Is there a requirement to have a meal on the night of Meggilah reading?
If not, why is there a custom to eat one?
Is one required to drink even at night?
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It is a Mitzvah to be joyous and have a small Seudah on Purim evening as well. (Ram”a 695:1) |
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The Talmud (Megillah 7b) very clearly rules that one who ate his Purim meal at night has not fulfilled his obligation to have a meal on Purim. The Mordechai (Moed, Remez 787) quotes the Raavyah who (as understood by the Bach OC 695) rules that the night of Purim should have a seudah, and the Gemara is only saying that the obligation for the main meal must be during the day, parallel to Shabbat where one must eat a meal at night and during the day, but the day meal is considered more significant (see Pesachim 105a). Interestingly, the Beit Yosef (OC 695) quotes Rav Hai Gaon that one who took an oath not to eat on Purim day, should eat his obligatory seudah on Purim night, and not break his oath, implying that there is value, at least post facto, to a seudah at night. Just to present the other side, the Kol Bo (Siman 45) mentions a custom not to eat meat on Purim night lest one think one has fulfilled one's obligation. However, the Elya Zuta (695:3) already notes that this custom is no longer followed, but rather festive meals are held per the Bach/Raavyah/Mordechai quoted above. |
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the mitsva of seudat purim, meaning eating bread, meat and wine is only at the day. |
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