The Practical Halachos Of Purim | Rabbi Simcha Stender

Reviewed by Harav Simcha Bunim Cohen shlit”a

Machatzis Hashekel

• Maaser money may not be used to fulfill the obligation of Machatzis Hashekel.[1]
• All males aged 13 and older should give Machatzis HaShekel. A father may give on behalf of his sons, and once he begins, he should continue until the son gives himself.[2]
• Some have the minhag to give Machatzis HaShekel for additional family members, including male children of all ages and even for an unborn child, on the chance it is a boy. Others also have a minhag to give for wives and daughters. Many poskim rule that one who does not follow these minhagim are not required to give on their behalf. However, one who does follow this practice should continue until each person gives for themselves or someone else gives on their behalf.[3]

Megillah

• One may not eat or drink before hearing the Megillah, even at the early morning reading. If one finds it difficult to wait, one may first drink. If that does not suffice, one may eat fruit or vegetables. If that still does not suffice may one eat foods that are not mezonos. If one must eat mezonos or bread, one should appoint a shomer (for example, a family member) or set an alarm to guarantee that the Megillah will be heard, and then eat.[4]
• One who regularly drinks coffee or water in the morning may do so even before hearing the Megillah.[5]
• If one arrives late for the reading, one should recite the berachos and then catch up by reading in a Chumash or Megillah. If the leining is going too quick to allow both the berachos and catching up, the berachos should be skipped.[6]
• If a word was not heard, one should read it from a Chumash or a Megillah and continue until caught up.[7]
• It is recommended to keep a finger on the place throughout the Megillah reading. By doing so, even if concentration is briefly lost, it may be assumed that all the words were heard.[8] If one did not keep a finger on the place, lost focus, and missed a word, it should be treated as if it was not heard.
• Since reading certain words incorrectly can render one not yotzei, it may be preferable for someone who cannot accurately read without nekudos to follow along in a Chumash and read any missed words from there.[9]

Matanos L’evyonim and Mishloach Manos

• Anyone above bar or bas mitzvah age has a chiyuv to give matanos l’evyonim to two aniyim. The Mishnah Berurah paskens that a shaveh prutah per ani Others write that giving more, about $1–$3 per ani, is preferable.[10] A husband or father may give on behalf of his wife and children, though it is best to notify them.[11]
• Since one may not encounter aniyim on Purim itself, it is advisable to arrange matanos l’evyonim in advance by giving the money to a gabbai or organization that will distribute the funds on Purim.
• Maaser money may not be used to fulfill the basic chiyuv of giving to two aniyim. However, after fulfilling the basic obligation, maaser money may be used. When one gives maaser to aniyim on Purim, he fulfills three mitzvos: tzedakah, maaser, and matanos l’evyonim![12]
• A credit card swipe does not deposit funds into the ani’s account on the same day. Therefore, according to many, swiping a credit card on an ani’s personal machine does not fulfill matanos l’evyonim. However, swiping on an organization’s or gabbai’s machine, even on Purim, is effective if the funds are distributed on Purim.[13]
• The mitzvah of mishloach manos is to gift two different items to one person. They may be the same brachah.[14]
• Each item must be substantial and gift-worthy.¹⁴ For example, a few salad croutons, a couple of chocolate chips, or a small candy do not qualify as an item. Many poskim[15] write that water or seltzer do not qualify, and that items mixed together, such as a mixed salad or a prefilled sandwich, only constitute one min.
• Each mishloach manos given, even after fulfilling the basic obligation, is an additional mitzvah.
• When baking with more than 2.5 pounds of flour, challah is taken without a berachah. If more than 5 pounds of flour and the baked goods will be divided into multiple mishloach manos, one should ask a she’eilah regarding the
• One should not give mishloach manos to an avel (within twelve months for a parent, or within thirty days for other relatives). Instead, one may give the Mishloach Manos to the avel’s family members.[16]

The Seudah

• The mitzvah of drinking ad d’lo yada may be fulfilled by drinking slightly more than usual and taking a nap as a result of the wine. Since wine naturally causes drowsiness it is considered as though the wine caused him to sleep.[17]
• The wine may be drunk before the seudah, though it is preferable to drink during the seudah as well.[18]
• Drinking ad d’lo yada is a mitzvah and not an absolute chiyuv. If one anticipates that drinking may lead to an aveirah, such as missing berachos, bentching or Maariv, a she’eilah must be asked beforehand.[19]
• When drinking wine not during a bread meal in multiple locations, the ideal practice is to have in mind that the berachah rishonah applies only to the current location, to recite a berachah achronah when leaving (if the shiur was consumed), and to make a new berachah rishonah in each location.²¹
• If one plans to move from place to place after washing, he should have this in mind when making HaMotzi. He should then be careful to eat at least a small amount of bread in the location where he intends to bentch.[20]
• One who is so intoxicated that he is unaware of his actions may not daven, bentch, or be counted toward a minyan. If he is aware but unable to speak properly, he may recite berachos and bentch, but may not daven and ideally should not be counted toward a minyan. If he is able to speak but is still affected by the wine, he may daven if there is concern he will not daven later; otherwise, he should wait until the wine is no longer affecting him.[21]

[1] באר היטב סי’ תרצד ס”ק ב

[2] מ”ב סי’ תרצד ס”ק ה, רמב”ם שקלים פ’ א ה’ ז

[3] כף החיים סי’ תרצד ס”ק כז, שיעורי הלכה פ’ מה אות ג

[4] רמ”א ומ”ב סי’ תרצב סע’ ד, וע’ שו”ע סי’ רצא סע’ ה

[5] שושנת ישראל פ’ ד אות ד

[6] שושנת ישראל פ’ ד אות מג-מד

[7] מ”ב סי’ תרצד ס”ק ה

[8] ארץ צבי ח”א סי’ מה ד”ה ובהאי

[9] שיעורי הלכה פ’ מו הע’ ו

[10]מ”ב סי’ תרצד ס”ק ב, וע’ בקו”ה פ’ יד אות ו ובשו”י פ’ ט אות כו שדולר אחד מקרי נתינה חשובה, ובשם הגר”מ פיינשטיין שהשיעור הוא כדי שיכול לקנות סעודה קטנה דהיינו לחמניה ושתיה ובכמה “גראסעריס” יש לחמניה פחות מדולר וגם פחית שתיה פחות מדלור

[11] הליכות שלמה פ’ יט אות כז

[12] מ”ב סי’ תרצד ס”ק ג, פלא יועץ ערך פורים

[13] כך שמעתי מהגר”ש פעלדער והגרי”א פארכהיימער

[14] ערוך השלחן סי’ תרצה סע’ יד, טו

[15] שושנת ישראל פ’ יא אות יב ויג, והע’ יב

[16] פני ברוך סי’ כט הע’ עא

[17] קובץ הלכות פ’ טז אות ח

[18] ארחות רבינו ח”ג עמ’ נז, רמב”ם מגילה פ’ ב ה’ טו

[19] באור הלכה סי’ תרצה ד”ה חייב איניש וד”ה עד דלא ידע

[20] קובץ הלכות פ’ טז אות יט-כ, באור הלכה סי’ קעח ד”ה ואכל

[21] שו”ע סי’ צט, וע’ בשושנת ישראל פ’ יג