Parshas Ki Sisa (Shushan Purim) 5785
- Torah Tavlin
- Mar 13
- 2 min read
Halachos of Purim Meshulash (3)
The Megillah relates that the Yidden fought their enemies on the 13th day of Adar and celebrated on the following day, the 14th of Adar. In the city of Shushan they had more enemies and the battle lasted two days. They celebrated on the 15th of Adar. Shushan was a walled city and Chazal instituted that Shushan and other walled cities such as Yerushalayim celebrate Purim on the 15th. This is known as Shushan Purim (1). Since the 14th of Adar will never fall on Shabbos, while the 15th of Adar can, some of the mitzvos of Purim cannot be fulfilled on Shabbos, and they are observed instead on Friday and Sunday. In such instances, like this year, Purim in Yerushalayim spans 3 days, and thus it is called Purim Meshulash (the three-day Purim).
Here is a list of mitzvos for each day of Purim Meshulash:
Friday: Chazal did not want the Megillah to be read on Shabbos for fear that one might carry the Megillah in an area where there is no eruv. They instituted that the Yidden of Yerushalayim read the Megillah on Friday, in conformity with the rest of the world. Chazal associated the mitzvah of Matanos L’evyonim with Krias HaMegillah, so even in Yerushalayim, Matanos L’evyonim is given on Friday, even though it is not yet Purim. If one has a minhag not to do melacha on Purim (and treat it like Chol Hamoed), melacha may be performed on Friday (in Yerushalayim), since it is not actually Purim (2).
Shabbos: Krias HaTorah of Purim is read on Shabbos, as well as a special Haftorah for Purim. Al Hanissim is inserted in davening and bentching. It is proper to add a special dish to the Shabbos meal in honor of Purim. Since the Megillah is not read on Shabbos, as mentioned previously, it is proper to discuss the halachos of Purim to remind oneself that it is Purim day (3).
Sunday: The Purim seuda takes place on Sunday and Mishloach Manos are distributed as well. We follow the Poskim who rule that Al Hanissim is not said in davening or bentching. However, since there is a minority opinion that it should be said, Chacham Ovadia Yosef zt”l recommends that it be added at the end of bentching in the section of Harachaman. (Harachaman yaaseh imanu nisim v’niflaos k’mo she’asa la’avoseinu ba’yamim ha’heim ba’zman ha’zeh. Bi’yemei Mordechai) (4).
(1) ערוך השלחן תרפח:ב,ד (2) שו"ת יחוה דעת א:צ (3) משנה ברורה תרפח:טז (4) יחוה דעת שם