Page 16 - HaMizrachi Purim Australia 5781

GLOBAL RELIGIOUS LEADERS

Chief Rabbi David Lau
Purim Q&A

ISRAEL’S CHIEF RABBI ANSWERS SOME OF OUR PURIM QUESTIONS

What exactly is the source of these destructive customs?” (See also the money to the poor person in the
dressing up on Purim, and are Mishna Berura, 5296:8) name of the sender, the sender has
there boundaries regarding which performed the mitzvah.
costumes are appropriate? If one knows the proper boundaries,
this day can be a day of true joy.
The Rema mentions this minhag and
writes that the custom of wearing What should people who are in
masks on Purim, and for men to dress How can a person in quarantine quarantine and who live on a high
up as women and women to dress perform the mitzvah of mishloach floor do if there is no one to read
up as men, contains no prohibition, manot and matanot la’evyonim? the Megillah for them?
since the intention is only for the pur- In such a case it is possible to bring
pose of merriment (Shulchan Aruch, According to the halacha, one can the Megillah to a person in quaran-
Orach Chaim 5296:67). appoint an emissary to perform a tine, wrapped in plastic, so that he
mitzvah for oneself.
The Bach discusses the kashrut of this can read it himself, even without the
minhag, but concludes ל ֵ א ָ ר ְ ׂשִי ְ ל ם ֶ ה ָ ל חַּנ ַ ה, Therefore, when a person’s emissary cantillation.
do not admonish the Jews for this gives the mishloach manot, it is as if
custom, for it is better they sin inad- the sender himself performed that As opposed to Torah reading, Megil-
vertently than purposefully. However, action. The emissary can also receive lah can be read when there is a sepa-
anyone with םִי ַ מ ָ ׁש ת ַ א ְ רִי should caution mishloach manot on behalf of the ration of plastic between the reader
his household and those who will listen person who appointed him, and can and the scroll. In such a way, after the
to him not to violate a prohibition on also perform the mitzvah of gifts to Megillah is removed from the quaran-
Purim (Yoreh Deah, end of 182). the poor on behalf of his sender. tine room, the plastic can be sterilized
without harming the parchment.
Olelot Ephraim (309), writes sharply The emissary can be a family member,
about those who behave in an inap- a man, woman or even a child, a
propriate way, and concludes, “is this neighbor or a friend. The important
how a day of feasting and a day of ’ה ןֹוצ ְ ר thing is the outcome – the moment Rabbi David Lau is the Ashkenazi Chief
should look? Where is the source for he gives the mishloach manot or Rabbi of Israel.

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