The Fast of Esther

Today, Thursday February 21st (Adar 11th) we commemorate the "Fast of Esther".

When Queen Esther was informed of Haman's plan to eliminate the Jewish people, she decided to approach King Aḥashverosh. This move was very risky. A suicidal mission. 

How so? 

No one, the Queen included, was allowed to request a meeting with the King. Queen Esther, of course, lived in the palace, but Persian Emperors were obsessed with their personal security, and rightly so: in 465 BCE Aḥashverosh himself was assassinated by one of his bodyguards, Artabanus. The Laws of the Persian empire said that anybody who would come near the King without being summoned by the King, even the Queen, should be immediately executed. Josephus explains that the King had guards to the sides of his throne with special axes to execute on the spot any trespasser. But Esther had no choice. There was nothing anyone else was able to do to gain access to the King and persuade him to stop Haman's decree. Esther, therefore, decided to risk her life in order to personally approach the King.

Before Esther embarked in her mission she asked every Jew to fast. Fasting -together with prayer- is what our Tora and our Rabbis instructed us to do in difficult circumstances.

At the request of Esther, every Jew in the Empire fasted for three consecutive days and prayed for Esther's success. 

In remembrance of that fast, established by Esther, we do today the fast of 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 or nursing women do not do this fast. Also children, elders or anyone with even a minor medical condition is exempted from this fast, especially this year that the fast is moved to Thursday.

In NYC the fast begins at 5:37AM and ends at 5:58 PM  

Alcohol and cross-dressing in Purim

Cross-dressing  

In our days, many people wear customs in Purim. Obviously there is no Miṣva 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 avoid and warn against cross-dressing in Purim. Wearing clothes specifically designed for the opposite sex is an explicit prohibition of the Tora, Debarim 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". Therefore, if man dresses to look like a woman, wearing a skirt, or a wig, or using make up, etc.,  or if a girl dresses to look like a man, they are transgressing a Biblical prohibition. This serious prohibition also applies during Purim, and even when one dresses to look like the other gender 'just for fun' (R Obadia Yosef, Taz, Bach and others) .

Alcohol-consumption 

In Purim, Sunday February 24th in the afternoon, we participate in a festival meal or Se'udat Purim. In this banquet we sing songs and express our happiness and thanks to HaShem for our deliverance. It is customary to serve and drink 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 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 we are commanded to become joyous in a manner that results in love of God and thankfulness for God's miracles."

Please, read THIS very important letter from Rabbi Avraham Nissanian on alcohol consumption and Purim

Tomorrow, Thursday February 21st,  is Ta'anit Esther. 

 In NYC the fast begins at  5:37AM and ends at  5:58 PM  

PURIM: Presents to the needy

Yesterday we explained that during the day of Purim--Sunday February 24th , 2013--we give or send two presents or more to one or more friends (see here).

There is another Miṣva in Purim called matanot la-ebiyonim or "Presents to needy people". These presents consist of food, 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 the needy people during the day of Purim, we should put aside the charity money during Purim daytime to be delivered later.  

Unlike  mishloaḥ 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 is to help someone to have a nice 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 in general we should be very attentive about the credibility and reputation of the recipient of our charity, but during Purim, we should give freely to whoever extends his or her hand, asking for help.

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

READ and BAKE  "Purim Foods around the World"   Hamentashen are old hat. Try some lesser-known Purim treats. by Yvette Alt Miller, from aish.com