#seudah

(The following was compiled by Rabbi Da'vid Sperling.)

The Purim Meal

32. Every person, both men and women, is obligated to have a festive meal on Purim day. Some opinions say that one is obligated to eat bread at this meal, and this is the custom.

33. The time for the meal is during the day and not the night - nonetheless, we are accustomed to have a small festivity in the evening. One is allowed to have the Purim meal any time during the day; the custom, though, is to hold the Purim meal in the day after the afternoon service, with the majority of the meal being eaten before sunset.

The Customs of the Meal

34. To light candles (without a blessing), to learn Torah before eating, as it is written "And there was light and happiness," "light" referring to Torah (before the happiness of eating). One should tell (and sing) of the miracles that Hashem did (and does) for the Jewish people in those days in these times.

35. The Talmud records that "one is obligated to become intoxicated on Purim, until one cannot distinguish between 'cursed be Haman' and "blessed be Mordechai.'" There are many opinions about this statement, but all agree that it is forbidden to reach a point of rowdiness and profane stupidity. All the more so one is forbidden to break any commandments, or forget to fulfill any religious obligations. The custom in most houses in Israel is to drink more wine (and other spirits) than usual until one reaches, through this, a stage of happiness of the festival, and gratitude to G-d. (Some are accustomed to fall asleep due to the more than normal quantity of wine, and thus reach a state [asleep] of being unable to distinguish between Haman and Mordechai.) This mitzvah applies only to men, though in some places women drink a small amount of wine in honor of the holiday - but they are not obligated in becoming intoxicated.

36. One recites "Al HaNissim" during Birkas Hamazon (see 11 above), even if the meal finished after nightfall. If one forgot, Birkas Hamazon is not repeated.

(This is the final post in this series.)