Daf HaYomi B'Halacha Daily Email - 9 Adar 1/Feb 10

 

Must one eat bread at the Purim seudah? One of the mitzvos of Purim is to eat a seudah--a festive meal. The poskim disagree about whether the meal must consist of bread. They also debate whether one must eat meat or whether chicken suffices. There is a custom to light candles at the seudah. Although the obligation to have a seudah is only in effect during the day, many partake in a seudah at night as well. Some people eat zaronim (seeds) on Purim to remember the zaronim eaten by Doniel and Esther. According to some poskim, all vegetables fall into the category of zaronim. Other opinions also include rice and legumes. It is customary to mark the “other” day of Purim (the fifteenth of Adar in open cities and the fourteenth in walled cities) with festivities as well. [שו"ע תרצה, א-ב, משנ"ב יא ו־יב; ביאורים ומוספים דרשו, 3 ,5 ,24 ו־25] Why is there a mitzvah to drink wine on Purim? Much of the Purim story revolved around drinking wine and intoxication. Examples include Achashveirosh’s celebration, his party in Esther’s honor, and the parties that Esther hosted for Achashveirosh and Haman. To commemorate the miracles which occurred through drinking, Chazal instituted that one should drink wine during the Purim seudah. One must drink until he cannot differentiate between boruch Mordechai and arur Haman. The Achronim explain that arur Haman refers to Haman’s downfall and boruch Mordechai alludes to Mordechai’s ascent to power. Before drinking, one should celebrate and praise Hakodosh Boruch Hu for these two miracles; afterwards, he should drink to the point that he cannot tell the difference between them. Some say that the numerical values of baruch Mordechai and arur Haman are equal, and one must drink until he can no longer verify that calculation. [שו"ע תרצה, ב, משנ"ב ד, שעה"צ ה, וביה"ל ד"ה חייב] Are there alternatives to becoming intoxicated on Purim? Although it is a mitzvah to drink wine on Purim, one must be careful to retain the decorum of a simcha shel mitzvah (celebration of a mitzvah). If intoxication leads one to foolish frivolity and wanton disregard of mitzvos, he should not drink. Indeed, the Rema rules that one should not become too intoxicated. Rather, one should drink slightly more than he usually does and then go to sleep. While he is sleeping, he will not be able to differentiate between boruch Mordechai and arur Haman. The Purim seudah should preferably take place among a large group of people. If drinking in a large group will lead to inappropriate levity, however, it is better to eat alone. [שו"ע תרצה, ב, משנ"ב ה ו־ט, וביה"ל ד"ה עד; ביאורים ומוספים דרשו, 21] All credit goes to  Dirshu | 911 County Line Rd. , Suite 205, Lakewood, NJ 08701