Summary Hilchos Purim-Part 6-The date of Purim, doubtful cities, and Jerusalem travelers

 The Date of Purim

• All walled cities that existed during the time of Yehoshua Ben Nun, celebrate Purim on the 15th of Adar. All cities which were not walled at the time of Yehoshua Ben Nun celebrate Purim and read the Megillah on the 14th.

• Practically, all cities known today celebrate Purim on the 14^th with exception to Jerusalem.

• A questionable city: A city in which there is doubt as to whether it contained walls at the time of Yehoshua [and hence there is question as to which day they should celebrate Purim] the inhabitants are to celebrate Purim on both the 14th and 15^th. Due to doubt, the following cities celebrate Purim also on the 15th:

  • Akko;

  • Gaza;

  • Bagdad;

  • Beiriy;

  • Beis Shean;

  • Damascus;

  • Gush Chalav;

  • Haifa;

  • Hebron;

  • Eiyn Zeiton;

  • Lod; Ramlei;

  • Shechem;

  • Tiveria;

  • Tzefas;

  • Yafo;

The laws applicable to a questionable city:

• The below applies equally to both men and women.

• Megillah reading: The Megillah is to be read on both the night and day of the 14^th and 15^th [for a total of four readings].

  • A blessing over Megillah reading is only recited when reading the Megillah on the 14^th and not on the 15^th.

• Purim Seudah: One is to rejoice in having a festive meal [i.e. Seudas Purim] on both days.

• Matanos Laevyonim: One is to give presents to the poor, Matanos Laevyonim, on both days.

• Mishloach Manos: One is to give Mishloach Manos on both days.

• Al Hanissim: One is to say Al Hanisim on both days. [However, the custom in Tzefas is to only say it on the first day.]

• Davening and Kerias Hatorah: The Davening on the 14^th follows the order of Purim Davening. However, on the 15^th they are not to recite Ata Kadosh in Maariv, and by Shacharis they are not to take out a Torah scroll for the Amalek reading.

4. Traveling to Jerusalem on the 15^th and traveling outside Jerusalem on the 14^th:

5. Lives in a city of 14^th and traveled to a city of 15^th [Jerusalem]:

   • Plans to leave the city which celebrates on the 15^th before Alos of the 15^th: One who lives in a city that celebrates on the 14th and traveled on the 13^th, or the night of the 14^th, to a city that celebrates on the 15th, then if his intentions at the time of travel were to be out of that city by Alos of the 15th, then he celebrates Purim on the 14th. Thus, he is to celebrate and read Megillah on the 14^th in the walled city that celebrates on the 15th.

• This applies even if upon arriving to the city he changed his mind and decided to stay in the city past Alos of the 15^th.

  • Does not plan to leave the city which celebrates on the 15^th until after Alos of the 15^th: One who lives in a city that celebrates on the 14^th and traveled on the 13^th, or the night of the 14^th, to a city that celebrates on the 15th, then if his intentions at the time of travel were to stay in that city until after Alos of the 15^th, then he celebrates Purim on the 15^th together with the inhabitants of the city. This applies even if he returned to his city on the 15^th, nevertheless he is to read Megillah in that city which celebrated on the 14^th.

  • If one celebrated on the 14^th and then traveled to Jerusalem, arriving before Alos of the 15^th, is he obligated to celebrate Purim a second time on the 15^th? Some Poskim rule he is obligated to celebrate also on the 15^th. Others rule he is not obligated to celebrate again on the 15^th. Practically one is to read the Megillah without a blessing on the 15^th. This ruling applies even in a case that one is originally from Jerusalem, and celebrated Purim outside Jerusalem on the 14^th, and then returned to Jerusalem before of the 15^th.

  • May one who celebrated Purim on the 14^th read Megillah for one who celebrates on the 15^th? One who celebrated Purim on the 14th cannot read the Megillah, and thus fulfill the obligation, for other people who celebrate on the 15th.

  • May one who celebrated on the 14^th, and made himself obligated to also celebrate on the 15^th, read Megillah for others on the 15th? This matter is disputed in Poskim. Practically one is not to read the Megillah for others due to this dispute. This ruling applies even in a case that one is originally from Jerusalem and celebrated Purim outside Jerusalem on the 14^th and then returned to Jerusalem before the 15^th.

1. Lives in a city of 15^th [Jerusalem] but traveled to a place of 14^th:

• Plans to leave the city which celebrates on the 14^h before Alos of the 14^th: If he lives in a city that celebrates on the 15^th and has traveled to a city that celebrates on the 14th, if his intentions at the time of travel were to be back in the city of the 15^th by Alos of the 14^th, then he does not celebrate Purim on the 14^th. This applies even if in the end he was required to stay in the city past Alos of the 14^th. Thus, he is to celebrate and read Megillah on the 15^th in the un-walled city and he does not celebrate on the 14th.

• Does not plan to leave the city which celebrates on the 14^th until after Alos of the 14^th: One who lives in a city that celebrates on the 15^th and traveled on the 13^th, or night of the 14^th, to a city that celebrates on the 14^th, then if his intentions at the time of travel were to stay in that city until after Alos of the 14^th, and he in truth remained in the city until that time, then he celebrates Purim on the 14^th together with the inhabitants of the city. This applies even if he returned to his city on the 14^th, nevertheless he is to read Megillah in that city on the 14^th. This applies even if he intended to return to Jerusalem prior to Alos of the 15^th.

• May one who lives in Jerusalem, and will celebrate Purim on the 15^th, read Megillah for one who celebrates on the 14^th? One who lives in Jerusalem and will thus celebrate Purim on the 15th cannot read the Megillah and thus fulfill the obligation for other people who celebrate on the 14th. If, after the fact, one who celebrates on the 15^th read the Megillah for others on the 14th, they have fulfilled their obligation.