TAANIT ESTHER: Why did Esther fast?

כל עבדי המלך ועם מדינות המלך יודעים אשר כל איש ואשה אשר יבוא אל המלך אל החצר הפנימית אשר לא יקרא אחת דתו להמית לבד מאשר יושיט לו המלך את שרביט הזהב וחיה ואני לא נקראתי לבוא אל המלך זה שלושים יום׃

When Queen Esther was informed of Haman's decree to eliminate the Jewish people, she decided to approach King Ahashverosh and persuade him to reverse the Royal edict. But the execution of her plan was not so simple. According to rabbi Moshe Almosnino (yede Moshe) Esther did not know if Ahashverosh and Haman were on the same page, or if the King was tricked by Haman to carry out the terrible edict. She planned to invite the King together with Haman to a feast (5:4) for intelligence gathering.  If she would find out that Ahashverosh was in complicity with Haman, she would try to dissuade Haman. If she would find out, however, that Ahashverosh was tricked by Haman, then she would expose Haman in front of Ahashverosh, hoping to gain the King's favor (7:4). As risky as this mission looks, there was one dangerous step Esther had to take before all these events. Esther had to talk to the King. We would probably think that talking with the King was the easiest part, especially for Queen Esther, who lived in the palace! But Esther knew that in the Kingdom of Ahashverosh things were different. By law, it was the King's exclusive prerogative to summon one of his subjects. And Esther was not called by the King in the last month (4:11). No one, even the Queen, had the right to ask for an audience with the King.   Unless, of course, one would trespass into the "King's security area" (hatser hapenimit), uninvited and at your own risk. Let me explain. The Persian Kings had guards to the sides of the throne, armed with long axes, and ready to execute on the spot any trespasser. Persian Emperors were obsessed with their personal security, and rightly so.  Ahashverosh himself was assassinated by one of his own bodyguards, Artabanus, in 465 BCE. The Persian law (dat) established that anyone entering Ahashverosh's restricted security zone should be immediately executed (4:11), unless the King himself stops the executioners and decides to pardon the trespasser, extending his scepter as a sign of Royal forgiveness.  Esther knew that this King had already caused the execution of his previous Queen, Vashty (1:19 ). She feared for her life but she had no choice. There was nothing anyone else was able to do to gain access to the King and do something to stop Haman's decree. Esther then decided to risk her life (4:16) embarking in her suicidal mission.

But before she approached the King she requested to gather all the Jews and fast with her and for her (tsumu 'alai, 4:16). Fasting, together with prayer, is what our Tora and our Rabbis instructed us to do in challenging circumstances. At the request of Esther, every Jew fasted for three consecutive days and prayed for Esther's success.

As we all know, with the help of HaShem, Esther's "Mission Impossible" succeeded. But we still remember those days of fast, when the Jews prayed to HaShem for His miraculous salvation.  In remembrance of that fast, the fast requested by Esther, we observe today Ta'anit Esther.

TA'ANIT ESTHER

Normally, Ta'anit Ester takes place one day before Purim, on the 13th of Adar. However, when Purim falls on Saturday night/Sunday like this year, the fast day is observed the previous Thursday, i.e., today.

Ta'anit Ester is considered a minor fast. Pregnant and nursing women do not observe this fast. Also children, elders or anyone with even a minor medical issue is exempted from this fast, especially this year that the fast is moved to Thursday.

In NY the fast began today at 6:02 am,  and it ends at 7:20 pm. (In some communities they would finish the fast a few minutes later. See your community's calendar). 

PURIM: Cross-dressing and Alcohol drinking

CROSS-DRESSING

לא יהיה כלי גבר על האשה ולא ילבש גבר שמלת אשה כי תועבת ה' כל עושה אלה

In our days, many people wear customs in Purim. Obviously there is no Mitsva or Minhag to do this. It is just a popular practice that became accepted in Jewish communities all over the world, especially for children. However we must know, and inform others who might not know, about the prohibition of cross-dressing.  Wearing clothes designed for the opposite sex is an explicit prohibition of the Tora, Deut. 22:5: "A woman must not wear men's clothing, nor a man shall wear women's clothing, for haShem your God abhors anyone who does this". The rabbis explained that when a man dresses to look like a woman, wearing a skirt or a wig, or using make up, etc.,  or when a girl dresses to look like a man, they are transgressing a Biblical Law. This serious prohibition applies also during Purim.  Rab Obadia Yosef z"l was very strict about this point and he explained that cross-dressing applies even when one dresses to look like the other gender 'just for fun'.

ALCOHOL

לא שישתכר, שהשכרות איסור גמור ואין לך עבירה גדולה מזו, שהוא גורם לגילוי עריות ושפיכות דמים וכמה עבירות זולתן

אורחות חיים

"[Although alcohol is served during the Purim meal] we should never get intoxicated with alcohol, because getting drunk is a serious prohibition, and actually there is no transgression bigger than it, because drunkenness brings a person to act with promiscuity and it could provoke a person to kill someone else, or to perform other [serious] transgressions".
From the book "Orhot Hayim" by the Rosh (1250-1320).
 

In Purim, Sunday March 16th in the afternoon, we participate of a festival meal or Se'udat Purim. In this banquet we sing songs and express our happiness and gratitude to Bore 'Olam for our deliverance. It is customary to serve alcohol in this banquet (MT Megila 2:15), 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, a leading Orthodox Rabbi 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... We are not commanded to become drunk, to look foolish and to lose self-control...rather we are commanded to become joyous in a manner that results in love of God and thankfulness for God's miracles."

Rabbi Avraham Nissanian wrote a very important letter about this delicate issue.  See here.

TA'ANIT ESTHER

Tomorrow we will commemorate Ta'anit Esther, the fast of Esther. Normally, this fast-day takes place on the 13th of Adar. However, when the 13th of Adar falls on Shabbat, like this year, we fast the previous Thursday, the 11th of Adar: tomorrow. 

In NY the fast will begin at  6:02 am and ends at 7:20 pm. (In some communities they would finish the fast a few minutes later. See your community's calendar).   

PURIM, Gifts and Charity

MISHLOAH MANOT: During the day of Purim, Sunday March 16th, we send two presents to one or more friends. These presents consist of food, ideally food to be used during the Purim banquet. It is customary to include at least two different types of foods: a drink and a baked product. The intention of this Mitsva is to promote friendship and strengthen our unity. Mishloah  Manot should not be given before Purim or during the night, but during Purim daytime. In certain circumstances, Mishloah  Manot could be also a very discreet way to send food to those who need it but would feel very uncomfortable to ask for or receive charity. 

MATANOT LA-EBIYONIM: In Purim we have another Mitsva called matanot la-ebiyonim or "Presents to needy people". These presents also consist of food, meant to be given to those who cannot afford to celebrate and enjoy a nice Purim banquet.  The custom is to give two portions of food to two or more poor people. Or as it is usually done today, give to two needy people the monetary equivalent of two meals each. 

matanot la-ebiyonim is also fulfilled by giving the monetary equivalent of two meals to a charity that distributes food. 

If we don't find needy people during the day of Purim, we could deliver the money for charity after Purim.  

Unlike mishloah manot, where the intention is to strengthen our friendship and unity and therefore, knowing who is the source of the presents is of the essence; in the case of presents for the poor, anonymity is a virtue. Because the intention should be to help someone in need to have a nice Purim meal and celebrate with happiness. 

If our means are limited, our Rabbis indicated that we must be more generous in giving to the poor and needy than in spending for our own Purim banquet. 

The Rabbis also said: en medaqdeqim bema'ot Purim, which means that althought normally we should be mindful about the credibility and reputation of the recipient of our charity, during Purim we should give charity freely to whoever extends his or her hand, asking for our help.

Inviting needy people to one's Purim banquet is considered a great merit.  The rabbis said "There is no greater source of happiness than lifting up the hearts and spirits of the poor, orphans and widows".   

CLICK here to READ  

"PURIM FOODS AROUND THE WORLD"

Learn the best recipes from Sephardic and Ashkenazi  communities around the world 

 by Yvette Alt Miller, from aish.com

PURIM: Reading Megilat Esther

One of the Mitsvot of Purim is reading Megilat Esther. We should try to understand the meaning of what we read, so we would not just remember the story of Purim but actually re-live it. In this way, we will be more inspired to express our gratitude to haShem for His salvation then and His constant protection today.  

Following, a few Halakhot of Megilat Esther. 

*We read Megilat Esther twice during Purim. The first time at night (this year Saturday March 15th ) and the second time during the day (Sunday, March 16th).

*The custom is to unroll the Megila as an open document (igeret) and then read from it. Once we finish reading it, we first roll it back and then we say the final blessing.  (MT, Megila 2:11).  

*Because the Megila is an igeret, as opposed to a sefer, if the reader makes a mistake we do not need to correct him (en medaqdeqim beqri-atah MT, Megila 2:7). The general custom is that the somekh(=the reader's assistant) would correct the reader only if the mistake he made affects the meaning of the word. 

*When the ba'al qore (=reader) reads the Megila everybody should listen. Normally, everyone follows the ba'al qore reading silently from a scroll or from a printed Megila.

*There is no Halakhic objection to using a microphone when reading the Megila in public, provided the Megila could be heard without the microphone as well, i.e., the sound system is there toamplify the voice of the reader. Listening to the Megila by TV, radio, phone is not enough to fulfill the Mitsva of Megila, even when is a live broadcasting. 

*Women are normally exempted from Mitsvot triggered by time, like Tefilin or Sukka, but listening to the Megila is an exception. Because women were part of the miracle. (i) They were also saved from the danger, and  (ii) it was a woman, Queen Esther, who had the most critical role in saving the Jews from extermination.

*Children are not obligated to listen to Megilat Esther, but they are expected to attend Synagogue during Purim.  Parents should make sure that their small children do not disrupt the reading of the Megila.  

*qera-ah lemafrea' lo yatsa: "If one reads the Megila in a different order, the reading is invalid". This means that if a person reads first verse 2, then verse 1 or so, he did not fulfill his obligation. Practically speaking, if a person comes late to the Synagogue and the congregation is already reading, for example, chapter 4, he cannot say: "I will read now from chapter 4 until the end and then, when everybody finishes, I will read from the beginning till chapter 4". One has to listen or read the Megila in order from the beginning to the end.