Purim Vorbereitung - Adar II 5779 - Fraenkelufer

(17) Remember what Amalek did to you on your journey, after you left Egypt— (18) how, undeterred by fear of God, he surprised you on the march, when you were famished and weary, and cut down all the stragglers in your rear. (19) Therefore, when the LORD your God grants you safety from all your enemies around you, in the land that the LORD your God is giving you as a hereditary portion, you shall blot out the memory of Amalek from under heaven. Do not forget!

...Esther sent to the Sages: Write me for all generations! They sent back to her: It is written: “Have I not written for you three times” (Proverbs 22:20), indicating that Israel’s battle with Amalek is to be mentioned three times in the Bible and not four times? The Sages did not accede to Esther’s request until they found a verse written in the Torah: “Write this for a memorial in the book, and rehearse it in the ears of Joshua: That I will utterly blot out the remembrance of Amalek from under the heavens” (Exodus 17:14). The Sages understood that “Write this,” refers to what is written in the Torah in Exodus and in Deuteronomy; “a memorial,” that which is written in the Prophets on this matter; and “in the book,” that which is written in the Megilla.

Let us also recite hallel on Purim!? ... Rav Naḥman said: The reading of the Megilla itself is an act of reciting hallel. Rava said: ... No, even after the miracle of Purim, we were still the servants of Ahasuerus.

Rava said: A person is obligated to become intoxicated on Purim until she does not know how to distinguish between cursed is Haman and blessed is Mordecai. One time, Rava and Rabbi Zeira prepared a Purim feast with each other, and they became intoxicated to the point that Rava arose and slaughtered Rabbi Zeira. The next day, Rava asked God for mercy, and revived him. The next year, Rava said to Rabbi Zeira: Let the Master come and let us prepare the Purim feast with each other. He said to him: Miracles do not happen each and every hour.

Rama: Some say it is not necessary to become drunk so much, but rather to drink more than he is used to (Kol Bo), and to fall asleep, and while he sleeps he does not know [the difference] between "accursed is Haman" and "blessed is Mordechai"... There are those who have the custom to dress in Shabbat/Yom Tov clothes on Purim, and that is correct. We have the custom to make the Purim meal after the afternoon prayer, and pray the evening prayer at night... and most of the meal needs to be during the day... It is good to delve a bit in Torah before one begins the meal, and a support for that is (Esther 8:16) "The Jews had light and happiness...", which we understand as Torah. One is obligated to drink a little and be a little happy on two days, the 14th and the 15th, and so is the custom. Some say that if one causes damage to his fellow through happiness on Purim, one is exempt from restitution.

It is permitted to get married on Purim. Rama: This refers to both the fourteenth and the fifteenth of the month... As to the custom of wearing 'faces' on Purim, and men who wear women's dresses and women wearing men's attire - this is not forbidden, for the people have no intention other than pure pleasure. So too the practice of wearing kilayim, forbidden mixtures of clothes. And although some say it is forbidden, we follow the first opinion. So too, the custom of stealing from each other in a happy way - this does not fall under the prohibition of 'Do not steal', and this is what is done, as long as one does not transgress what is considered acceptable by the elders of the town.

(4) One must send to his fellow two portions of meat, or foodstuffs, as it says (Esther 9:19) "And send portions, man to his fellow." Two portions to one man [is the obligation]. And anyone who send more to his fellows is praiseworthy. If he has none, he can trade with his fellow, this one sending to that one his meal, and this one sending to that one his meal, so that they can fulfill "And send portions, man to his fellow." Rama: And some send the portions during the day and not at night (from the Rosh, first chapter of [Bavli] Megilla). And if one sends portions to his fellow, but he doesn't want to accept them, or he forgives him [his obligation], he fulfills [his obligation nonetheless]. And a woman is obligated in [sending] portions to the destitute and sending portions [to one's fellows] like a man is...

All people must give at least two gifts to two poor people. Rema: Some say one should give prior to Purim a half-coin that is established in that place and in that time as a memorial to the Shekel half-coin that they would give in Adar. And since the word terumah is written three times in that portion, one gives three half-coins on the night of Purim prior to praying the Mincha prayer, and such is the custom in all these provinces. We give 3 half-coins of the bigger [coins] in these provinces, for there is no coin that is only half beside for [the bigger coin], and in Austria, they would give 3 half-coins of Wieners, which were also called "halfs". And so it is for each province. And only someone who is 20 or older is obligated to give...

(3) One is not exacting with their money on Purim. One should give to anyone who extends their hands and in places where they have a custom to give even to non-Jews - one should give.