the holiday of Purim
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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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11
votes
1answer
92 views
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 ...
10
votes
4answers
226 views
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 ...
10
votes
3answers
253 views
Why not two days for all holidays?
For those outside of Israel the requirement is for two days of yom tov (and sometimes Rosh Chodesh), originally due to uncertainty and now due to tradition. But we don't do this for all holidays even ...
10
votes
1answer
280 views
Can Purim Torah be heretical?
How far can one go with Purim Torah? Can one descend into heresy, so long as it is known that one is not serious?
10
votes
1answer
144 views
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.
9
votes
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 ...
9
votes
3answers
411 views
Where did the “different bracha for mishloach manos” idea come from?
Rambam and Shulchan Aruch say you can send two types of meat as mishloach manos on Purim.
Yet somehow I (and many other people, apparently) were taught that the two different items have to be in two ...
8
votes
4answers
113 views
Possessions on a tree where Hung
In Maoz Tzur we say:
רֹב בָּנָיו וְקִנְיָנָיו עַל הָעֵץ תָּלִיתָ
Did we really hang his (Haman's) possessions on a tree?
8
votes
2answers
112 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
votes
7answers
616 views
Why do we honor Charvona, specifically?
The song we sing after reading the Megilla on Purim, "Shoshanat Yaakov," concludes with "and may Charvona also be remembered favorably." According to the Megilla (Esther 7:9), all Charvona did was, ...
7
votes
6answers
254 views
What would you really, actually like to receive (give?) for Mishloach Manot on Purim?
Let's put it this way: what would you actually like to receive in your Mishloach Manot on Purim? (I'm trying to figure out what to put in there would actually be most appreciated?) I feel like ...
7
votes
4answers
232 views
Can you use Liquor to fulfill Ad Dlo Yoda?
Can you use liquor instead of wine for the mitzvah of Ad Dlo Yoda?
Is there any Posek who allows you to be yotzeh specifically with Liquor?
7
votes
2answers
89 views
How did the Sages know that Jerusalem had a wall in the times of Joshua?
The criterion for whether a city celebrates Purim on 14 Adar or Shushan Purim on 15 Adar is whether it was walled in the times of Joshua (about 3300 years ago). (Well Shushan itself is an exception, ...
7
votes
2answers
153 views
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 ...
7
votes
2answers
94 views
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 ...
7
votes
1answer
81 views
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 ...
7
votes
3answers
160 views
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 ...
7
votes
1answer
112 views
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 ...
6
votes
2answers
87 views
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 ...
6
votes
1answer
86 views
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 ...
6
votes
1answer
60 views
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 ...
6
votes
2answers
89 views
Multiple people using one Shalach Manos
Can a bunch of people be Yotzei their Chiyuv of Shalach Manos with one Basket? What are the Halachic requirements for doing so?
6
votes
1answer
55 views
6
votes
2answers
102 views
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 ...
5
votes
4answers
196 views
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 ...
5
votes
4answers
110 views
5
votes
3answers
200 views
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?
...
5
votes
3answers
110 views
In the book of Esther, was Haman plotting to kill/overthrow Ahasueros?
At first reading, Haman is very powerful and wants to use that power to kill the Jews, but he's not actually interested in harming his boss, King Ahasueros ("Achashveirosh" to most of us), in any way. ...
5
votes
1answer
62 views
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?
5
votes
1answer
71 views
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 ...
5
votes
0answers
46 views
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 ...
5
votes
0answers
72 views
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 ...
4
votes
4answers
253 views
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).
...
4
votes
2answers
125 views
Meggilah Minyan
Does meggilah require a Minyan And why and how far must one go to get one?(there is a great story about the Gra with this one)
4
votes
2answers
66 views
Mattanos Levyonim via Jerusalem organazations
Am I yotzeh if I (a non-Jerusalemite) give it to an organization in Jerusalem who gives it out on their Purim since a mitzvas Hayom on my purim?
4
votes
2answers
188 views
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 ...
4
votes
1answer
50 views
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?
4
votes
2answers
75 views
“The drinking was according to doctrine, no forcing.” — Forcing to drink, or forcing to stop drinking?
The party is described at the beginning of the book of Esther as having drinking with "ein oness" -- "there was none forcing."
I'd always heard (assumed?) that meant no one would force you to drink ...
4
votes
1answer
67 views
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?
4
votes
1answer
69 views
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 ...
4
votes
1answer
63 views
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 ...
4
votes
3answers
115 views
Nightime Seudah on Purim
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?
4
votes
2answers
141 views
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 ...
4
votes
2answers
248 views
Does a home megilla reading require separate seating (or a mechitza) between men and women?
Occasionally people hold additional megillah readings in someone's home on Purim.
Assuming there's no prayers other than the megillah reading and its associated brachas, must/should there be a ...
4
votes
1answer
65 views
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 ...
4
votes
0answers
77 views
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.
3
votes
5answers
200 views
When Adar Begins we increase our Joy-משנכנס אדר מרבים בשמחה
משנכנס אדר מרבים בשמחה- When Adar Begins we increase our Joy (I know it is not in Shulchan Aruch or the Rambam) What is the practical application of it?
3
votes
1answer
349 views
3
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2answers
104 views
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 ...
