DailyHalacha.com for Mobile Devices Now Available

Click Here to Sponsor Daily Halacha
"Delivered to Over 6000 Registered Recipients Each Day"

      
(File size: 598 KB)
"Purim Katan" – the Fourteenth and Fifteenth Days of Adar Rishon

The Mishna in Masechet Megila (6b) establishes that in a leap year, which contains an extra month of Adar, the festival of Purim (which is normally celebrated in Adar) is observed during Adar Sheni (the "second Adar"). This means that all the Misvot associated with Purim – reading the Megila, sending Mishlo'ah Manot, giving money to the poor, and the festive meal – apply specifically on the fourteenth of Adar Sheni during a leap year.

Nevertheless, it is customary to observe the fourteenth and fifteenth days of Adar Rishon as "Purim Katan" – literally, "minor Purim." (This year 5768/2008, a leap year, Purim Katan falls out on Wednesday Feb. 20th and Thursday Feb. 21st.) On these days we omit the Tahanunim section of the prayer service, including the Viduyim (confessions). We also omit the paragraph of "La'menase'ah" and "Tefila Le'David" which are incongruous with the festive nature of these days. Tahanunim is likewise omitted from Minha on the afternoon of the thirteenth of Adar Rishon. When the fifteenth of Adar Rishon falls on Shabbat, we do not recite "Sidkatecha" during Minha. (The fourteenth of Adar never falls on Shabbat, but the fifteenth can occur on Shabbat.) It is forbidden to observe a fast on Purim Katan, even in observance of the Yartzeit of a parent, and even for Ashkenazic brides and grooms, who otherwise have the custom to fast on the day of their wedding. (This ruling is codified in the work Nimuke Orah Haim, 697.) Eulogies are also forbidden on Purim Katan, with the exception of eulogies delivered at the funeral of a Torah scholar.

Going to work is permissible on Purim day itself, so it goes without saying that one may perform such activity on Purim Katan, as well.

According to some authorities, it is proper to observe Purim Katan with some festivity and joyous celebration.

 


Recent Daily Halachot...
Is it Permissible to Drink Wine or Grape Juice on Ereb Pesah?
Pesah – Bedikat Hametz After the Home Was Thoroughly Cleaned
Pesah – Verbally Designating Meat for Pesah
Passover- Laws of Matza: the Use of Machine Matza or Matza Made from Oats; the Beracha Over Matza; Dipping Matza in Water; Eating Matza Throughout Pesach
Pesah – The Fourth Cup of Wine at the Seder
Pesah – The Reason for Dipping Celery in Saltwater
Pesah- The Prohibition Against Eating Masa on Ereb Pesah
Pesah – Bringing Books to the Table, Using Tablecloths
Pesah – Halachot of Karpas; Reciting “Kadesh U’rhatz…” Before Each Stage of the Seder
Passover- Eating Rice on Pesah
Passover- The Fast of the Firstborn on Ereb Pesah
Ereb Pesah – Customs Regarding the Burning of Hametz; Refraining From Work on Ereb Pesah
Passover- Eating The Afikoman on Pesach Night
Passover- Buying Hametz After Pesah; Giving the Gentile Access to One’s Hametz During Pesah
The Proper Way to Dip the Marror in the Haroset
Page of 239
3585 Halachot found