1)It is a Mitzvah on all Jewish men, women and children to partake of a festive Seudah, meal, on Purim.
The Purim Seudah needs to be eaten on Purim day, and if it was only eaten Purim eve, or Purim night, you have not satisfied your obligation.
However, it is a Mitzvah to be joyous and have a small Seudah on Purim evening as well. (Ram"a 695:1)
The meal should consist of meat (B'dieved chicken is acceptable too) and wine, and other delicacies as best as one can afford. It is also important to wash and eat bread at the Seudah, as according to some opinions you cannot satisfy the obligation of the Seudah without Pas, bread. (See Rosh to Maseches Brachos Perek 7 Siman 23 an d Shu"t MaHarshal Siman 48)
2) It is good to study some Torah before beginning the Seudah, as the Posuk says "Layehudim Haysa Ohra V'Simcha..." and Chazal say Ohra is referring tothe light of Torah which should precede the Simcha! (Ram"a 695:2)
It is customary to daven Mincha before beginning the Seudah, as not to end up davening Mincha while drunk. The Seudah should begin when it is still daylight, and not close to sunset, so that most of the meal should be eaten during the day.
The Seudas Purim should not be eaten alone; rather it is good to join with family and friends so it will be joyous.
However, care must be taken that the Seuda should be a Simcha Shel Mitzvah and not simply a wild party, with things Chas V'Shalom happening that are against Halacha.
The hands should be properly washed for Netilas Yadayim, Hamotzi should be recited on the bread, Birchas Hamazon should be recited after the Seudah, all Halachos of Tznius must be observed etc.
The table at the Purim Seudah (both by day and night) should have candles on it, to make it a Yom Tov Seudah (Mishna Berura 695:9)
To sponsor a future issue of Halacha For Today for your business or in honor of a loved one or any occasion, please contact me at Halacha For Today
QUESTION & ANSWER CORNER:
Reader Submitted Questions of interest on topics related to Halachos we covered, as well as other interesting topic and my Answers. Taken from the Q & A page on the Halacha For Today website. For study purposes only, NOT for Psak Halacha. Questions can be emailed to Halacha For Today)
Reader's Question:
If one is kove'a seudah on Lokshin Kugel, one does not have to recite birchas ha-mazon. Can one use Lokshin Kugel to be yotze Kidush be-makom seudah on Shabbos, since it's not an item that one would recite birchas ha-mazon on?
My Answer:
Yes, Lokshen Kugel is no worse than a piece of cake for this matter, and may even be better suited [than cake and wine] for the purpose of being your "Seudah" after Kiddush.
Follow up question from the same reader:
But Lokshen Kugel does not have the tsurah (form) of Pas (bread), and that is why we don't bentch after it even if we ate a lot of it?
My Answer:
For the purposes of Kiddush B'Makom Seudah, any Kugel whose Bracha is Mezonos is 100% acceptable to fulfill the obligation, and Tzuras HaPas doesnt play a role. ( See Shmiras Shabbos K'Hilchas Chapter 54:22 See also Shu"t Az Nidberu Vol. 8 Siman 31:4)
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
