Monday
8 Adar II, 5771; 6 Days until Purim
March 14, 2011
Please Note: In order to finish all the relevant Halachos before Purim, the next few days' segments may be slightly longer than usual.
1) The names of the ten sons of Haman HaRasha, until after the word "Aseres" after their names, must be said by the one reading the Megilah in one breath, to remember the fact that they were all hanged and died at one time (in other words, as the Talmud Megilah 16b explains, they all took their last breaths at the same instant; perhaps as Midah K'Neged Midah for their plot to kill all the Jews in one day).
L'Chatchilah this should start a few words earlier, and from "Chamesh Me'Os Ish" until "Aseres" should be said in one breath.
If these words were not read in one breath, even if one took a long break between them, B'dieved you are Yotzei. (Rama Siman 690:15)
However, L'Chatchilah if they were not said in one breath, they should be repeated (Elya Rabbah Siman690:11)
The congregation need not read these names, and they can simply listen to the Ba'al Koreh. (Chayei Adam Klal 155:22 and Kitzur Shulchan Aruch Siman 141:14)
However, the prevalent Minhag is for the congregation to indeed read these names [in one breath] before the Ba'al Koreh reads it. (Aruch HaShulchan. The reason is possibly, that since the Ba'al Koreh reads it very quickly, the congregation may not hear it properly, thus developed the minhag of everyone reading it themselves. See also Shu"t Tzafnas Pa'aneach fromthe Rogotchov Gaon Vol. 3 in the Hashmatos for a novel approach to this requirement; Due to "Shomea K'Oneh", the Ba'al Koreh can be Motzi you with the reading but he cannot be Motzi you with the "one breath" requirement, thus each individual must do this alone)
2) It is the prevalent Minhag in Klal Yisroel to "bang" or otherwise make a noise whenever the name of "Haman" is read in the Megilah.
This Minhag should not be discontinued, nor ridiculed, as it was not instituted for naught. (Rama Siman 690:17).
However, the banging should not go on for too long, otherwise the entire reading/listening of the Megilah will become confusing.
Musical instruments or similar loud noisemakers should not be used, rather a simple gragger, banging with the feet or similar gesture of "banging" should be used. (Mishna Berura Siman 690:59. See also Sha'ar HaTziyun ibid: 57)
If the Shul that one davens in doesn't comply with the above guidelines, and the entire Megilah reading turns into a "noise fest" with people competing as to who can make the loudest, longest and most disturbing noise, it is better to read the Megilah with a small minyan in a different Shul or even at home rather than rely on this noisy and confusing Megilah reading.
This is especially true for women, who will be unable to hear the Megilah properly in the women's section with all the tumult taking place. (Based on MaHar"i Algazi in Shalmei Chagiga, quoted in Sefer Hilchos Chag B'Chag. Also the ruling of the Aruch HaShulchan)
While the congregation is "banging", the Ba'al Koreh should be quiet, and only continue once the noise has subsided totally, otherwise some in the congregation may miss a few words of the Megilah.
It is a good idea for all the congregants to read the few words after each "Haman" by themselves from a Kosher Megilah [if at all possible] or from a Chumash, to ensure that not even one word of the Megilah is missed. (Mishna Berura Siman 690:60)
QUESTION & ANSWER CORNER
Reader Submitted Questions of interest on topics related to Halachos we covered, as well as other interesting topic and Answers. Taken from the Q & A pages on the Halacha For Today website.
Although the answers I give to questions are taken directly from the Sifrei HaPoskim, and aren't my own, they are still for study purposes only, NOT for Psak Halacha.
Questions can be emailed to HalachaForToday@Yahoo.com
Reader's Question:
We know that one of the mitzvot of Purim is mishloach manot.
Many organizations offer cards, etc. to send to people in lieu of mishloach manot, which according to the organization fulfills both the mitzvah of mishloach manot and mataynos l'evyonim. Is this permissible or is it still better to separate the two mitzvot?
Answer:
You cannot fulfill Mishloach Manos with these cards, only Matanos L'Evyonim.
However, once you fulfill Mishloach Manos in the traditional way, it is indeed praiseworthy to give extra charity/Matanos L'Evyonim "in lieu" of extra Mishloach Manos, as the Rambam Hilchos Megilah Perek 2:17 writes:
"It is better for one to give additional "Matanos L'Evyonim" rather than to embellish their Purim Seudah and/or give additional Mishloach Manos to their friends, as there is no greater and more glorious Simcha than to gladden the hearts of the less fortunate poor people, orphans, widows and converts. One who lifts the spirits and gladdens the hearts of these less fortunate individuals, is likened to the Shechina!"
These organizations should not write on these cards that it is "in lieu of Mishloach Manos".
At most they should write that it is "in lieu of extra Mishloach Manos once you have been Mekayem your Mitzvah with the required 2 types of food given to someone"
CHIZUK CORNER
As a Zechus for the Refuah Shelaima of one of the Gedolei HaDor, the Telzer Rosh Yeshiva , HaRav Chaim Stein Shlita, R' Chaim Yaakov ben Chasya Miriam, B'soch Sha'ar Cholei Yisroel, we will B'Ezras Hashem post here each day a short inspirational thought to help us all improve our lives and grow in our service of our Father in heaven, HaKadosh Baruch Hu.
IF YOU HAVE SOMETHING MEANINGFUL FOR THIS SECTION, PLEASE EMAIL IT TO ME. THANK YOU AND TIZKEH L'MITZVOS!
אל תתיאש מן הרחמים
Chizuk For Today:
When a man brings an offering from among you to Hashem -- from animals -- from the cattle or from the flock you shall bring your offering." (Vayikra 1:2)
Rav Avigdor Miller Zatzal (1908-2001) writes: As a people, we have lost the ability to relate to sacrificial offerings. At one time, however, bringing a sacrifice represented an act of devotion to Hashem. This is alluded to in our verse, which says, "When a man brings an offering from among you," i.e., it is as if you have brought a part of yourself.
Even so, Rav Miller observes, an even greater act is to accept G-d's authority and to obey Him. Thus the prophet Shmuel said to King Shaul (Shmuel I 15:22), "'Does Hashem take delight in olot / burnt offerings and zevachim / feast-offerings as in obedience to the voice of Hashem? Behold! Obedience is better than a choice offering, attentiveness [better] than the fat of rams." This does not mean that Hashem does not desire offerings, only that He desires obedience and attentiveness even more.
This too, continues Rav Miller, is lost in our culture. Obedience is not a widely accepted concept, and even the word is almost taboo. This, Rav Miller asserts, is the source of every evil in our society. Our task, however, is to ignore public opinion and ignore what popular literature and newspapers are telling us, and to live with the principles that the Torah teaches: "Obedience is better than a choice offering, attentiveness [better] than the fat of rams." (Toras Avigdor IV p.186)
Important Numbers
