Guidelines for Purim on Friday

From Harav Pessin Shlit”a:

Purim is upon us Rabbosai and we need to discuss some Inyanei DiYoma:

First of all the Yomtov Schedule for this year:

Taanis Esther: (this Thursday morning) begins at 558am iy’H, Schachris as usual at 825am, Mincha will be at 140pm (as opposed to the usual 135pm)

Purim: Maariv Thursday night is at 7:35pm Megilla Laining 750pm 

Purim Schachris Friday Morning is at 730am (early because its erev Shabbos!!!) Megilla laining approximately 8am . There will be NO USUAL 2PM MINCHA THIS YEAR!

Mincha will be part of the regular Erev Shabbos Schedule for Parshas Ki Sisa.

Some brief Hilchos Yomtov nogeah to this year:

1. Matanos L’Evyonim. Inflation has caused me to reconsider what is appropriate. I believe one should now give 2 Matanos of $10 a piece (total of $20), for each person. As always I will be available through Schachris on Purim to make sure your Matanos go to Aniyim on Purim should you wish to use me as your Shaliach for this Mitzva.

2. Mishloach Manos the minimum is to give two ready to eat items to a friend or relative via Shaliach if possible. There are many levels of Hidur to this Mitzvah, however please bear in mind two important elements. One, the Manos needs to be Manos, meaning something Bakavodik(in the words of Chazal a Chaticha HaReuyah L’Hiskabed), Two, if at all possible include items that can conceivably be used for the seudah.

3. The Seudah: we spent time reviewing this on Shabbos in the Drasha. Bekitzur: One should try to wash and begin his Seudah prior to Chatzos this year because it is Erev Shabbos (Chatzos is 105pm). Finish and Bentch with plenty of time to sober up and get ready for Shabbos. Bidieved if one can’t start prior to Chatzos he has until about 4pm or so to finish his seudah. There is a Minhag of “Porais Mapah” which is to make one seudah beginning late erev shabbos just before the Zman and continuing into Shabbos- this minhag has many conditions to it. If you have such a family Minhag please call a Rav and ask for specifics how to go about doing it correctly  

Finally there are many ways brought in the Acharonim how one can be Mikayaim “Chayav Inish L”Bisumei B’Puraya” This year because of Kevod Shabbos it clearly behooves us to be Machmir on Kivodo shel Shabbos,and be more maykil in the B”sumei.