Parshat Zachor – Shabbat 8th March
All adults have a Torah obligation to hear the reading of parshat Zachor, which records Amalek’s attack on the Jewish people on their way out of Egypt, in order to fulfil the mitzvah of remembering Amalek and obliterating their name. This mitzvah is accomplished by listening to parshat Zachor read from a Sefer Torah with a Minyan.
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Fast of Esther – Thursday 13th March
It begins at 4.41am and ends at 6.42pm
Anyone who is healthy should fast. This reminds us of the people fasting in the times of Mordechai and Esther as they prepared to fight for their survival in the face of Haman’s decree.
Someone who was traveling and didn’t know the fast was moved to Thursday and someone who mistakenly ate on Thursday should make up the fast on Friday.
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Machatzit HaShekel
Before Mincha on the Fast of Esther, there’s a minhag is to donate three 50p pieces, in remembrance of the half Shekel that was donated to the Temple in Adar. Some do this on behalf of each member of their family.
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Megillah
All adults have an obligation to hear the Megillah twice – once at night and again on the day of Purim. This publicises the miracle of the Jewish people’s survival.
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Purim Seudah
It’s a mitzvah to have a festive meal on Purim to celebrate the joy of our survival.
As this year Purim is on a Friday, ideally the meal should begin before halachic midday (12.10pm). If this time passed, then every effort should be made to start it by 3.30pm.
If a person was unavoidably delayed they may still begin the meal after this time. However, because it’s close to Shabbat, they must eat less than they would at a regular meal and bentch before Shabbat.
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Mishloach Manot – Gifts of Food
It’s a mitzvah for every Jewish adult to send at least two items of ready-to-eat food to another Jewish adult household. This must be done during the day of Purim.
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Matanot L’evyonim – Gifts to the Poor
It’s a mitzvah for every Jewish adult to give gifts or money of at least a nominal sum to two needy people on Purim day. It can be pre-arranged for someone to distribute on our behalf on Purim day.
We can fulfil this mitzvah by making a donation to the Hardship Fund and it will be distributed locally on Purim.
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We should remember the Rambam’s teaching: “It’s preferable for a person to be more liberal with their donations to the poor than to be lavish in their preparation of the Purim meal or in sending gifts to their friends.”
