1)When reading the Megilah on Purim eve, three Brachos are recited before the reading commences. The three Brachos are:
1) Baruch Ata... Al Mikra Megilah.
2) Baruch Ata... SheAsah Nisim L'Avoseinu...
3) Baruch Ata...SheHechiyanu V'KiYemanu...
These three blessings are recited regardless if the Megilah is being read with a minyan, in Shul or if it is being read by one individual by himself at home.
2) When reading the Megilah again on Purim day, most who follow Ashkenazic customs repeat all 3 Brachos (as per the Ram"a 692:1). Those who follow the Sephardic customs, as well as those who follow the Gaon of Vilna, do not repeat the third Bracha of "SheHechiyanu" at the day reading.(As per the Shulchan Aruch ibid. and Gr"a in Ma'aseh Rav)
Even those who do say the "SheHechiyanu" again, should have in mind when doing so that the Bracha should go on the other Mitzvos of Purim [i.e. Mishloach Manos, Matanos L'Evyonim and the Seudas Purim] as well as on the re-reading of the Megilah.
In many Shuls, the custom is for the Gabbai to indeed announce this intent before the reading of the Megilah starts.
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CLARIFICATION:
One of our daily readers, a big Talmid Chacham, emailed me yesterday pointing out (correctly) that something I wrote in this past Monday's email may be misleading, so I am pasting his email in its entirety here:
"[You wrote:] "Therefore, a woman who went to Shul to hear the Megilah but could not hear clearly, and missed a few [or more] words, should hear it again when she gets home [from a man reading from a kosher Megilah]."
You probably should have written, that if a lady missed a few words she should immediately read those words inside [by herself, even from a Chumash] (As most of the words she did hear...), [ otherwise] ladies may think if they miss a few words they should just go home, that is incorrect, you can read a few words that you missed & catch up to the Baal Koreh."
He is 100% correct, that a few words from a Chumash is acceptable in this case. Yasher Koach for pointing it out so I could pass it on.
QUESTION & ANSWER CORNER:
(Reader Submitted Questions of interest (on topics related to Halachos we covered, as well as other interesting topics) and my Answers taken from the Q & A page on the Halacha For Todaywebsite. For study purposes only, NOT for Psak Halacha. Questions can be sent to Halacha For Today)
Reader's Question:
If a person said Hamotzi on bread and ate it, then a few minutes later he throws it up does he bentch [Birchas HaMazon]?
My Answer:
If you are certain that less than a Kzayis remains in your stomache, you do not bentch. If you are not sure, you also do not bentch.
The best thing to do is to eat another Kzayis and then bentch, or to listen to someone else bentch and be Yotzei with them. (See Kaf HaChaim Siman 184:34)
Our holy sages, the Chazal tell us
תנא דבי אליהו כל השונה הלכות בכל יום מובטח לו שהוא בן עולם הבא, שנאמר הליכות עולם לו, אל תקרי הליכות אלא הלכות - one who studies [at least two] Halachos daily is assured a portion in Olam Haba - the world to come. (:מגילה כ"ח )
Important Numbers
