בס"ד Laws and Customs: Adar, Taanit Esther/Purim Meshulash For the year 5780 for those in Jerusalem According to Nittei Gavriel, Mishna Berurah and Shulachan Aruch Harav All times listed are for Jerusalem only as per www.myzmanim.com Based on Rabbi Shmuel Lesches's Halachah Sheets, Reviewed by Rabbi Elimelech Rabinowicz Compiled by Yossi Fraenkel in memory of his grandparents ר' ראובן בן הרב משה אליעזר הלוי ע"ה וחיה ברכה בת ר' נפתלי משה ע"ה רבינוביץ ר' יוסף בן ר' אורי ע"ה ומלכה בת ר' יצחק צבי הלוי ע"ה פרנקל To subscribe: www.thejweekly.org or [email protected] MONTH OF ADAR The Ba’al Koreh should read loudly and clearly, LAWS OF FASTING and have in mind to be Motzeh everyone Some say it is a big Segula to fast on Erev Rosh One shouldn’t brush one’s teeth nor rinse listening to the Kriah. Similarly, all the listeners Chodesh Adar and to say the whole Tehillim. one’s mouth. [If this will cause great should have in mind to be Yotzei the Kriah and ,When Adar Begins aggravation, there is room to be lenient - משנכנס אדר מרבין בשמחה to fulfil the Mitzvah of remembering to provided that one leans forward to prevent we increase our joy. We increase our joy eliminate Amalek. throughout the month of Adar, some say to any liquid from flowing down one’s throat; that one uses substances unfit for , - זֵכֶר is first read with a Tzeirei זכר increase the joy throughout Nissan too. The word consumption (e.g. Listerine); and that one .זֶכֶר - and then repeated again with a Segol Some have the custom to hang up a sign of rinses with less than 86 ml.] Some repeat just the word, some repeat the .משנכנס אדר מרבין בשמחה One may take non-chewable pills for medical whilst others תִּמְ חֶ ה אֶ ת זֵכֶר עֲמָלֵ ק TH phrase repeat the whole Passuk. purposes, without water. A Rav should be (ז, באדר) 7 ADAR 7th Adar is the fast day for Tzadikim and most consulted regarding other medicines. say Tachanun, however some have the custom TAANIT ESTHER (THURSDAY 25/2/2021) One may shower, bathe and apply ointments not to. Taanit Esther is not one of the four public fasts and creams. [Even one who is strict on other There are those who are particular if possible instituted by the Nevi’im. Therefore, a Chattan fast days may nevertheless be lenient on not to make a wedding on the 7th Adar, due to and Kallah during the week of Sheva Brachot Taanit Esther.] it being the fast day for the Tzadikim as well as need not fast. Pregnant mothers, nursing One may not taste food to determine whether being the Yahrzeit of Moshe Rabeinu. mothers and anyone considerably weakened it requires salt/spices. However, when One should try to learn and do Mitzvot in by illness or advanced age need not fast. [One should not be unduly strict in this regard.] preparing food for a Seudat Mitzvah scheduled memory of Moshe Rabeinu. Mothers who have difficulty fasting while for the night following the fast, one may taste Most Chevra Kadishot have the custom to fast tending to their young children should consult the food, provided that all these conditions are and go to graves of Tzadikim and to ask with a Rav. met: forgiveness from the dead in case they didn't • One expels it without swallowing. handle the person with respect when burying, When a Brit occurs on Taanit Esther, the Baalei • One tastes only an absolute minimum. some also say Selichot. Habrit (i.e. the Mohel, the Sandak, and the • One does not taste more than 86 ml in father of the baby) need not fast. However, all In some communities, the Rabbi would give a total throughout the day. other attendees must fast. Therefore, the Dvar Torah in memory of Moshe Rabeinu as Seudah takes place at night, after the fast. TAANIT ESTHER: SHACHARIT well as in memory of other rabbis and During Shacharit, only the Chazzan recites Tzadikim who died during the year. Aside from the exceptions enumerated above, Anenu. Therefore, a non-fasting individual A child who is born on 7th Adar should not be all healthy adults must observe Taanit Esther shouldn’t serve as Chazzan. named Moshe after Moshe Rabeinu. scrupulously. If one inadvertently ate during the fast, one must immediately resume [In the unlikely event that the Chazzan is not PURIM PREPARATIONS fasting. fasting, or less than three congregants are An inspiring Purim is the product of diligent fasting: Instead of reciting Anenu between Anyone below Bar/Bat Mitzvah need not fast. preparation. In the days prior to Purim, one Goal Yisrael and R’faenu, the Chazzan includes From the age of nine upwards, the custom is to should review the Halachot of Purim. Anenu in the Brachah of Sh’ma Kolenu, and train children to fast for several hours, as per concludes the Brachah regularly; i.e. Shomea PARSHAT ZACHOR (PARSHAT TERUMAH, 20/2/21) the child’s abilities. [One should not be unduly Tefillah.] It is a Torah obligation for all men and boys strict in this regard.] A Chazzan who forgot to recite Anenu: over the age of Bar Mitzvah to hear Parshat An individual exempt from fasting should eat • if he remembered before reciting Zachor. [One who absolutely cannot attend a in private only, and avoid meat, delicacies or Hashem’s name at the conclusion of the Minyan should read this passage from a Sefer excessive intake. Children old enough to the Brachah of R’faeinu, he recites Aneinu Torah or Chumash, with the Trop (cantillation) understand the concept of a fast should avoid immediately, and then repeats the if he knows it.] delicacies and meat. Brachah of R’faeinu; Although women are ordinarily exempt from • if he already concluded the Brachah of Kriat Hatorah, there is a dispute with regards EATING PRIOR TO THE FAST R’faenu, he recites Anenu in the Brachah to Parshat Zachor. Therefore, it is ideal for One may eat and drink the entire evening until of Sh’ma Kolenu, and concludes the women to attend Shul. However, a woman dawn (4:58am), provided that either of these Brachah with a double conclusion; i.e. who is unable to easily attend Shul (e.g. she is conditions are met (this does not apply to Ha’one B’eit Tzarah V’shomeah Tefillah; tending to her small children) may instead water which can be drunk anytime up to the • if he already concluded the Brachah of read this passage from the Chumash. beginning of the fast): Sh’ma Kolenu, he recites Anenu as a • One didn’t go to sleep for the night. separate Brachah immediately after the Ordinarily, a Sefer Torah may not be moved to [Dozing off is not regarded as such.] Brachah of Sim Shalom. another location for one time use. • One stipulated (preferably verbally) before One who is not fasting must still recite Selichot Nevertheless, one may be lenient if necessary going to sleep that he would eat upon and Avinu Malkeinu. to facilitate the Kriah of Parshat Zachor. waking. In this case, one recites the One who davens without a Minyan omits the Ideally, the Ba’al Koreh should be old enough morning Brachot before eating. Yud-Gimel Midot-Harachamim. to have a beard. [If this is not possible, a Bar Mitzvah boy should serve as Ba’al Koreh only if Some hold that if Tachnun is not recited (e.g. puberty is established.] when a Chattan is present), Selichot is still ~ 2 ~ recited, whereas Avinu Malkeinu is not recited If an individual forgot to recite Anenu in the of a spouse, child or sibling’s passing) may not and some hold that Selichot ends after Viduy. Brachah of Sh’ma Kolenu, he may recite it in serve as Chazzan on Purim, in some the passage Elokai N’tzor, before the second communities (including Chabad) an Avel does TAANIT ESTHER: KRIAH Yih’yu L’ratzon. If one didn’t remember until act as Chazzan on Purim. The passage of Vayechal is read, provided that he concluded the Amidah, he does not repeat The Chazzan recites Kaddish Titkabel at least three congregants are fasting. it. [A non-fasting individual does not recite immediately after the Amidah. The Megillah is Anenu.] A non-fasting individual must still hear Kriat read immediately afterwards. Hatorah of Vayechal, but is not called up for an The Chazzan recites Anenu between Goal After the Megillah is concluded, V’atah Aliyah. [If he is the only Kohen or Levi, he Yisrael and R’faenu. [see TAANIT ESTHER: Kaddosh is recited, followed by the entire should absent himself.] If he is called up, and SHACHARIT] According to some, if after plag Kaddish but without Titkabel. refusing the Aliyah will cause him discomfort Hamincha, Birchat Kohanim with duchening is or minimize the honor of the Torah, he may done. Chabad do not Duchan, however, the MEGILLAH READING accept the Aliyah. In any case, he may perform Chazzan does recite Birchat Kohanim towards All men and women over the age of Bar/Bat Hagbah or Gelilah. the end of the Amidah. Mitzvah must hear the Megillah. A non-fasting individual shouldn’t serve as the Tachnun and Avinu Malkeinu are not recited, Children (both boys and girls) should also Ba’al Koreh, unless there is no one else who since it is Erev Purim. attend the Megillah reading and quietly follow can do so. END OF FAST along according to their ability, unless they are When the congregation recites the verses too young and will create a disturbance.