Parsha Zachor
• There’s a disagreement if women are required to hear parshas zachor. The minhag has become that women hear it. Some allow women to read it from a Chumash and this can be relied on when it’s difficult for a woman to get to Shul.
• The one who gets an Aliya should have in mind that he’s being motzi everyone with the brachos.
• Everyone listening must have in mind that they’re being yotzi with the Baal Koreh.
• One who didn’t make it to shul can be yotzi during the summer in parshas ki setzei.
• Some say you can be yotzi with Krias hatorah of Purim morning.
• Try and hear parshas zachor in the pronunciation that you normally use.
Machtzis Hashekel
• The minhag is to give a half shekel before Purim as a remembrance of the times of the Beis Hamikdash when everyone had to give a half shekel.
• Since it says the word “Trumah (donation)” three times, therefore we give three half shekel.
• We give half of whatever currency is normally used (in the U.S. it’s half a dollar).
• It’s preferable not to say “this money is for machtzis hashekel” or “this is a remembrance for the machtzis hashekel”.
• The basic minhag is for men above the age of twenty to give machtzis hashekel.
• Many say that it should be given for any male over the age of thirteen.
• Many have the minhag to give on behalf of women too.
• Many have a minhag to give on behalf of children and even on behalf of unborn children.
• Once you start giving on behalf of all of the above then you must continue giving on subsequent years.
• Since machtzis hashekel has become accepted as a requirement, therefore maaser money can’t be used.
Mishloach Manos
• Everyone is required to give, including women.
• We’re required to give two portions of food to one person.
• Each portion should be something substantial (ex. not two candies).
• Candies etc. can be placed in a utensil and then it will be considered substantial.
• Two portions of the same food are not allowed.
• Two portions of different flavors of the same foods are allowed.
• There’s no requirement to have two different brachos.
• Some say that it should be sent with a shliach but it’s not required.
• If one is giving utensils for mishloach manos, glass and ceramic won’t need tevila but the recipient should be told that it wasn’t toveled.
• One who’s baking challos/bread/cakes etc. to give away, that require separating challah, should preferably keep five pounds for themselves so that there won’t be any issues with making a bracha.
Matanos Levyonim
• Everyone is required to give, including women.
• Children under the age of Bar/Bas mitzva are not required to give.
• We give two poor people one present each.
• The minimum amount to give is the amount it costs to buy a roll and a drink per poor person (approximately five dollars in total).
• Maaser money can’t be used for the basic amount necessary to do the mitzva but anything more can be used.
• Purim is a very auspicious day to give tzedaka.
• It’s better to spend more money on matanos levyonim than on mishloach manos.
• On Purim we don’t check into a poor person to see if he’s legitimate. We just give.
• Once your money for tzedaka is depleted, you don’t have to give any more tzedaka.
Taanis Esther
• More lenient than other fasts.
• Pregnant and nursing women don’t have to fast.
• Showering and listening to music is allowed even according to those that don’t allow it on other fasts.
• If you know that you’ll be sick on Purim if you fast then you don’t have to fast.
• Shabbos clothing should be worn for the megila.
• No food should be eaten before the megila, even though you’re fasting. No sleeping either.
• Those that aren’t fasting must stop eating at sunset.
• One who’s weak can taste a little food or have something to drink (not alcohol) before.
Megillah
• Women can eat a small amount and drink before megila.
• Anyone who eats before megila should appoint someone to make sure that they don’t forget to hear the Megila.
• Al Hanisim should be said after Modim in Shemona Esrei. If it was forgotten it should not be repeated.
• For krias hamegila, the more people listening together the better.
• Private minyanim should not be made for megila.
• If you don’t have a set shul to daven in, try and go to the shul with the most people.
• Women are required to hear the megila.
• It’s better for women to go to shul to hear the megila but not if it will require them to take along children that can’t sit quietly.
• The minhag is to bring children that can sit quietly to hear the Megillah.
• The reason that we read four pesukim out loud throughout the Megillah is to make sure the children stay awake.
• If a man, who already read the megila, is reading for women, the women should make the Bracha.
• If there are more than ten women, one woman should make the brachos on behalf of all. If there’s less than ten, each woman should make their own bracha.
• Any Megillah reading of less than ten people should not say the Bracha after the Megillah reading.
• Be very careful to hear every word of the megila.
• If one word is missed then the entire megila must be heard/read again.
• If one talked during the Megillah then hear it again from that point.
• If you “space out” during megila then it’s questionable if you were yotzei.
• Therefore it’s best to follow along with your finger as the chazzan reads the Megila.
• If you missed some words then quickly read them to yourself until you catch up. You can read like this up until half of the megila.
• The megila can be read either standing or sitting.
• When reading the megila for the public, one should stand.
• The brachos (before and after) should be said while standing. Those that are listening too. No talking until after the last bracha.
• The minhag is for someone to be on either side of the one reading the megila.
• It’s best for each person to have their own megila.
• After the megila reading at night, there should be a seuda, preferably dairy.
• The table should be set and candles lit.
• It’s preferable not to eat or drink before megila. This applies to megilah during the day too.
• Drinking before davening in order to Daven better is allowed.
• When hearing the brachos of the megila during the day, have in mind the mitzvos of 1) mishloach manos, 2) matanos levyonim 3) Seudas Purim.
• Tefilin should be kept on until after the Kaddish after the Megila.
Drinking
• It’s a mitzva to drink intoxicating beverages on Purim until you don’t know the difference between Baruch Mordechai and Arur Haman (blessed is Mordechai, cursed is Hamen).
• Some say that you can fulfill the mitzva by drinking more than normal and then going to sleep.
• If you know that you’re not going to make brachos or Daven properly then it’s better not to drink.
• If you possibly may offend or hurt people then better not to drink.
• It’s better to drink during the meal but drinking before is also acceptable.
• Wine is preferred but any intoxicating drink is allowed.
• One should not drink in one place and have in mind to continue drinking in another place. Rather make a bracha achrona in each place.
• Three levels of drunk: 1) so drunk that he’s not cognizant of anything: everything he does doesn’t count including Davening etc. 2) drunk enough that he can’t talk clearly: can’t Daven. If he can’t sober up then he can say birchas hamazon. If necessary he can be part of a minyan 3) one who drank more than three ounce of alcohol: if you feel the effects of the alcohol then no Davening otherwise Davening etc. is allowed and certainly brachos too.
Seudas Purim
• Many have the minhag to eat two seudos. One in the morning and one after mincha.
• Everyone is required to eat the seuda, including women.
• Bread should be eaten but if it’s difficult it’s not required.
• Meat should be eaten but chicken is also acceptable. Dairy is really not preferable.
• Candles should be lit.
• You’re allowed to eat bread in one place and continue eating in another place as long as you eat a little bread in the final place that you say birchas hamazon and as long as 72 minutes doesn’t elapse without eating.
• If one vomits after eating the meal, as long as it wasn’t immediately after eating the meal then it’s acceptable as a meal and he doesn’t have to eat again. He can also say birchas hamazon.
• Al hanisim should be said during birchas hamazon.
• If it was forgotten it should not be repeated. However since it’s a disagreement, be careful not to forget to say it.
• If you don’t finish your meal until after nightfall you still say al hanisim.
• If you Daven Maariv before saying birchas hamazon then don’t say al hanisim. Therefore make sure to say birchas hamazon before Maariv.
Work
• The minhag is to only do work that is necessary for Purim itself.
• A non Jew can do work on behalf of a Jew.
• It’s preferable for construction not to be done, even if it’s done by a non Jewish contractor.
