to hear the reading TWICE: at night and in the morning (see Ps. 22, attributed to Esther)
(At Night: directly after nightfall, until morning if needed & At Daytime: from sunrise until sunset if needed - but one should try to fulfill one's obligation as soon as possible.)
4. It is forbidden to eat before hearing the Megillah, both in the night and the day.
(If this causes hardship, one can snack on a small amount of food, up to an “eggs-worth”)
5. The Megillah should preferably be read in the presence of a minyan. (but may be fulfilled by reading it alone)
(A woman can read for herself, or even for other women, but she should not read for a man)
6. When Purim falls on a Sunday, one should daven Maariv, say Havdallah, then read the Megillah
7. One is not allowed to talk from the 1st blessing before the reading until the final blessing after the reading
(if the reader talked, he may continue; if the listener talked and missed a word, he has not fulfilled the mitzvah)
8. One must hear EVERY single word of the reading or else must start again from the beginning. If one missed a word or a few, they should read those words themselves (preferably from a kosher scroll), up to half of the megillah
(but it must be read in the correct order - ie. read the words you missed and keep reading until you catch up)
9. There is a custom to “stamp out” the name of Haman (be careful not to cause others to miss hearing even a single word) & to read out loud the 4 verses before the reader (2:5, 8:15&16, 10:3) & the names of Haman’s sons
10. One must have intention to fulfill your obligation by the reader's blessings (ie. don’t say: "Baruch Hu…”)
11. Everyone should stand when the three blessings are recited : “al mikrah megillah,” “sh’asah nissim,” “sh’hechiyanu” (BUT only recite the last one in a minyan/public)
12. Ashkenazim recite "Shehechiyanu" both before the reading at night and at day (you should have intention to include the mitzvos of Mishloach Manot, Gifts to the Poor & the Purim meal in this blessing.)
13. When reading for both men & women, recite: “al mikrah megillah”; for women: “lishmoah megillah”
14. If one arrives late, they should recite the blessings and catch up as quick as possible

Mitzvah #2: Mishloach Manos/ Sending Gifts (Lit. Portions)
1. Everybody is obligated to send at least two portions of food to one Jew, during the day and NOT the night.
(This applies to every member of the household, even small children should be encouraged)
2. A man should send to a man, and a woman to a woman (preferably someone to whom you may have ill feeling)
If you sent to OR as a family as a whole, one need not be particular about man giving to men and visa versa.
3. The portions should preferably be something fitting for eating or drinking as is (without further cooking).
4. The portions also need to be different types of food than each other (but don’t have to separate blessings).
One should send portions that are fittingly substantial (both in the eyes of the giver and in the eyes of the receiver).
5. One should not send portions to someone who is in the year of mourning for their parents, (or the month of mourning for other close relatives). One may send to the other members of the mourner's family (who are not in mourning). Those in mourning, however, are obligated to send portions.
6. It is preferable to send these portions via a messenger, be they children or non-Jews.
(you should ensure that the receiver knows who sent the portions)

Mitzvah #3: Matanos L’Evyonim/ Gifts to the Poor
1. Every person is obligated to give charity (approx. $20 - 25) to two poor Jews during the day (NOT the night)
(but you can give the money to a messenger any time before Purim day as long as it’s given to the poor ON Purim)
2. It is better to increase one's gifts to the poor, rather than increasing the amounts of Mishloach Manot
(Rambam: “because there is no greater joy than to gladden the hearts of the poor, orphans, widows &the stranger)
3. The charity must be equal to a “cheap meal” or “prutah” {a minimal coin} and can be money or food.
(However it is proper to increase ones gifts to the poor, both in amount of money and poor people, see above)
4. You should not be particular on Purim as to who you give to and should give to all who request.
(In order to ensure that you fulfill the mitzvah, you should make sure to give to at least two bona fide poor)
5. Each family member, including children should give themselves (some have the custom for the husband to give on behalf of the wife (One may NOT use Ma'aser (Tithe) money for this or any other Purim-related mitzvah)
6. One who is in a place where there are no Jewish poor, should set money aside to give to poor at a latter time.

Mitzvah #4: Seudas Purim/ The Purim Meal
1. Every person, both men and women, are obligated to have a festive meal on Purim day, including the custom to eat bread, meat and wine (there is a custom to eat nicer meals on the evening of Purim and Breakfast as well)
2. The custom is to hold the Purim meal in the day after the afternoon service, with the majority of the meal being eaten before sunset, but lasting into the night (even though you MAY eat at any time during the day). One recites "Al HaNissim" during grace after meals even if the meal finished after nightfall. If one forgot, it is not repeated.)
4. There is a custom to light candles (without a blessing), to learn Torah (laws of Passover) before eating, as it is written "And there was Light and happiness", "Light" referring to Torah (before the Happiness of eating).
5. The Talmud says: "One is obligated to become intoxicated on Purim, until one cannot distinguish between ‘cursed be Hamen' and ‘blessed be Mordechai'". There are many opinions about this statement, but all agree that it is forbidden to reach a point of rowdiness and profane stupidity; all the more so one is forbidden to break/forget any mitzvos. Some are accustomed to fall asleep due to the more than normal quantity of WINE, and thus reach a state [asleep] of being unable to distinguish between Haman and Mordechai. (This applies only to men, though some women drink a small amount of wine in honor of Purim – but they are not obligated to become intoxicated)
6. If one is so drunk that they would be unable to speak respectfully to an important person, one may not pray.

Other Laws & Customs
1. It is the custom (not the law) not to work on Purim and to spend the time instead on the celebrations of the day.
2. Many people eat vegetables on Purim in remembrance of the fact that Esther kept kosher while in the king's palace and ate only vegetables.
3. It is the custom to wear Shabbos clothes on Purim (at prayer/megillah readings) and to wear costumes as part of our rejoicing. One must not wear costumes that are immodest or for the opposite sex.
4. It is also our custom to eat hamantashan, three cornered pastries shaped like the hat Haman used to wear.
5. On Purim, we add the “Al Hanissim” paragraph to the Amidah and Grace After Meals (if you forgot to add it, you DON’T need to repeat it), omit “Tachanun” & “Lam’natzeach”, and read the Torah during Shacharis.
6. If you’re going to be in Israel for Purim, due to questions as to when to celebrate - Contact your local rabbi

For exact times for the holiday/prayers, go to www.ou.org/zmanim