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>From today's OU Kosher Halacha Yomis</div>
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<p><strong><strong>Q. Purim <em>Meshulash</em> is celebrated this year in Yerushalayim. What is Purim
<em>Meshulash</em>?</strong></strong></p>
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<p>A. The Megillah relates that the Jews fought their enemies on the 13th day of <em>
Adar</em>. They rested and celebrated on the following day, the 14th of <em>Adar</em>, and that is the day that Purim is generally observed. In the capital city of Shushan there were more enemies of the Jews. The battle lasted two days and they celebrated on
the 15th of <em>Adar</em>. Shushan was a walled city and the Rabbis instituted that Shushan and other walled cities such as Yerushalayim would celebrate Purim on the 15th. This is known as Shushan Purim. (See Aruch Hashulchan 668:2-4)<br>
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The Jewish calendar is set in a manner that the 14th of <em>Adar</em> will never fall on Shabbos, while the 15th of
<em>Adar</em> occasionally falls on Shabbos. Some of the <em>mitzvos</em> of Purim cannot be fulfilled on Shabbos, and they are observed instead on Friday and Sunday. In such instances, Purim in Yerushalayim spans three days, and that is why it is called Purim
<em>Meshulash</em> (the three day Purim).<br>
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Here is the breakdown of <em>mitzvos</em> for each day of Purim <em>Meshulash</em>:<br>
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Friday: Chazal did not want the <em>Megilah</em> to be read on Shabbos out of concern that one might forget it is Shabbos and carry the
<em>Megillah</em> in an area where there is no <em>eiruv</em>. Rather, they instituted that the Jews of Yerushalayim read the
<em>Megillh</em> on Friday, in conformity with everyone else around the world. Chazal associated the
<em>mitzvah</em> of <em>Matanos L’evyonim</em> (giving gifts to the poor) with the reading of the
<em>Megillah</em>, so even in Yerushalayim, <em>matanos l’evyonim</em> is given on Friday, even though it is not yet Purim. Rav Ovadya Yosef
<em>zt”l</em> (Yechave Daas 1:90) points out that if one has a minhag not to do <em>
melacha</em> on Purim (and treat it like <em>Chol Ham’oed</em>), <em>melacha</em> may be performed on Friday (in Yerushalayim), since it is not actually Purim.<br>
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Shabbos: The <em>Kerias HaTorah</em> of Purim is read on Shabbos, as well as a special
<em>Haftorah</em> for Purim. <em>Al Hanissim</em> is inserted in davening and <em>
bentching</em>. It is proper to add a special dish to the Shabbos meal in honor of Purim. Since
<em>Megillah</em> is not read on Shabbos, it is proper to discuss the <em>halachos</em> of Purim to remind oneself that it is Purim day (Mishnah Berurah 688:16).<br>
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Sunday: The Purim <em>seuda</em> takes place on Sunday and <em>Mishloach Manos</em> are distributed then as well. We follow the
<em>poskim</em> who rule that <em>Al Hanissim</em> is not said in <em>davening</em> or
<em>bentching</em>. However, since there is a minority opinion that it should be said, Rav Ovadya Yosef recommends that it be added at the end of
<em>bentching</em> in the section of <em>Harachaman</em>. (<em>Harachaman yaaseh imanu nisim v’niflaos k’mo she’asa la’avoseinu ba’yamim ha’heim ba’zman ha’zeh. Bi’yemei Mordechai…</em>)</p>
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