We feature 2 Halachot on Purim today:
#1) Purim – Halachot of the Purim Meal, The Importance of Studying Torah on Purim
One of the Misvot that apply on Purim is the obligation of Se’udat Purim – to conduct a festive meal in honor of the occasion. The Misva requires eating just one meal, and it is preferable to eat bread at the meal. According to one view, the Misva cannot be fulfilled by eating poultry or fish; one must eat red meat to fulfill this obligation. Therefore, one should endeavor to include red meat at the Se’udat Purim.
The obligation of Se’udat Purim applies equally to men and women. However, it is inappropriate for women to drink large amounts of wine or other alcoholic beverages. They should just drink a small quantity of wine to fulfill the Misva, as it is considered disgraceful for a woman to drink to the point of inebriation, even on Purim.
The holiday of Purim is described in the Megila as "Yemeh Mishte" ("days of feasting"), indicating that the obligation applies specifically during the day of Purim, and not during the night of Purim. There is no obligation to have a festive meal on Purim night. Nevertheless, Hacham Ovadia Yosef rules (listen to audio recording for precise citation) that there is also a Misva to have a large meal on Purim night, even though this is not required as a strict obligation.
It is written in the Siddur of the Rashash (Rabbi Shalom Sharabi, Yemen-Israel, 1720-1777) that the Purim meal should be eaten specifically in the morning hours on Purim. Therefore, Hacham Ovadia Yosef ruled that it is proper when one returns home from the synagogue on Purim morning to sit down with one’s family and friends for a meal with bread and wine, in order to fulfill the Misva according to this view.
One should make a point of studying Torah before the Purim meal. A famous verse in Megilat Ester says, "The Jews had light, joy, jubilation and honor" (8:16). The phrase "joy and jubilation" ("Simha Ve’sasson") refers to festivities, whereas "light" ("Ora") refers to the "light" of Torah learning. Before the festive celebration, one must first enjoy the "light" of Torah learning, and this constitutes an important part of the Purim celebration. One must therefore ensure not to neglect the Misva of Torah learning on Purim. It is told that one year, all the Jews were busy with the Purim festivities, and nobody was studying Torah with the exception of the Bialer Rebbe. He learned Torah at that time, thereby personally sustaining the world. The Kotzker Rebbe commented that it was in this merit, of studying Torah on Purim when everybody else was preoccupied with the Purim celebrations, that the Bialer Rebbe had a son who became one of the greatest Torah Sages of his time – Rabbi Abraham Borenstein, the Abneh Nezer (who ended up marrying the daughter of the Kotzker Rebbe).
This story underscores the importance of making time to study Torah on Purim before the Purim feast.
Summary: There is a Misva to conduct a meal on the day of Purim, preferably with bread and red meat. In order to satisfy all opinions, one should eat a meal with bread and wine in the morning hours. The Misva applies to both men and women, though women should not drink large amounts of wine. One should make time before the Purim meal to study Torah.
#2) Purim – Halachot of the Purim Meal, The Importance of Studying Torah on Purim
One of the Misvot that apply on Purim is the obligation of Se’udat Purim – to conduct a festive meal in honor of the occasion. The Misva requires eating just one meal, and it is preferable to eat bread at the meal. According to one view, the Misva cannot be fulfilled by eating poultry or fish; one must eat red meat to fulfill this obligation. Therefore, one should endeavor to include red meat at the Se’udat Purim.
The obligation of Se’udat Purim applies equally to men and women. However, it is inappropriate for women to drink large amounts of wine or other alcoholic beverages. They should just drink a small quantity of wine to fulfill the Misva, as it is considered disgraceful for a woman to drink to the point of inebriation, even on Purim.
The holiday of Purim is described in the Megila as "Yemeh Mishte" ("days of feasting"), indicating that the obligation applies specifically during the day of Purim, and not during the night of Purim. There is no obligation to have a festive meal on Purim night. Nevertheless, Hacham Ovadia Yosef rules (listen to audio recording for precise citation) that there is also a Misva to have a large meal on Purim night, even though this is not required as a strict obligation.
It is written in the Siddur of the Rashash (Rabbi Shalom Sharabi, Yemen-Israel, 1720-1777) that the Purim meal should be eaten specifically in the morning hours on Purim. Therefore, Hacham Ovadia Yosef ruled that it is proper when one returns home from the synagogue on Purim morning to sit down with one’s family and friends for a meal with bread and wine, in order to fulfill the Misva according to this view.
One should make a point of studying Torah before the Purim meal. A famous verse in Megilat Ester says, "The Jews had light, joy, jubilation and honor" (8:16). The phrase "joy and jubilation" ("Simha Ve’sasson") refers to festivities, whereas "light" ("Ora") refers to the "light" of Torah learning. Before the festive celebration, one must first enjoy the "light" of Torah learning, and this constitutes an important part of the Purim celebration. One must therefore ensure not to neglect the Misva of Torah learning on Purim. It is told that one year, all the Jews were busy with the Purim festivities, and nobody was studying Torah with the exception of the Bialer Rebbe. He learned Torah at that time, thereby personally sustaining the world. The Kotzker Rebbe commented that it was in this merit, of studying Torah on Purim when everybody else was preoccupied with the Purim celebrations, that the Bialer Rebbe had a son who became one of the greatest Torah Sages of his time – Rabbi Abraham Borenstein, the Abneh Nezer (who ended up marrying the daughter of the Kotzker Rebbe).
This story underscores the importance of making time to study Torah on Purim before the Purim feast.
Summary: There is a Misva to conduct a meal on the day of Purim, preferably with bread and red meat. In order to satisfy all opinions, one should eat a meal with bread and wine in the morning hours. The Misva applies to both men and women, though women should not drink large amounts of wine. One should make time before the Purim meal to study Torah.
