**Purim Message from Rabbi Mansour**
1) Rabbi Eli Mansour distributes Matanot La’Evyonim donations to many needy families and individuals on Purim. This year, you can have Rabbi Mansour be your Shaliach (messenger) in this required Mitzvah. See the Halacha entitled “Purim- The Laws & Importance of Matanot La'evyonim” for an understanding of the minimum dollar amount one should give to the needy. To fulfill your obligation and have Rabbi Mansour disburse your donations, send an email to info@dailyhalacha.com with the total amount of your contribution, and include your credit card number, name on the card, and expiration date. (This method is very secure. LearnTorah.com will be the listed merchant on your Credit Card bill.) Once processed, your credit card information will be permanently discarded. If preferred, you may phone in your contribution and payment information to Frieda Toussoun at 718-375-1023, on Monday Feb. 26th between 9:00 AM – 1:00 PM. The deadline to send your contribution via email is Wednesday, Feb. 28th.
2) Purim Schedule with Rabbi Eli Mansour:
Thursday, March 1st- Taanit Esther
Fast begins 5:23 AM
Daf Yomi 6:00 AM
Shacharit 7:00 AM
Minha 5:10 PM
Fast Ends 6:10 PM
Saturday Evening, March 3rd- Motzae Shabbat/ Purim Night
All on the basement level of Har HaLebanon
Minha Shabbat 5:15 PM
Seudat Shelishi 5:45 PM
Rabbi Mansour’s Lecture 6:00 PM
Arbit 6:45 PM
Megilah 7:10 PM
Purim Party 10:00 PM (Men Only)
Sunday, March 4th- Purim Day
All on the basement level of Har HaLebanon
Daf Yomi 7:00 AM
Shacharit 8:00 AM
Megilat Esther 8:30 AM
Seudah following Shacharit
Minha Gedolah 1:00 PM
Today’s Halacha….
The day before Purim is generally observed as a fast day to which we refer as "Ta'anit Ester"; if Purim falls on Saturday night, we observe the fast on the Thursday before Purim. (When Purim falls on Saturday night, "Yehi Shem" is recited in place of "Tzidkatecha" during Mincha on the Shabbat before Purim, as Chacham Ovadia Yosef rules in Chazon Ovadia – Laws of Purim, p. 47.)
On Ta'anit Ester, as on all public fast days, we recite the special Torah reading of "Vayechal" during both Shacharit and Mincha, and the Chazan adds the Beracha of "Aneinu" in his repetition of the Amida, in between the Berachot of "Go'el Yisrael" and "Refa'einu."
If some people in the Minyan for whatever reason are not fasting on a fast day, does the congregation conduct the special Torah reading and recite "Aneinu," or do these additions require that everyone in the congregation observe the fast?
Chacham Ovadia Yosef, in his work Chazon Ovadia (Laws of Purim, p. 44), rules that so long as at least six participants in the Minyan are fasting, these two additions are made. If, however, fewer than six participants in the Minyan are observing the fast, then the congregation may not conduct the special Torah reading of "Va'yechal," and the Chazan may not add the separate Beracha of "Aneinu" in the repetition of the Amida. Instead, he should incorporate "Aneinu" within the Beracha of "Shomei'a Tefila."
When the reading of "Va'yechal" is held on a fast day, only those observing the fast may be called to the Torah for an Aliya. If only one Levi is present in the synagogue and he is not observing the fast, then, as Chacham Ovadia rules (ibid. p.45), he should step outside the sanctuary and the Kohen should be called for the second Aliya as well. If, for whatever reason, the Levi does not step outside, then, according to Chacham Ovadia, the Kohen is nevertheless called for the second Aliya. Since the Levi is not observing the fast, he may not be called for an Aliya during the special reading of "Va'yechal."
Summary: On Ta'anit Ester, as on other fast days, the special Torah reading of "Va'yechal" is conducted if at least six participants in the Minyan are observing the fast. If fewer than six people observe the fast, this Torah reading is not held and the Chazan adds "Aneinu" during "Shomei'a Tefila" rather than in between "Go'el Yisrael" and "Refa'einu." Only people observing the fast may be called for an Aliya during the special fast day Torah reading.
