The Mitzvot of Purim

Today is the 9th day of Adar II, 5771

MISHLOACH MANOT:

During the day of Purim --Sunday March 20th-- 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. For example, a drink and some baked product. The intention of this Mitzvah is to promote harmony (shalom) and friendship and strengthen our unity. In certain circumstances, Mishloach Manot could be a very discreet way to send food to those who need it, but would feel very uncomfortable to ask or receive charity from others.

MATANOT LAEBYONIM:

"Presents to needy people". Originally, these presents consisted of food, given to those who could not afford otherwise, to celebrate and enjoy a nice Purim banquet. The custom is to give two gifts, or as it is usually done today, its monetary equivalent to two or more poor people. If our means are limited, our Rabbis indicated that we should be more generous in giving to the poor and needy than in spending for our own Purim banquet. They said: "There is no greater happiness than to lift up the hearts and spirits of the poor, orphans and widows".

SEUDAT PURIM:

Sunday March 20th in the afternoon, we participate in a festival meal, Seudat Purim. In this banquet we sing songs and express our happiness and thanks to HaShem Almighty for our deliverance.

Purim and your unique role in life, by Aish:
http://www.aish.com/h/pur/mm/85325127.html

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

Reading the Scroll of Esther (Megilat Esther)

Today is the 8th day of Adar II, 5771

During Purim we read Megilat Esther --the book that relates the story of Purim-- twice, the first time at night (Saturday, March 19th) and the second time during the day (Sunday, March 20th).

Women are normally exempted from Mitzvot triggered by time, like Sukka, but Purim is an exception. Because, 1. Women were also saved from the danger and 2. A woman, Queen Esther, had the most critical role in saving the Jews from extermination.

Children, technically 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 misbehave, perturbing the public reading of the Megila.

There is no Halakhic objection to use a microphone when reading the Megilah in public, provided one could otherwise hear the Megillah without the microphone. Listening by media (TV, radio, phone) is not acceptable for fulfilling the Mitzvah of Megila.

When the Baal Kore reads the Megila everybody should listen and follow his reading silently from a scroll or from a printed Megila.

It is a popular custom to make noise, as a sign of disapproval and condemnation, when the name of Haman is mentioned in the Megila. The Gabbaim and other Synagogue officers must make sure that the noise is discreet and does not perturb the normal reading of the Megila.

For the exact times of Megila Readings in our community see: http://www.kanissanews.com

Sephardic Reading of Megilat Esther (Moroccan style)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KFp6QK7gJts&playnext=1&list=PL230BFCD7F02DCD89

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

The Story of Purim

Today is the 7th day of Adar II, 5771

This year, 2011, we celebrate the festival of Purim on Saturday March19th at night and on Sunday March 20th.

The Story of Purim

Approximately 2400 years ago, the Persian Empire was ruled by King Achashverosh. It extended from India to Ethiopia. It was one of the largest empires in ancient history. Approximately one million Jews lived in the empire, including 40,000 living in the land of Israel, trying to rebuild the Bet haMikdash, under the leadership of Ezra and Nechemia.

In the capital of the empire, Shushan haBira, King Achashverosh appointed a very tough prime minister: Haman and gave him full authority to do as he pleased over the entire empire. Haman not only demanded respect but he also expected people to revere him as a god: everyone had to bow down (fully bow down to the floor!) upon seeing Haman.

Mordekhai was a leader among the Jews in Shushan. His niece, Esther, was taken to the palace and recently designated as the new Queen. Mordekhai respected the King and even thwarted a plot against the King's life, but he refused to bow-down to Haman because he considered it an act of idol-worshiping. The prime minister was furious and decided to take revenge from Mordekhai. He thought that just killing Mordekhai will not do justice to that 'great' personal offense.

He decided then to exterminate all of Mordekhai's people, who happened to be the Jews. Haman's final solution included the murder of all the Jews living in the Persian Empire, who were indeed all the Jews in the world!!!

Had Haman succeeded, it would have been the end of the Jewish people....

But how did Haman intend to kill a million people, spread all over a huge empire? Haman had a perfect genius evil plan. He issued an edict, which was immediately sent all over the empire, announcing that at the 13th of the month of Adar (few months from the issuing of the edict) every citizen of the Empire will have the lawful right to kill a Jew and take possession of his properties and assets…. By the laws of the empire, the Jews will not be allowed to defend themselves! That was Haman’s master plan: motivating every person in the Empire to kill his Jewish neighbors and take all their assets... legally!!! . A perfect plan... had Haman succeeded, no Jew would have ever escaped alive…

The Midrash tells that some gentile neighbors were fighting among themselves to determine who would kill this or that Jew on the 13th of Adar and take possession of his properties.

The only thing left to do for the Jews, was to talk directly with King Achashverosh, bypassing the evil Haman… but who was going to do it?

Mordekhai approached Esther and asked her to beg Achashverosh for her people. But there were very strict rules in the Persian Kingdom. For security reasons, no one was allowed to get closer to the King. If any person, even the Queen, came close to the King, he or she could be killed on the spot...
But Esther, risked her life and approached the King. Esther invited Achashverosh and Haman to a private party. Achashverosh ignored the nature of the edict and Haman did not know that Esther was Jewish,
Once at the private dinner, Esther announced to Achashverosh that ‘somebody’ wanted her, her family and her people killed. The King, taken by surprise, asked with indignation WHO was behind this evil plot. Esther, pointed to Haman, risking once again her life... At that critical moment, and still unsure if he would align himself with Haman or with Esther, the King leaves for his garden and when he comes back he sees Haman begging Esther for his life, allowing himself to get too close to her…The King saw this as an act of irreverence and ordered Haman to be immediately executed.

The edict was then reversed: the Jews now could legally defend themselves with the help of the Persian Empire’s enforcers and could get rid of their enemies.

Beyond the story with human protagonists, our rabbis taught us, the invisible "hand" of God Almighty was moving the strings in the right direction. God’s providence and miracles were performed in the small details, which ended up with the deliverance of our people from extermination.

Dear readers.

After 4 weeks, HOTD is back.

B'H this week we will focus on Purim, and from March 22nd, we will write about Pesach.

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