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The Shulchan Aruch simply quotes the Gemara verbatim. However, the Rema writes (based on the Rambam)
that one does not need to actually become intoxicated. Rather, one fulfills the mitzva by having a wine-
induced sleep, as when one is asleep one doesn’t know the difference between Haman and Mordechai.

a Shulchan Aruch, Orach Chaim 695:2 ב:הצרת ח״וא | ע״וש . 37
A person is obligated to become intoxicated on Purim until he ןיב עדי אלד דע אירופב ימוסבל שיניא בייח
does not know how to distinguish between cursed is Haman and .יכדרמ ךורבל ןמה רורא
blessed is Mordechai. 15
רכתשהל ךירצ ןיאד םירמוא שיו :הגה
Rema: And some say that one doesn’t need to get intoxicated to ,ןשיו ודומילמ רתוי התשיש אלא ,ךכ לכ
such an extent. Rather, one should drink more than one usually ךורבל ןמה רורא ןיב עדוי וניא ןשיש ךותמו
does and go to sleep, and by sleeping he will not know the
difference between cursed is Haman and blessed is Mordechai. ,טיעממה דחאו הברמה דחאו …יכדרמ
Whether one drinks a lot or a little the main issue is that his .םימשל ובל ןיוכיש דבלבו
intentions are for [the sake of] Heaven.

The Proper Time for the Purim Se’uda

The Rema discusses the proper time for the Purim se’uda.

a Rema, ibid. םש | א”מר . 38

It is customary to make the Purim se’uda after Mincha and pray ,החנמ רחאל םירופ תדועס תושעל םיגהונו
Maariv at night. One should pray Mincha while it is still early in החנמ םיללפתמו .הלילב וללפתי תיברעו
the afternoon, and the majority of the meal must be eaten during הדועסה בורו ;לודג םויה דועב הלחת
the day, and not as is the custom to start just before sunset and the ןיגהונש ומכ אלו ,םויב תויהל הכירצ
main part of the meal is on the night of the 15 .
th
אוה הדועסה רקיעו ברעל ךומס ליחתהל
.ו”ט ליל
According to the Rema, one must eat most of the meal during the day, but he notes that there was a prevalent
custom to begin shortly before sunset and cautions against it. Some Acharonim defend that custom, and
16
many Chassidic rebbes follow it as well. The Mishna Berura (695:9) quotes another opinion from the Eliyah
Rabba citing the Shelah (based on Kabbalistic sources) that the preferred time for having the se’uda is
17
actually in the morning. In sum, everyone may follow their own personal custom, provided the meal was
begun before sunset.
If Purim falls on Friday, it is more generally accepted that ideally one should make the meal before midday
(Rema; Mishna Berura 695:10).

15. Although on the surface it seems that the Shulchan Aruch rules that one must indeed become intoxicated, many Acharonim point out that
there is a difference between “bisum” (the Hebrew word used is livsumei), which seems to be spiritually uplifted, and “shichrut,” which means
drunkenness that leads to folly. Therefore, one should certainly not become drunk in a manner that will cause one to act improperly as well as to
be incapable of reciting birkat hamazon and Tefilla afterward (see Biur Halacha here).
16. See Minchat Elazar (2:5); Piskei Teshuvot p. 581
17. Though see the Mishna Berura in his immediately preceding comment (695:8) that most customarily do not have it in the morning because they
are busy with preparing mishloach manot (and other mitzvot of the day). [Addition of the editors of the English edition]

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