**Special Message**
This morning, Sunday morning Feb. 21st, at the Yad Yosef Torah Center of Ave J. ( 1036 Ocean Parkway in Brooklyn,) there will be a special Tehillim reading from 9:00 AM -12:00 noon, for the speedy recovery of Mickey Beyda (Meir ben Jamila.) We plan on finishing the entire Tehillim one time. Ladies may attend as well to the Ladies section.
As an added zechut, we ask for community members to keep a half day Taanit Dibur until midday 12:09.
May the zechut of our Tefillot and the zechut of Moshe Rabenu (Sunday is 7th of Adar, Moshe Rabenu's yahrtzeit,) bring Mickey a Refuah Shelemah together with all the sick of Klal Yisrael. Amen.
Today's Halacha:
Halacha forbids eating or drinking before hearing the reading of the Megila on Purim, both before the nighttime reading and before the daytime reading. One may not eat or drink from the time the obligation takes effect until he hears the Megila. This applies to both men and women. It is common for women to hear the Megila reading later in the morning of Purim, after their husbands return home from the synagogue. They should be advised that eating and drinking are forbidden even after they pray Shaharit, until they hear the Megila reading.
However, although it is preferable not to eat or drink anything before hearing the Megila reading, one who finds it necessary to eat or drink may drink tea or coffee, or eat fruit or cake in an amount of less than 2 oz. Of course, it is forbidden to eat or drink in the morning in any event before one prays, and therefore we refer here to those who have already prayed Shaharit. If a woman prayed Shaharit and she finds it difficult to refrain from eating and drinking, she may drink and eat small amounts, as mentioned. Similarly, if a person suspects he will be unable to properly concentrate on the Megila reading on Purim night because he had been fasting on Taanit Ester (which in most years is observed on the day before Purim), he may eat and drink small amounts after dark, before the Megila reading, so that he will have the strength to listen to the Megila.
Summary: It is forbidden to eat or drink on Purim night and on Purim morning before hearing the Megila reading. One who finds it difficult to refrain from food and drink may eat and drink small amounts.
