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Thursday, March 17, 2011

NO-NOs of Purim

Today is the 11th day of Adar II, 5771 (Ta'anit -the fast of- Esther)


1. Cross-dressing

In our days, it became common to wear customs in Purim. Obviously there is no Mitzva or Minhag involved in this. It is just a folklore --of dubious origin though-- that became accepted in Jewish communities all over the world, especially for children.

We must be careful, however, to avoid (and warn against) cross-dressing. It is an explicit prohibition in the Torah, Debarim 22,5: "A woman must not wear men's clothing, nor a man wear women's clothing, for haShem your God detests anyone who does this". If man dresses to look as a woman, wearing a skirt, or a wig, or using make up, etc... or if a girl dresses to look as a man, they are transgressing a serious Biblical prohibition. This prohibition applies even when one dresses to look as the other gender 'for fun' (R Obadia Yosef and others) .

2. Alcohol-consumption

In Purim, this coming Sunday March 20th in the afternoon, we participate in a Seuda, a festive meal of Purim. It is customary to serve alcohol, but it is NOT permitted to drink in excess. Purim should not be used as an excuse for drunkenness."In these days," declares Rabbi Weinreb from NCSY, a leading Orthodox Organization in America "when so many of our young people are prone to experimentation with dangerous substances, it behooves us to warn against the dangers of alcohol, especially on Purim". Quoting from Mishna Berura (sec. 695) on the laws governing the Purim SEUDA, the festive meal, Rabbi Weinreb emphasized that we are not commanded to become drunk, to look foolish and to lose self-control; rather, he said, we are commanded to become joyous" in a manner that results in love of God and thankfulness for God's miracles."


TODAY'S FAST ENDS AT 7:35 PM


See the letter that our own Rabbi Avraham Nissanian wrote about alcohol consumption on Purim.

https://www.yousendit.com/download/eUREYURIcHZCSnF4dnc9PQ




Rabbi Yosef Bitton. YMJC | 130 Steamboat Rd. | Great Neck | NY | 11024

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