Laws of Purim – 5785/2025

HaRav Eytan Weisz – (Manager Efrat Religious Council)

 

 

The 4 Parshiyot:

 

 1. We are commanded to read special parshiyot on four Shabbatot in addition to reading the weekly parsha.

2. If the minyan has only one Torah scroll, read the weekly parsha first, and then scroll to the appropriate additional section.

3. It is advisable to raise the Torah up after each of the two readings, even if the same Torah is used for both.

4. Parshat Shkalim is read on Shabbat Rosh Chodesh Adar or, in years when Rosh Chodesh falls on a weekday, the Shabbat before Rosh Chodesh.

5. Parshat Zachor is read on the Shabbat before Purim. Hearing it is an obligation from the Torah.

6. Parshat Zachor should be read from the most elegant Torah in the synagogue.

7. The reader will aim to include all the listeners in the mitzvah. Before reading, he should announce that everyone should listen with the intent of fulfilling their obligation. 

8. The reader must be careful to read the words correctly. 

9. There is a disagreement about whether or not women are exempt from hearing Parshat Zachor, so they should make an effort to hear it. 

10. Parshat Parah is read before the shabbat of Parshat HaChodesh.

11. Some say that reading Parshat Parah is also an obligation from the Torah.

12. Parshat HaChodesh is read on the Shabbat of Rosh Chodesh Nissan, or on the Shabbat before Rosh Chodesh if Rosh Chodesh falls on a weekday.

13. On these four Shabbatot we do not mention the dead. We do not say Tzidkatcha Tzedek, and there is a dispute over whether we should say Av HaRachamim. 

14. In a leap year these 4 parshiyot are read in Adar II.

15. If one of the parshiyot was read on an earlier Shabbat, there is a disagreement on whether or not it should be reread at the proper time.

16. There is a disagreement as to whether a child who is not yet 13 can get the aliyah for maftir when one of these parshiyot is read, and therefore it is advisable to avoid this situation.

17. If after reading one of the four parshiyot, the reader mistakenly starts to read from the regular haftarah of Shabbat, he should stop and switch to the correct haftarah and make the blessings at the end. If he has already finished reading the incorrect haftarah, he should read the correct haftarah without blessings.

 

The Fast of Esther

"In the days of Mordecai and Esther, the Jews gathered for war on the thirteenth of Adar to fight and defend themselves.They asked for mercy that God would help them avenge their enemies. Therefore, the people of Israel fast every year on the thirteenth of Adar, which we call the Fast of Esther, to remember that God sees and hears every man in his trouble when he fasts and turns to God with all his heart."

 

18. The fast lasts from dawn (this year, according to the calculation of 90 minutes from sunrise - 04:16, according to the calculation of 72 minutes from sunrise - 4:26) until the stars come out (this year - 18:14).

19. Pregnant and nursing women and sick people (even if they are not in danger), are exempt from fasting, but healthy people should join the community in fasting. A bride and groom are exempt from fasting during sheva brachot. 

20. The Fast of Esther is not a fast of mourning, therefore it is permissible to hold celebratory events on this day.

21. One should not eat prior to hearing the Megillah. But one who is having difficulty with the fast may eat something light, such as fruit or cake in the amount of a kiBeitzah, once the stars have appeared.

 

To Remember the Half Shekel

 22. It is customary to give money to charity in the month of Adar, as a reminder of the half shekel that the Jews used to send to the Temple in the month of Adar.

23. Ashkenazim customarily give the ‘half shekel’ at Mincha on the fast of Esther (when Purim falls on Sunday, they give it on Thursday). Sephardim customarily give it before Megillah reading.

24. Ashkenazim usually give at least three half-shekel coins. 

25. Sephardim usually give about the value of half a shekel according to the Torah, which is about ten grams of pure silver (NIS 23.05 as of Adar 1).

26. Many people give a ’half shekel’ for each member of their family. 

 

Obligation to Read the Megillah

27. The Megillah must be read at night and during the day. At night it can be read once the stars appear all the way until dawn. During the day it can be read from sunrise to sunset.

28. It is preferred to read the Megillah in the presence of a minyan. But one can read even without a minyan.

29. Women are required to hear the Megillah both at night and during the day.

 

Kashrut of the Megillah

 30. The Megillah should only be read from a kosher scroll written on parchment. If a kosher scroll is not available, it should be read from a printed scroll or a book.

31. Mistake in the Megillah: Unlike in the Torah, a mistake in the Megillah does not invalidate the Megillah as long as the mistakes are not in the majority of the Megillah.

 

Order of Prayers

 32. In the evening, say Maariv, Kaddish, read the Megillah, say Arur Haman...(Ashkenazim begin the evening from Asher Hania), ViAtah Kadosh, Kaddish, Aleinu, Kaddish, and Barchu 

33. In the morning, we read Parshat Vayavo Amalek from the Torah, (the Sephardim read the last verse twice), the Torah is returned, and the Ashkenazim read the Megillah before Ashrei, and the Sephardim read it before ViAtah Kadosh.

34. Al HaNissim should be included during davening and in Birkat HaMazon. One who forgot to say it and already finished the blessing should not repeat.

 

Purim Meshulash

35. This year is "Triple Purim" in a walled city (Jerusalem), meaning that the Purim mitzvot are spread across three days: Friday, Shabbat, and Sunday. On Friday, the Megillah is read, and gifts to the needy are given. On Shabbat, "Al HaNissim" is added in prayers and Grace After Meals, along with a special Torah reading for Purim. On Sunday, Mishloach Manot (gifts to friends) are sent, and the Purim feast is held.

36. Someone who travels from Efrat to Jerusalem on Friday before dawn and returns to Efrat before Shabbat is considered a "non-walled city resident" (pruzim) and should continue to observe Purim as done in Efrat. If they remain in Jerusalem for Shabbat, they should follow the stricter observance and fulfill the mitzvot as required for "walled city residents" (mukafim). If they travel to Jerusalem only on Saturday night or Sunday, they are still considered pruzim.

37.Even on Sunday, when Purim observances continue in Jerusalem, Tachanun is not recited in prayers in Efrat (or other non-walled cities).

 

 

The Order of the Blessings and Reading the Megillah

38. It is customary for two people to stand on either side of the reader.

39. Before saying the blessings, it is customary for the reader to unroll the entire megillah so that it is open as a letter on the table

40. Before reading at night, the reader makes 3 blessings: Al Mikra Megillah, Al HaNissim, and Shehechiyanu.

After reading, he says HaRav et Rivenu, only if he has read the Megillah in public.

41. During the day, Ashkenazim repeat all 3 blessings (the Shehecheyanu is directed towards all the mitzvot of the day), but the Sephardim do not say Shehecheyanu during the day.

42. The Ashkenazim stand while hearing the blessings. For Sepharadim, the reader stands, and the public may sit or stand depending on their custom. 

43. The reader must stand when reading in public, but when reading in private the reader can sit, though he should stand during the blessings.

44. After the last blessing, Arur Haman is said.

 

Laws for the Reader of the Megillah

45. If the reader thinks that there was noise and certain words were not heard well he should repeat the words again.

The reader should be sure to use the proper tune when reading the words U’Mordechai yashav and viHaman nafal. If he made a mistake he should go back and correct it. Similarly, he must repeat it if he did not pronounce it with milra (final syllable stress) in: "Ba'erev Hi Ba'ah U'vaboker Hi Shavah" (In the evening she comes, and in the morning she returns).

 

46. Ideally the names of the ten sons of Haman should be read in one breath, from the words chamesh meot ish to the word aseret. It is recommended that the reader use his right hand to follow the column of the names, and his left hand to follow the column of the word "and", so that he reads everything properly.

47. It is customary to read the Megillah and repeat the following verses:

   8:11, 9:2 , and Ashkenazim also repeat 3:4. 

48. The Ashkenazim have the audience say four verses out loud. The reader should make sure to repeat these verses out loud. Sepharadim also read a fifth verse out loud.

49. It is customary for the reader to raise his voice with the words BaLilah HaHu Nadida shnat haMelech.

50. It is customary to shake the Megillah when reading the words: haIggeret haZoat.

 

 Laws of Hearing the Megillah

 51. The obligation is to hear/read the whole Megillah, and those who do not hear/read every single word have not fulfilled their obligation.

It is therefore appropriate for every person to follow along with the reader, so that if they miss a word during the reading, they will immediately say it on their own and read the words until they catch up with the reader.

52. If the reader made a mistake and read in a way that changed the meaning, he should go back and correct himself. 

 

 Mitzvot of the Day

All the mitzvot must be performed before Shabbat begins. 

If one must perform one of the mitzvot after Shabbat has begun, he should do so without a blessing.

 

 53. Matanot L’Evyonim - Gifts for the needy: On Purim one should give two gifts to two needy people. One should give at least a few shekels, enough for the needy person to buy a meal. It is possible to distribute the ‘half shekel’ to the poor on Purim.

A soldier who knows that he will not have the opportunity to give to the poor before Purim can give his money to a charity collector or a messenger who will distribute it to the poor on Purim day. Or he can set aside money for the poor on Purim and donate it later. The soldier may also contact his family or friends by phone and ask them to give to the poor on his behalf on Purim.

54. Mishloach Manot: At least one food parcel must be delivered to one person on Purim day. The parcel should contain at least two different types of food.

It is customary not to give mishloach manot to a mourner within twelve months of his parents passing, and within 30 days of the passing of other relatives. 

55.  Purim Seudah: It is a mitzvah to eat a seudah on Purim. There is a machloket whether that must include bread, but you should have meat or at least chicken. One should have wine, if it is not harmful to his health and additional good foods.  

Soldiers and others who must remain clear headed, and those for whom wine is harmful to their health, can fulfill the mitzvah with grape juice.

If the meal is starting after midday, mincha should be said beforehand.

These three mitzvot should be observed on Purim day, however, it is also a mitzvah to rejoice a little at the meal on Purim night.

If you have the seudah after chatzot, you should daven mincha before.

When Purim falls on a Friday, the Purim feast should ideally be held before midday out of respect for Shabbat. There is a tradition, already mentioned in the Talmud, called "Pores Mapah U'Mekadesh" (spreading a cloth and reciting Kiddush), where a meal that begins on Friday afternoon continues into Shabbat.

For this practice, all Purim mitzvot and Shabbat preparations must be completed before the meal. When Shabbat begins, the meal should be paused to light Shabbat candles, and the household members should verbally accept Shabbat by saying, "Bo'u Netzei Likrat Shabbat HaMalka" (Let us go to greet the Shabbat Queen) or "Hareini Mekabel Tosefet Shabbat" (I hereby accept the addition of Shabbat). No eating is permitted until Kiddush is recited. A cloth is placed over the bread, and Kiddush is recited, but only the blessing for Shabbat (Asher Kideshanu B’mitzvotav… Mekadesh HaShabbat) is said, without an additional blessing over the wine. The challah (Lechem Mishneh) is then broken without an additional blessing.

The meal continues, but one must ensure to eat at least a kezayit (olive-sized portion) of bread after nightfall (Tzeit HaKochavim). Birkat HaMazon includes both "Retzei" (for Shabbat) and "Al HaNissim" (for Purim). Maariv (Evening Prayer) should be recited. Those who attend a regular minyan in the middle of the meal (such as Sephardim who follow this custom) must leave someone at the meal location. In this case, "Al HaNissim" is omitted from Birkat HaMazon.

Women are obligated in the mitzvot of mishloach manot, matanot l’evyonim, and seudah. 

 

Purim Times in the Surrounding Areas

56. The times for the Purim mitzvot are not the same in all places. 

57. There are cities where it is unclear if there was a wall around the city in the time of Joshua, and so the Megillah is read on the 14th and 15th of Adar at night and during the day.

58. Nowadays, in Jerusalemת Purim is celebrated on the 15th of Adar, and there is a doubt about the cities and localities - Tiberias, Hebron, Shiloh, Nablus, Jaffa, Lod, Gaza, Safed, Acre, Haifa, Beit She'an, Jericho, Beer Sheva , Ramla, (Tzur, Sidon, Damascus, Izmir and Baghdad).

59. Anyone who travels to or from Jerusalem during Purim must pay attention to two main conditions: 1. Where he is at dawn, 2. Whether he intends to return or not.

60. From the Laws of Purim, Rabbi Golan 5769: Many people have raised the question of when to celebrate Purim in Efrat, since the Old City of Jerusalem and the Temple Mount can be seen from certain points in Efrat. Most agree that we should celebrate on the 14th of Adar since Efrat is further than 1 kilometer from Jerusalem.

61. One should refrain from doing work on Purim that is not related to the holiday. 

62. Shabbat clothes should be worn on Purim. 

63. On the 14th of Adar in Jerusalem Al HaNissim is not said, nor is tachnun, or laminatzeach… b’yom tzara. Sepharadim do not say Tehila l’David after Uva L’Tzion. 

64. Tachnun is not said on the 14th or the 15th of Adar.

Mourning on Purim

Mourning on Purim is done modestly, just as on Shabbat. The mourner may wear leather shoes and must not sit on the floor/mourning chair. The mourner may eat a meal but not partake in round foods as is customary throughout the year.

  • Tearing: The mourners should tear their clothes on Purim, and they should change into holiday clothes after the funeral (so as not to demonstrate mourning in public).
  • Comforting mourners: Although there is no mourning in public, one can come and comfort the mourners.
  • Meal: the mourners should not eat hard-boiled eggs as usual, but various foods.
  • Mourners are obligated in all the commandments of the day
  • Megillah: A mourner must read/hear the Megillah. During shiva if he is unable to have a minyan in his home he may go to the synagogue to hear the Megillah and pray.
  • Mishloach Manot: Ashkenazim say that a mourner should give out one food parcel and no more. One should not send mishloach manot to a mourner, but if one does send it, the mourner can accept it, though it is better if a family member accepts it. 
  • Matanot L’Evyonim: The mourner must give. 
  • Seuda: The mourner must have a Purim meal, and if he plays an instrument, he is allowed to play during the meal.
  • Tefillin: A mourner is obligated to put on tefillin on Purim.
  • Visiting the Grave: One should visit the grave following shivah, shloshim, or a yahrzeit, only before or after Purim.

 

Schedule for Purim 5785

 Parshat Shkalim - On Shabbat Parshat Terumah, 1st of Adar. 

Parshat Zachor - On Shabbat Parshat Tetzaveh, 8th of Adar.

Fast of Esther - Thursday, 13th of Adar, the beginning of the fast is at dawn – 04:20 AM (according to 90 minutes before dawn), or 04:35 (according to 72 minutes before dawn). The fast ends at 18:05.

Purim - Friday, 14th of Adar, the Megillah can be read from the time the stars appear on Thursday night until dawn on Friday.

Reading the Megillah on Purim Day (Friday) - from 05:49 to 17:48 

Parshat Parah - On Shabbat Parshat Vayakhel, 22 Adar.

Parshat HaChodesh - On Shabbat Parshat Pikudei, 29 Adar