Question:

What is the mitzvah of “Retelling the story of our exodus from Egypt”?

Discussion:

There is a unique mitzvah on the night of the Seder, which is the retelling of our freedom from Egypt. This is a Torah commandment that can only be fulfilled on the night of the Seder. Although the Torah uses the terms of a father telling the story to his son (Shemos 13:8) we know that everyone is obligated to retell the story.

Are women obligated in this mitzvah?

Women are obligated in this mitzvah however, there is some discussion if it is a Biblical obligation or a Rabbinic one. Either way they should make sure to participate in all the mitzvos of the night. The absolute minimum that a woman (or a man) must be part of is from “Raban Gamliel…” until the second cup has been drunk. There are some poskim that say women should also be present for the “Ten Plagues” as well.

However, it should be noted that women are obligated in all the mitzvos of the night and are therefore required to drink the four cups at their proper place in the Hagaddah as well as eating the matzo and marror (Beur Halacha 472:8). 

Children

There is a mitzvah of chinuch in all the mitzvos of the night. Therefore, once a child can understand the story he or she should participate in the Seder. Usually, this begins between the ages of 5 or 6 but it can vary depending on the child (Shulchan Aruch HaRav 472:25).

It is important for parents to ensure that their children sleep during the day so that they can stay up at night to hear the Hagaddah. They should not be put to sleep until after the Maggid part of the Seder is done. Obviously, as the children get older they should be encouraged to stay until the end of the Hagaddah. The Gemara relates that Rabbi Akiva used to leave the Bais Medrash to ensure that the children would take a nap during the day (Pesachim 109a). 

Question:

What are some halachos of Mattanos L’Evyonim?

Discussion:

Note: Many of these halachos come from the sefer Kovetz Halachos al Purim unless otherwise noted.

The minimum amount of money one must give is one dollar to each poor person (Kovetz Halachos al Purim). Some say that one should give enough money to purchase a small meal (e.g. a bagel and a coffee).

One can fulfill this mitzvah by giving a check- providing that there is a way to get cash for it (someone will cash it for him, the bank is open or a store will accept it etc. – Halichos Shlomo 19:23).

Women are obligated in this mitzvah. A married woman may fulfill her obligation with her husband’s donation (Aruch Hashulchan 694:2 see also 695:18). Some poskim say that a married woman should give her own Mattanos L’Evyonim.  A son that is supported by his father is obligated in this mitzvah as well. However, the father may pay for it using his own funds.

One is not obligated to train his children in this mitzvah.

There is a dispute as to whether one should give a large donation to two poor people, thereby giving them a lot of simcha, or giving many people a smaller amount. The Bach (§675) says it is better to give less to more people. Rav Elyashiv shlita is quoted as saying one should give a large amount to less people.

Money which is already designated for tzeddakah may not be used for Mattanos L’Evyonim. Similarly one cannot use maser money.

Money may be given to a tzeddakah collector before Purim providing that he will distribute the money on Purim itself.

The Halacha of “we give to any one that asks for tzeddakah on Purim” only applies to individual people. This does not apply to people collecting for institutions. 

Question:

What are some of the laws of Mishloach Manos?

Discussion:

Note: These Halachos come from the Mishna Berura 695:4 unless otherwise indicated.

The minimum one must send is two food items to one person. Drinks are included in the food category regarding this mitzvah. Seltzer is not considered a food item since it is similar to water (Kovetz Halachos).

One cannot fulfill his obligation by sending anything besides food. It is not necessary to ensure that they are separate brachos (Kovetz Halachos).

It is best to use a messenger (shliach) to deliver the mishloach manos if one does not use a shliach it is questionable if he fulfills his obligation (Binyan Tzion 44). The shliach can be a minor or a non-Jew (Silmas Chaim 276). The food has to be ready to eat however there is an opinion that if the food is ready to be cooked that is considered ready to eat.

The mitzvah of mishloach manos can only be done on Purim day, if it is given at night one needs to send another one in the morning. However, if the package will arrive on the day of Purim he has fulfilled his obligation.

Women are obligated in the mitzvah of mishloach manos; the opinion of the Magen Avrohom is that a married woman fulfills her obligation with her husband. The Mishna Berura ends off saying that a woman should send her own mishloach manos.  The Rema writes that a woman should only send to a woman and a man to a man.

Many poskim are of the opinion that the reason why we send mishloach manos is to increase the feelings of love and friendship in the community, therefore if one sends an anonymous mishloach manos he has not fulfilled the mitzvah (Kovetz Halachos).  

Question:

Can one fulfill his obligation of reading the Megillah over the phone?

Discussion: 

There are really three variations of this question. The first is can one hear the Megillah over the phone. The second is can one listen to the Megillah through a microphone. The third is can one use a hearing aid and fulfill his obligation of reading the Megillah.

According to Rav Shlomo Zalman Auerbach zt"l one is does not fulfill his obligation if he hears the Megillah through a speaker system. This is because the sound one hears is not the actual voice, rather, an electronic replication of the person's voice (Minchas Shlomo 1:9). The same would be true if he heard it over a telephone. If a person is deaf or is hard of hearing and has a hearing aid, he should ask a rav what the proper course of action is.  

Rav Moshe zt"l agrees that one should not use a microphone or hear the Megillah over the phone. However, his reason is different then Rav Auerbach's reason (Iggros Moshe O.C. 2:108).

According to Rav Shmuel Kaminetsky, (Kovetz Halachos pg. 84) a person should take out his hearing aids to listen to the Megillah. The reason for this is since the main sound he hears is coming through the hearing aid he cannot fulfill his obligation while wearing them.           

Summary: 

One needs to hear the sound directly from the one reading the Megillah. Therefore, one cannot hear the Megillah over the phone or through a microphone. According to Rav Kaminetsky zt"l, a person with a hearing aid should take out his hearing aid and stand as close as he can to the chazzan. If one cannot hear at all without his hearing aid a rav should be consulted.   

Question:

Why do we read four special parshios during the month of Adar?

Discussion: 

The Mishna Berura (685:10) explains that we read these parshios to commemorate different events that took place. The first parsha that we read is Shekalim. The reason for this is that in the times of the Bais Hamikdash there were sacrifices that were brought on behalf of the entire nation. The money for these sacrifices was collected every year during Adar. Therefore, we read the parsha that talk about donating to the Mishkan to commemorate the obligation to give money for these sacrifices.

Parshas Zachor is to fulfill the mitzvah of destroying Amalek. We read it the week before Purim to join the two episodes of Amalek. Since Parshas Zachor is a torah obligation, one should be careful to hear every word that is read. If a person missed a word he should ask a Rav what to do because there is a Machlokes in this matter.

Parshas Para is read to commemorate the first Parah Adoma that was brought in the desert. We read it before the month of Nissan since in the times of the Bais Hamikdash it was important to be spiritually pure so that the Korban Pesach can be brought. Parshas Hachodesh is to sanctify the month of Nissan. 

One does not have to read Shnayim Mikrah on these extra Parshas that we read (Terumas Hadeshen). However, if a person is accustomed to reading the Haftorah before Shabbos then he should read the special Haftorah for these Parshas.

A Woman’s obligation in Hearing the Four Parshas

Women are not obligated to hear any of these special parshios (even Parshas Zachor). If a woman wants to come to shul, she is certainly welcome to. One should not make a special reading for women unless there is also a minyan of men that have not fulfilled their obligation.