Purim Laws and Customs
Community
1.In the middle of the 4th century to n. e. the most powerful state in the world was the Persian Empire. It stretched from India to Ethiopia and also included the Land of Israel, the Jewish population of which was then small - these were those who returned from the Babylonian exile and rebuilt Jerusalem. The capital of the empire — the city of Susa (Shushan) — was at the same time the main center of the Jewish diaspora. The ruler of the empire, King Ahasuerus, enchanted by the beauty of the Jewish woman Esther, took her as his wife, and gave her cousin Mordecai one of the highest positions in the state.However, Haman, Ahasuerus' closest courtier, managed to convince the king of the need to exterminate the entire Jewish people in one day — 13 adar the following year. A mortal threat loomed over the Jews of the empire. But the Most High, with His great mercy, destroyed Haman's plan and turned it against him. By order of Ahasuerus, Haman was executed, and the Jews were allowed to destroy their enemies 13 adar. Since then, Mordechai has become the second man in the empire after the king.In memory of this miracle, the sages of the Torah of that generation established that 14 adar, when the Jews celebrated victory over their enemies, should forever be a holiday. This feast was called Purim (Esther 9:26; see also 179:1).2.Comparing Hanukkah to Purim, the Lubavitcher Rebbe, Rabbi Yosef-Yitzhak, notes that the main reason for the brutal persecution during the Hashmonah era was the “spiritual destruction of the Temple” — the betrayal of Hellenized Jews who forcibly imposed Greek culture, philosophy, and religion.In the days of Mordechai and Esther, the threat of physical extermination arose due to the neglect of the basic commandments of the Torah, on which the very existence of the Jewish people depends (the laws of kashrut, the purity of family life, etc.).In both cases, salvation came thanks to a handful of Jews ready for self-sacrifice: the Hashmonah family led the uprising, and Esther, Mordecai, and his disciples led the people of Israel to teshuvah by their example.The difference between the miracle of Hanukkah and Purim is explained by the difference of eras. In the time of the Hashmonah, the Land of Israel was the center of the people, there was a Temple and a Sanhedrin, so the miracle was obvious, supernatural. During the time of Mordechai and Esther, the people were in exile, so the miracle of Purim was hidden, and events unfolded, at first glance, naturally.Comparing these miracles, one of the greatest authorities of the Torah, Rabbi Yisrael Meir Kagan, known as Hafetz Chaim (1838-1933), made an important conclusion: when they try to destroy us spiritually, as in the days of the Hashmonah, the answer must be an armed uprising; but if physical destruction threatens, as in the days of Mordecai and Esther, salvation comes only with repentance, fasting and prayer.3.Ever since Moshe Rabbeinu, Jews have known the great power of fasting. During the trials, they fasted to awaken the mercy of the Almighty. It is known from the Oral Torah that during the war with Amalek (Shemot 17:8–16), Moshe fasted, and the Tanakh mentions the order of King Sha 'ul to fast all the army on the day of the decisive battle (Shmuel I 14:24).And in the time of Mordechai and Esther, when 13 Adar the Jews defeated their enemies, they fasted.Therefore, the sages established a common fast on this day — Fasting Esther, so that every Jew would know: if, when in trouble, he sincerely repents and fasts, as his ancestors did, — the Almighty hears his prayer.However, the Fast of Esther is not considered as obligatory as the four fasts mentioned in the books of the prophets. Therefore, pregnant women, women who gave birth within 30 days after childbirth, nursing mothers, as well as patients who find it difficult to tolerate even a slight ailment, are released from it. The newlyweds also do not fast if the fast falls on one of the seven days after the wedding ("seven days of the feast"). They all "redeem" the missed day with a more generous tzedakah.4.In Lent, Esther in the morning, during the Shacharit prayer, reads laughter and Avina Malkaina and makes the same inserts in the Schmone-esre as in other posts (see 117:9–11).5.In the days of the Temple in the month of Adar, each man sacrificed half a shekel for the purchase of public sacrifices. In memory of this, a special tzedakah is given before Purim — mahatsit a-shekel ("half shekel"): half of the monetary unit that has circulation in the country.Three halves of a monetary unit are given for each person — since in the Torah passage (Shemot 30:11–16) the word "truma" ("donation") is mentioned three times.The head of the family gives mahatsit a-shekel for each family member. The most common custom is to give for children until they create their own family. The best time to do this is Esther's Fast.6.If circumcision occurs in the Fast of Esther, a festive meal is arranged at night, after reading the book of Esther. Sandak and the baby's father can break the fast in the afternoon.7.In the "Maariv" there are 14 adaras, with the beginning of Purim, after the "Schmone-esre" they read the book Esther from the scroll — "Megillah". It is customary to wear festive clothes. At home, they set the festive table and light candles.8.In all Purim prayers, "Veal anisim" is added — both in "Schmone-esre" and in "Birkat a-mazon".9.Every man and woman is obliged to listen to Megila's reading twice — night and day. Children are also brought in by being taught the commandment.10 – 18Next, the detailed laws of reading Megila are set out: the blessing before and after, the order of folding the scroll, the places where it is customary to pause, the custom of "beating Haman", the need to listen carefully to every word, the rules in the absence of a minyan, the features of the Sabbath, etc.The reading of Megila in Purim is of particular importance as it replaces the reading of Galel. Therefore, the fulfillment of this commandment cannot be canceled.From the "Shulhan Arukh" vault, part 1.