|
 ASBEE
Home Page > Learning > Holidays
> Purim
What's Happening in Jerusalem?
Well, firstly, they are on high
security alert for terrorism. We hope
they will be O.K. Secondly, it is Shushan Purim there. For them, today
is Purim, not yesterday. The Megilah states that Jews in Shushan
celebrated Purim on the fifteenth of Adar, which is today, whereas those
in open cities celebrated on the fourteenth, yesterday. The Rabbis
understood that those in walled cities should celebrate the fifteenth,
known as Shushan Purim. What if a city had a wall once, but no longer has
one, or if a city just recently put up a wall?
The Rabbis of the Talmud ordained that the status of being a walled city
would depend on whether or not it was walled in the days of Joshua. Why
did they pick Joshua, who lived almost a thousand years before
Purim? In honor of the Land of Israel. The Rabbis wished to teach
that although this is a Diaspora holiday, one which took place outside
Israel, we still remember Israel, even on Purim.
What if Shushan Purim falls on Shabbat? (Regular Purim never falls on
Shabbat.) Clearly, they can't read the Megillah on Shabbat, as we don't
blow the shofar or take a lulav on Shabbat. We are afraid one may come to
carry the megillah outside. We can't read the megillah on Sunday, because
the megillah cannot be read after the Purim season which ends today. So
they read the megillah on Friday. Since the poor people expect to collect
during the Megillah gathering, the charity part of Purim, matanot la-evyonim,
is done on Friday, too. What about the feast of Purim? When should it be
held? Why not have it on Shabbat? The Jerusalem Talmud (JT) says that this
cannot be done since it would not be a distinctive meal for Shabbat. Most
authorities agree with the JT and have the meal and Shalach manot on
Sunday. However, some said that Shabbat was still a fitting time for the
feast and gifts.
What's happening in Jerusalem today? It's Purim Meshulash, a three day
Purim. We hope it should be for joy and for rejoicing, for peace
forever. |
|
