Purim FAQs

According to some poskim, listening to Parshas Zochor is a mitzvah min hatorah(1). If you will not hear it in shul you should read it at home from a chumash(2) and have intent to fulfil the mitzvah when the psukim are read again in Parshas Ki Seitzei and at the krias hatorah on Purim.

On the afternoon of erev Purim before mincha there is a custom to give tzedokoh to remind us of the machatzis hashekel donation given in the Beis Hamikdosh during Adar. Although you can fulfil this custom with any amount, some have the custom to give three 50p pieces to tzedokoh (3).

Yes, but to fulfil the mitzvah of matonos l’evyonim you must ensure that you give to a tzedokoh that will distribute the money on the day of Purim (4).

Yes but only if the tzedokoh fund makes a transfer to the needy on your behalf on Purim (5).

The Megillah should be heard immediately after nightfall and you shouldn’t eat anything before doing so (6). If it will only be possible to hear the Megillah sometime after nightfall and there is a significant need to eat before hearing the Megillah, then one may eat (after making havdalah) but should not eat a bread meal before hearing the Megillah (7).

One should ideally spend more on matonos l’evyonim than expenses for mishloach manos and the seudah (8).

A minimum of two gifts of food or drink (or a food and a drink) must be given to at least one person. They should be two different kinds of food and must be ready to be eaten (not raw (9)) but need not be of a different brocho. For example, a gift of chocolates and honeycomb would fulfil the mitzvah as would wine and cake or two kinds of cake/biscuits (10). The Rambam writes that one may even fulfil the mitzvah by gifting two different kinds of meat.

Since one reason for this mitzvah is to deepen friendship, the recipient should know that you gave them this gift (11). Therefore, a doorstep drop-off should include a label or note identifying you as the giver (12).

Yes, but not to one’s spouse or a child who is living at home (13).

No, they must be given in the day. However, you can pass them on to a shaliach even before Purim who will give them during the day (14).

Yes.

You should donate money to two poor people (15). According to some, the minimum amount to give is one prutoh (valued somewhat less than 5p) to each person. Others (16) hold that since today this amount is not sufficient to purchase even basic food, one must give enough money to purchase a basic meal (e.g. sandwiches) and wherever possible one should ideally be stringent and give more than the minimum shiur.

Even if one generally uses ma’aser to donate to mitzvah causes (e.g. for the construction of a yeshiva or upkeep of a mikvah), it may not be used to fulfil an obligation. Therefore, you may not use ma’aser money to pay the amount required to fulfil your basic obligation of matonos l’evyonim. Anything above this amount may come from ma’aser money(17). Similarly, one may not buy mishloach manos or make purchases for the seudoh from ma’aser money, since these are obligatory.

Today, when it is rare to find someone who does not even have enough money for seudas Purim, it is acceptable to give to any individual who does not have enough parnosoh to sustain their family’s basic needs (18). As a general rule, one should not be overly pedantic with whom one gives on Purim but give freely to all those who ask (19), whilst ensuring that at least two donations are received by individuals who lack funds for their basic needs.

Many poskim are of the opinion that a wife may rely on her husbands donation as long as it’s made on her behalf (20). Still, some poskim(21) hold that she should make a donation of her own money. This can be done by lifting up a sum of money three tefochim (30cm) high with intent to acquire it and then giving this as a donation. This can also be done remotely - ask for further details.

This is permitted for matonos l’evyonim but not mishloach manos which are intended to deepen friendship and so are not appropriate from a man to a woman or vice versa (amongst other concerns) (22).

Ideally it should not start until after Mincha and the majority of the seudah should take place before shkiyah (23).