B"H
Tuesday, Adar 11, 5785 / March 11, 2025
Purim is this Thursday night, March 13 & Friday March 14.
On Purim we perform the following five special mitzvot:
1) Reading of Megilat Esther. It is read Purim night (Thursday night) and again on Friday, during the Morning Prayer. One must hear every word of the Megilah.
2) Reciting the Al HaNisim. Al HaNisim is a prayer thanking G-d for the miracle of Purim. We recite it during the Amidah prayer (evening, morning and afternoon) and in the Grace-after-Meals.
3) Mishloach Manot - sending gifts. On Purim day (Friday), we send gifts of ready-to-eat food to friends. We send at least two kinds of food to at least one person. By exchanging gifts, we share the joy of Purim with others. Mishloach Manot is also an expression of Jewish unity and friendship.
The Megilah tells us that when Haman tried to convince the king to give him permission to annihilate the Jewish people, he said to the king, “There is one nation that is spread apart throughout your kingdom.” He identified the Jewish people as being spread apart. Although he meant that they were scattered throughout his kingdom, yet, there is a deeper meaning in this that there was a lack of unity amongst Jews themselves. Thus on Purim, to commemorate the great miracle that our lives were saved, we send gifts to each other as a sign of friendship and unity.
Our sages say, “G-d didn’t find a better vessel to contain blessings for Israel, other than Shalom-peace among each other.
4) Matanot LaEvyonim- gifts to the poor. On Purim day (Friday), we must give charity, more than usual. To perform this mitzvah properly, we must give charity to at least two poor people. Although one fulfills the mitzvah by giving to two poor people, our sages say that on Purim it is preferable to give to, "whoever stretches out their hand." Thus, it is customary that on Purim and the days before and after, we distribute more charity than usual and give to everyone – no questions asked...
5) Seudat Purim- Purim meal. During the day of Purim (Friday) we eat a sumptuous and festive meal as befitting the celebration of this great miracle.
Q. Why do we make so much noise when Haman’s name is mentioned in the Megilah?
A. The Torah commands us that we should erase the memory of the nation of Amalek. Haman, who wanted to annihilate the entire Jewish people, was a direct descendant of Amalek. Thus, we make noise when Haman’s name is mentioned in the Megilah as a form of erasing the memory of Amalek. Just as Haman was defeated at the time of Purim, so too, may this be the fate of today’s Hamans. Amen.
HAVE A VERY GOOD, HAPPY, HEALTHY AND SUCCESSFUL DAY
OUR HEARTS ARE WITH OUR BROTHERS AND SISTERS IN CAPTIVITY - MAY THEY ALL BE RELEASED NOW