Rabbi's Thoughts

Dear Friends:

The treat of a Sunday Purim, which allows us more time to celebrate Purim, also poses some practical halachic challenges.  With Purim starting right after Shabbat, extra care must be taken and preparations made to avoid violating Shabbat in advance of Purim. To this end and to celebrate Shabbat Zachor in the appropriately festive fashion, there will be a special Pre-Purim Costume Seudah Shelishit at 5:50 PM, open to all but geared especially toward children, following Mincha, which is at 5:30 PM.   This allows us to get dressed up in costume in advance of Purim without violating the prohibition of preparing for after Shabbat while it is still Shabbat.  (See Igrot Moshe, O"C 4:105 and Chashukei Chemed, Megillah 14a.)

However, we must remember that costumes worn on Shabbat cannot have electronic devices.  Face-paint and cosmetics also cannot be worn, as they present problems of tzove'ah and sometimes memachek (coloring and smoothing), two of the prohibited activities on Shabbat.  Such items should be left in the shul BEFORE Shabbat and put on immediately before Megillah reading.
 
Megillahs and groggers should also be brought in advance of Shabbat, as taking these items to shul on Shabbat would also constitute inappropriate preparation on Shabbat for after Shabbat.   Some extra groggers will also be available for those who don’t have them already in shul and, as always, copies of the megillah will be available in shul.  Alternatively, these items may be brought to shul AFTER Shabbat by those still at home.  Shabbat is over at 6:39 PM, with maariv at 6:35 PM.  Megillah reading in the main shul will start at 6:55 PM.  This will leave time for people at home to make havdalah, or to recite the words "barukh ha-mavdil bein kodesh le-chol" after 6:39 PM, thus ending Shabbat, and then to bring all items necessary in time for megillah reading.  

In addition to the main megillah reading, there will be a kid-friendly megillah reading for women at 6:40 PM.  This reading is for women with their children only; the reading will move quickly, and while children will be encouraged to remain quiet, noise (and the children that come along with it) will be tolerated.   In addition to this reading, there will be a late megillah reading at 8:00 PM.  

Matanot Levyonim can be given online by clicking here before Shabbat (or at the latest Saturday night) and will be distributed locally and in Sderot on Purim.  Ideally each person fulfills this mitzvah by giving enough for the purchase of meals for two individuals; a donation is given on behalf of each Bar/Bat Mitzvah person in the family. (Thus, for example, a family of 5 would give enough money to buy 10 portions at a meal).

Machatzit HaShekel, given in memory of the biblical half coin used to support the Bet HaMikdash, can be given on Purim as well. Half dollars and instructions for the giving of both the Machatzit HaShekel as well as Matanot L'Evyoniim will be available Motzaeh Shabbat and Sunday morning.  

Mishloach Manot should be given on Sunday.  REMINDER:  While all are strongly encouraged to give Mishloach Manot through the sisterhood, each adult must still give two food items directly to at least one Jew to fulfill their personal obligation.

Please note that there will be a 2^nd reading of the section of Parshat Zachor after Adon Olam Shabbat morning and a 3rd reading after mincha Shabbat afternoon.  Looking forward to celebrating what promises to be a beautiful extended Purim together.

Yehuda Septimus
Rabbi
Young Israel of North Woodmere

SCHEDULE FOR PURIM 5777

Thursday 3/9 - TAANIT ESTHER

Fast Begins 5:03am 
Shacharit I 6:15am 
Shacharit II 7:45am 
Mincha/Maariv 5:30pm 
Fast Ends 6:26pm

Shabbat 3/11 - SHABBAT ZACHOR / PURIM NIGHT

Shacharit 8:00am/9:00am
Second Zachor Reading, no earlier than 11:00am
Mincha 5:30pm 
Third Zachor Reading, no earlier than 5:45pm
Seudah Shlishit 5:50pm 
Maariv 6:35pm 
Shabbat Ends 6:39pm 
Women/Kids Megilah 6:40pm 
Megilah I/II 6:55pm/8:00pm 
Adult Costume Party 9:30pm

Sunday 3/12 - PURIM DAY

DAYLIGHT SAVINGS BEGINS!!! 
Shacharit I 8:00am 
Megilah I 8:30am 
Shacharit II 9:15am 
Megilah II 9:40am 
Mincha 5:00pm 
Purim Seudah - Start Before 6:58pm 
Maariv 8:30pm