Page 262 - Tzurba M'Rabanan Volume1

260 · Hilchot Purim Tzurba M’Rabanan

The Purim Se’uda

The source for eating a seu’da (festive meal) on Purim stems from Megillat Esther, and the Gemara derives
from there that the obligation is specifically during the day and not at night.

h Masechet Megilla 7b :ז הליגמ תכסמ . 33
Rava said: If one ate a Purim meal at night he has not אל הלילב הלכאש םירופ תדועס :אבר רמא
fulfilled his obligation. What is the reason? “The days of התשמ ימי“ ?אמעט יאמ .ותבוח ידי אצי
feasting and gladness” (Esther 9:22) is written. .ביתכ ”החמשו

The mitzva of having a se’uda is cited by the Shulchan Aruch and Rema as follows:

a Shulchan Aruch, Orach Chaim 695:1 א:הצרת ח״וא | ע״וש . 34

Rema: It is a mitzva to have a large se’uda on Purim, and one הדועסבו ;םירופ תדועסב תוברהל הוצמ :הגה
fulfills one’s obligation with one meal. .םיאצוי תחא
Shulchan Aruch: If one made the Purim se’uda at night, one ידי אצי אל ,הלילב האשעש םירופ תדועס
has not fulfilled one’s obligation. .ותבוח
Rema: Nevertheless, one should rejoice and have a slightly .הדועסב תצק הבריו חמשי הלילב םג מ”מו :הגה
larger meal even at night.

The Rambam explains the requirements for this meal in the next source.

r Rambam, Hilchot Megilla 2:15 וט:ב הליגמ ׳לה | ם”במר . 35

How does [one fulfill] the obligation of this meal? One eats הדועס ןקתיו רשב לכאיש ?וז הדועס תבוח דציכ
meat and prepares a nice meal according to one’s ability .ןיי התושו ,ודי אצמת רשא יפכ האנ
14
and drinks wine.
Some poskim, such as the Aruch HaShulchan (695:7) also require the consumption of bread at the Purim
se’uda, while others, such as the Magen Avraham (695:7), hold that bread is not necessary.
One of the primary aspects of the Purim se’uda according to all opinions is drinking wine, as mentioned by
the Gemara.

h Masechet Megilla 7b :ז הליגמ תכסמ . 36
Rava said: A person is obligated to become intoxicated דע ,אירופב ימוסבל שיניא בייחימ :אבר רמא
with wine on Purim until he does not know how to .יכדרמ ךורבל ןמה רורא ןיב עדי אלד
distinguish between cursed is Haman and blessed is
Mordechai.

14. Although many poskim accept that the mitzva of the se’uda includes eating meat, the Magen Avraham (696:15) holds that one is not required to
eat meat to fulfill the mitzva. [Addition of the editors of the English edition]

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