DailyHalacha.com for Mobile Devices Now Available

Halacha is For Refuah Shelemah for
 Aharon Menachem ben Shulamit Michal
"May Hashem protect him during surgery this week."

Dedicated By
Anonymous

Click Here to Sponsor Daily Halacha
      
(File size: 474 KB)
Performing a Berit Mila on Purim

The Terumat Ha’deshen (Rav Yisrael Isserlin, 1390-1460) addresses the case of a Berit Mila that is supposed to take place on Purim, but one is unable to both perform the Berit and read the Megila. This can happen if neither Misva was performed until late in the day, and there is no longer enough time remaining in the day to perform both. The Terumat Ha’deshen initially suggests that in such a case one should read the Megila and perform the Berit the following day, but his conclusion is that one should fulfill the Torah obligation of Berit Mila instead of the Rabbinic obligation of Megila.

When a Berit is performed on Purim, the common custom in our community is to perform the Berit after Megila reading and the completion of Shaharit. Some have the practice of performing the Berit before Megila reading, because in the verse in the Megila, "La’yehudim Hayeta Ora Ve’simha Ve’sasson Vi’ykar," the word "Sasson" ("jubilation") alludes to the Misva of Berit Mila. Nevertheless, the practice in our community follows the view of the Kaf Ha’haim and of Hacham Ovadia Yosef (Hazon Ovadia) that the Berit should be performed after the prayer service. One reason underlying this ruling is that, as the Terumat Ha’deshen writes, the Misva of Megila is more frequent ("Tadir") than the Misva of Berit Mila, as the Megila is read each and every year, whereas Berit Mila does not occur at fixed times. Additionally, the Misva of Megila reading achieves the result of Pirsumeh Nisa – publicizing the miracle – and thus should precede the Misva of Berit Mila.

Summary: The custom in our community is that when a Berit Mila is performed on Purim, it is performed after the Megila reading and the conclusion of the morning prayer service.

 


Recent Daily Halachot...
“Lehem Mishneh” – The Two Loaves at the Shabbat Meal (Part 1)
“Kiddush Bi’mkom Se’uda” – Rice, Dates and Noodles
Kiddush At a Berit Mila on Shabbat; Hearing Kiddush in One Place and Eating in Another
Tasting the Shabbat Food on Ereb Shabbat
The Requirement to Eat or Drink Wine After Kiddush
Is It Permissible On Shabbat To Allow Security Video Cameras or Walk By A Light Activated By Motion Detector
Involving Oneself in Shabbat Preparations
The Case When Family Members Speak Before Drinkng The Wine After Kiddush Is Heard
Kiddush – If Somebody Forgot to Recite Kiddush on Friday Night; If Somebody Does Not Have Wine or Cannot Drink Wine
Reciting the Weekday Amida on Shabbat if No Siddur is Available
Asking Somebody to Peform Melacha After Accepting Shabbat Early
Eating the Friday Night Shabbat Meal Before Dark
Inviting a Non-Observant Jew to a Simha or to One’s Home on Shabbat
If One Spends Shabbat in a Hotel That Uses Electronic Keys
The Status of Electricity With Regard to Bishul Akum, Cooking on Shabbat, and Shabbat Candles
Page of 239
3585 Halachot found