the holiday of Purim
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Should the Ten Tribes observe Chanuka and Purim?
Assuming we will, at some point, be reunited with some or all of the exiled Ten Tribes of Israel, will we expect them to celebrate holidays that are specifically Judaic in nature, by which I mean that ...
5
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1answer
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Why don't islands read the m'gila two days?
Bavli, M'gila 5 amud 2, cites a doubt as to when the m'gila is read in T'verya: on the fourteenth of Adar, as in most places, or on the fifteenth, as in a city walled since the time of Y'hoshua. The ...
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שונא מתנות by Mishloach Manos
Can one rightfully refuse to accept Mishloach manos based on the idea of one should not accept presents, or a person who does so wrong since shalach manos was instituted to promote love? The other ...
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2answers
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Why doesn't everyone say 'Al HaNisim for both days of Purim?
No matter where you live, walled city or not, there is no Tahanun or LaMenatzeah on either day, you aren't allowed to fast on either day, and you can even fulfill Matanoth LaEvyonim on either day ...
3
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1answer
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Oops! I said the B'Ymei Matisyahu instead of B'Ymei Mordechai
Per Orach Chaim 693:2 if one forgot Al Hanisim by Davening there is no need to repray. What if I said Al Hanisim, however I said the Chanuka version on Purim - do I have to Daven again or not? ...
7
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Are you Yotzei Mikrah Megillah if you're spacing out?
The Mishnah in Megillah (2:2) says that one who reads the megillah while semi-asleep ('מתנמנם') is yotzei. The gemara comments(18b):
מתנמנם יצא וכו': היכי דמי מתנמנם אמר רב אשי נים ולא נים תיר ...
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Can a synagogue appropriate the contents of charity boxes not removed before a specified time?
There are lots of charity boxes from different organisations put out on a table in the foyer of our synagogue on Purim.
The wardens have attached a note that says that boxes not taken away by the end ...
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3answers
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How did Vashti grow a tail?
In מגילה דף יב (Megillah 12a-b) it gives two reasons as to why Vashti did not go to Achashveirosh when he requested her to the party. The first reason is that Vashti had Tzarat (a metaphysical skin ...
6
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1answer
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Is indirect matanot l'evyonim ok?
I was under the impression that the Purim mitzvah of matanot l'evyonim, giving gifts to the poor, had to be done directly -- find two or more poor people and give to them. This answer on a related ...
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1answer
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Matanos L'evyonim to a non-Jew
I live in an area where b"H it is difficult to find Jewish poor. Can matanos l'evyonim be given to non-Jews, or must at least 2 of the poor people be Jewish?
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Two manos of meat
The Rambam says that one can give "two portions (manos) of meat" as mishloach manos. The Aruch Hashulchan 695:14 explains the Rambam should read "two types (minim) of meat":
וברור הדבר דצריך לשלוח ...
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How to get drunk on Purim and still pray?
There is a halachic problem, as has been discussed previously, with praying while being drunk. If someone gets drunk on Purim, how does he manage to fulfill the mitzvah to pray three times a day?
...
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1answer
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Which US half-dollar coin should be used for Zecher Machatzis Hashekel?
It is customary on Taanis Esther to give a coin (or three coins each) valued at half the local currency's standard unit to tzedakah in commemoration of the mitzvah of Machatzis Hashekel (Rema 694:1).
...
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4answers
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Are Sephardic Jews allowed to dress up in costumes on Purim?
The custom of dressing up in costumes on Purim originated from Ashkenazic communities in Europe and has become a popular custom today for Ashkenazim (cf. Rema in Shulkhan Aruch Orach Chaim 696:8).
...
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2answers
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How to teach the Purim story to children?
As a parent raising a small child, I find it difficult explaining the story of Megillat Esther. Are there any methods (rabbinic precedence or otherwise) of explaining to a pre-bar mitzvah-age child ...
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Thinking about Purim Torah in the bathroom
It is not permitted to think about Torah in the bathroom regularly, but what about Purim Torah, which is certainly not real Torah study, but still often refers to actual Torah?
One might think that ...
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2answers
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If Sarah's Death is a “Merit” for Cheshvan, Why Isn't Moshe's Death a “Merit” for Adar?
When I was young(er) I used to listen to to Toravision's Purim Story tape. (Yeah, I know, I'm dating myself.) It's a great tape, and the older I've gotten, the more it's amazed me how close the tape ...
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3answers
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Candles on Purim?
In Esther 8:16, we read that after the Jews were saved from an evil decree, they had "light and gladness and joy and honor." Is anyone aware of Rabbinic texts that discuss celebrating Purim with ...
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3answers
145 views
Did Mordechai have children?
Megillas Esther ends by saying: וְדֹבֵר שָׁלוֹם לְכָל־זַרְעוֹ - and speaking peace to all his seed.
I realize Rashi applies this to the previous clause, of all the nation, but perhaps there are ...
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Why aren't Purim and Channuka considered a violation of לֹא תֹסִפוּ?
It says in Devarim 4;2:
לֹא תֹסִפוּ עַל הַדָּבָר אֲשֶׁר אָנֹכִי מְצַוֶּה אֶתְכֶם וְלֹא תִגְרְעוּ מִמֶּנּוּ לִשְׁמֹר אֶת מִצְוֹת יְ־הֹוָ־ה אֱלֹהֵיכֶם אֲשֶׁר אָנֹכִי מְצַוֶּה אֶתְכֶם
...
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1answer
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Moshe's Mask and Purim?
Is there a connection between Purim masks and the mask Moshe begins wearing at the end of Parshat Ki Tisa?
It seems too much of a coincidence that it's read near Purim for there to be none.
3
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1answer
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Why are children given money on Purim?
There seems to be a minhag (or at least what appears to be a minhag) that children who deliver mishloach manos are given a small sum of money by the recepient.
Is this an actual minhag?
And if so, ...
2
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1answer
155 views
How to survive Purim
It is probably a bit late for most of you, but living in Jerusalem I still have a few hours to go. The question: how do you survive a very busy Purim?
Purim is a very interactive holiday and has a ...
2
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1answer
58 views
Where did Hamantashen come from?
When/where did the idea of Hamantashen come from?
I have heard:
Haman's hat
Haman's Ears
But neither of those make any sense...
2
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1answer
100 views
Pronunciation of Esther's cousin's name.
I have seen a couple of places where Mordechai’s name is spelled with a kamatz katan under the daled. Has anyone else seen this and do you know which is more accurate: Mordechai/ Mordachai/ Mordochai ...
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1answer
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Can a Brit Milah double as a Seudah for Purim?
Can a Brit Milah, on the morning of Purim, cover you for the Seudah or does it need to be distinct?
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Looking for a source for well done Purim Torah Gemaras
One example that is utterly irreverent yet very well done and funny is the Simpsons episode done up as a blatt of gemera. (As a positive aspect, his use of B'Laz for Rav Shmuel David Ha'Tzair, as ...
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1answer
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Did Esther eat at the first feast she made for the king and Haman?
Esther 5:1,5:4 says that Esther made the first feast on the third day of the fast.
Earlier (4:16), Esther tells Mordechai that she will also fast for three days.
Did she eat at the feast, or was ...
6
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2answers
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Need some good Russian Purim/kiruv links
I was totally shocked today, talking with one of my Russian colleagues. He had absolutely no idea what Purim was about. Not Mordechai, not Ester, not Achashverosh, not Haman - he didn't even know ...
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2answers
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Walled cities for Purim other than Jerusalem
The holiday of Purim is unique in that some locations celebrate it on different days. The rule is: if the city was walled at the time of Joshua's conquest of the Land of Israel then they celebrate on ...
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1answer
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Haman in the Torah
Similar to Alex's question,
Why did the Gemara say "From where is the source of Homon in the Torah? Homin Hoetz." when it could have used "Vechaltem es Homon"?
Anyways, what is the purpose of ...
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2answers
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Halachically skipping Purim
There have long been 'legends' of various liberal figures in Judaism, including Yeshayahu Leibovitz (brother of Nechama Leibovitz) that would 'skip' Purim. On the 14th of Adar they would be sure to be ...
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1answer
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Mishloach Manot must be “ready to eat” - from whose perspective?
From here:
Every adult is required to send on the day of Purim at least two ready to eat food items to at least one friend.
Is this requirement dependent on the sender or the recipient?
In ...
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2answers
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When did Achashverosh stop rounding up fair maidens?
So first Achashverosh was married to Vashti. Then no more Vashti. Then he's rounding up all the fair maidens in the land to um, "meet" them, one per night, but they're still stuck in one of his royal ...
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Is there any place I can rent or borrow a Megillah from?
Specifically in or around Brooklyn, NY: I was wondering if anyone knows of a place that rents or lends out Kosher Megillos for Purim.
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Understanding the story of Rabba and Rav Zeira
The Gemarah (Megillah 7b)describes how Rabba and Rav Zeira celebrated Purim together. While intoxicated Rabba kills (slaughters) Rav Zeira. The next day he resurrects him. The next year Rabba invites ...
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1answer
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Walled from the times of Joshua: Why Joshua?
The Halacha is that those who live in a city that was walled in the times of Yehoshuah reads on a different day. The question is why from Yehoshuah (Joshua) when the commentaries explain it they speak ...
3
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1answer
122 views
Who wrote Shoshanat Yaakov?
Who was the Author of the Piyut "asher
hanee" that ends with Shoshanat Yaakov? Why is it said by Ashkenazim after they read the Meggilah at night?
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votes
3answers
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Recommendation for Purim divrei Torah (not “Purim torah”)
I've been reading through the Malbim Esther and have found it fascinating reading, and I was wondering whether there are any other notable seforim with divrei Torah about Purim. I am going through the ...
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2answers
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Hearing Megillat Esther in a mixed minyan
If the only available minyan to hear Megillat Esther is a mixed minyan with no mechitza, can one attend the minyan or is it better to not hear megilla at all? Would it matter if the baal megilla was a ...
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1answer
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Why do Shuls put up notices saying משנכנס אדר מרבים בשמחה?
Why do Shuls put up notices saying משנכנס אדר מרבים בשמחה ?
Do we think that a notice will change our mood? And if so, why not put up a notice in Elul saying that the Yom HaDin is coming?
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Why does a hamentash have three sides and filling? [closed]
All Hamentashen that I've seen have three sides and all Hamentashen have filling.
Why is that?
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2answers
113 views
What was the attitude of Rabbonim regarding Purim Torah?
Purim Torah seems to be a two sided concept. On one hand, many people do it for many years (for example, Maseches Purim was published in 1871).
On the other hand, it seems to be a Bizayon HaTorah ...
7
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2answers
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Why didn't Achashveirosh reward Mordechai immediately?
Esther tells Achashveirosh in the name of Mordechai of a plot to assassinate him (Achashveirosh). They investigate, and stop the would-be assassins. And then... nothing? Why didn't Achashveirosh ...
9
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3answers
273 views
Is cross-dressing permitted on Purim and if so why?
As part of dressing in costume on Purim is a person allowed to put on clothes normally worn by the opposite gender? If so, where does this heter come from in the face of the biblical prohibition ...
4
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1answer
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Why be happy Shushan Purim?
Rama (695:2) quotes from the Maharil (though I don't see it there):
וחייב במשתה ושמחה קצת בב׳ ימים י״ד וט״ו
and one must have a drinking party and joy, a little, on two days: the fourteenth and ...
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Drinking on Purim OTHER THAN at the required “Festive Meal” (Seudas Mitzvah)
A source from this question quotes the Rema that one should be "joyous" on the night of Purim as well as the day. That citation doesn't explicity address getting intoxicated.
This site quotes many ...
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1answer
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Why are the words כהיום הזה mentioned in Al Hanisim for Chanukah and nowhere for Purim and Pesach?
Why are the words כהיום הזה mentioned in Al Hanisim for Chanukah and not in Al Hanisim for Purim or at another appropriate place (in say the brocho of אשר גאלנו) for Pesach?
Credit to Alex for ...
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Rambam placement of Hilchos Megilla vaChanukah
Why does the Rambam in Mishneh Torah in the Sefer Zmanim place Hilchos Chanukah and Hilchos Purim together in Megillah vaChanukah instead of just placing them separately and why in the title is ...
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4answers
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If sleeping suffices for “ad d'lo yada”, why drink?
The Shulchan Aruch (OC 695:2) writes:
One must become drunk on Purim until he doesn't know the difference between "arur Haman" and "baruch Mord'chay".
The Rama (ad loc.) adds:
But some say ...
