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CURRENT TOPIC:
HALACHOS OF CHODESH ADAR & PURIM
1)The Megilah of Esther, containing the events that lead up to the miracle of Purim, is read on Purim twice, once on the eve of Purim and once again on Purim morning (This year on Wednesday evening, March 7 and Thursday morning March 8)
Every Jewish male and female must hear the Megilah being read, preferably in Shul.
Children who are old enough to quietly listen to the entire Megilah should also come to Shul to hear the Megilah (Shulchan Aruch Siman 689:6. See Mishna Berura S"K 18 that those who bring very young children to Shul for the express purpose of "banging" by Haman, and by doing so they disturb everyone else during the rest of the Megilah, are not being Mekayem the Mitzvah of Chinuch)
Once the time for the Megilah reading arrives, eating, sleeping or doing any work is prohibited before the Megilah is read, unless, of course, one must eat something for health reasons. Learning Torah is permitted before the Megilah is read. (Mogen Avraham Siman 692:7)
2) It is a Mitzvah -for both men and women- to hear the Megilah as part of a large congregation (B'rov Am Hadras Melech), as this way the "Pirsumei Nisa- the spreading of the miracle of Hashem" will be greater. Thus, one [who doesn't belong to any one Shul] should choose the largest Shul in his/her city or neighborhood and hear the Megilah there. (See Mishna Berura Siman 687:7)
However, if one is part of a Shul, and always davens there, there is no need to find a larger Shul. (Chayei Adam quoted in Mishna Berura ibid.)
The obligation of Megilah for women is different than the obligation for men, in that women are only obligated to "hear" the Megilah, whereas men are obligated to "read" the Megilah.
In fact, according to many Poskim, when a man reads the Megilah for a woman, or if a woman reads the Megilah herself, the Bracha she recites is not "Boruch Ata Hashem...Al Mikra Megilah- on the reading of the Megilah" rather she says "Boruch Ata...LiShmoa Mikra Megila- on the hearing of the reading of Megilah" (Ram"a Siman 689:2 and Mishna Berura S"K 8. This is also the opinion of the Chayei Adam. However, the opinion of the Gaon of Vilna quoted in Ma'aseh Rav, as well as the Pri Chadash 689:2 and others is that even women recite "Al Mikra Megila")
QUESTION & ANSWER CORNER
Reader Submitted Questions of interest on topics related to Halachos we covered, as well as other interesting topic and Answers.
These Q&A are taken from the Q & A pages on the Halacha For Today website.
Although the answers I give to questions are taken directly from the Sifrei HaPoskim, and aren't my own, they are still for study purposes only, NOT for Psak Halacha.
Questions can be emailed to HalachaForToday@Gmail.com
Reader's Question:
Is one yotzei the mitzva of Matanos L'evyonim when giving a check, as opposed to cash? And l'chatchila is one better over the other?
Plus, does the concept of hidur mitzvah apply to mishloach manos, meaning by getting nicer and fancier ones and coming up with a theme, or is that all just nonsense and shtick?
Answer:
Matanos L'Evyonim has to be given with money that the poor person can use on Purim [to buy a Seudah].
If he has a way to cash the check on Purim, it is Ok to give a check, otherwise cash is better.
One of the main points of the Mitzvah of Mishloach Manos is to spread friendship among people (in fact it is more important to give Mishloach manos to people you are less friendly with than to close friends!).
Therefore, it is definitely condusive to this objective to make it nice.
However, there is no inyan at all to have a themed Mishloach Manos, which often can cause friction amongst friends, peers, etc.
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CHIZUK CORNER
This section is dedicated L'Ilui Nishmos the Telzer Rosh Yeshiva, HaRav Chaim Yaakov Stein Zatzal and the Mir Rosh Yeshiva, HaRav Noson Tzvi Finkel Zatzal. May we all strive to follow in their ways and may they both be Melitzei Yosher for all of Klal Yisroel.
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Important Numbers
