Purim Announcements

[Book, Julia]

THE ORTHODOX MINYAN AT HARVARD HILLEL

harvardorthodox.com

Purim Announcements

March 6-7, 2023  |  Adar 14, 5783

National Cereal Day  | National Town Meeting Day

Zmanim and Tfillos B'tzibbur

Taanis Esther:

Mincheh: 5:15 pm (sign up here)

Fast ends at 6:15 pm (one should not break the fast until after megillah reading, if possible)

Leil Purim:

Arvis: 5:50pm (sign up here)

Followed by Community Megillah Reading in Beren and

Women's Megillah Reading in Rabb 

Taanis Ends: 6:15pm

After megillah: Light break-fast

Late Megillah Reading: 9pm in Beren

Yoim Purim:

Early Shachris (for people who, nebach, have to work on Purim): 6:30am, Megillah not before 6:55am

Late Shachris (for people who, Baruch Hashem, are taking the day off): 8:00am, Megillah not before 8:25am

11:00am Latest time to give matanos le'evyonim through Yad Chessed (more info below)

Latest Time to Start the Seudah: 5:41pm

The Mitzvois of Purim

Megillah: All Jewish adults (regardless of gender) are obligated to hear the Megillah read twice on Purim, once at night and once in the morning. If the readings above don't work for you, please see the end of this email for details about other readings in Camberville and throughout the Boston area (including outdoor readings).

Matanos La'Evyoinim (and Zeicher L'Machatzis HaShekel): It is a mitzvoh to give gifts to the poor on Purim day. In the Boston area, Yad Chessed, an organization that supports local Jews in economic distress, facilitates the collection and distribution of funds. You have two options to give: (1) in-person (money will be collected at evening and morning Megillah readings) or (2) online before 11am Purim morning at https://www.yadchessed.org/purim/ (please indicate "Harvard Hillel Orthodox Minyan" in the "Synagogue/School Affiliation" box).

There will also be an opportunity to give a "zecher l'machatzis hashekel" before Megillah readings tomorrow evening (note that must be a separate donation).

Mishloach Manos (aka shalachmanis): Every Jewish adult is obligated to give a gift of at least two different foods to at least one person on Purim day (you're obviously welcome to go above and beyond). Note that receiving a mishloach manos package that you ordered through the Minyan does not fulfill this mitzvoh.

Seudah: Ah, a classic machloikes. Every Jewish adult is obligated to have a meal with bread on Purim day. Whether you're obligated to drink mamash ad d'lo yodo (until you don't know the difference between "cursed be Haman" and "blessed be Mordechai"), to drink enough that you fall asleep, to just drink more than you usually do, or to not drink at all is a matter of debate, and everyone should follow their own hanhagos, responsibly of course. 

Announcements

Pesach is coming! Have you, like everyone else, been trying to ignore the fact that Pesach starts in about 4 weeks? Will you be receiving a large quantity of chometz in shaloch manos? Lucky for you, our Pesach guide should be coming out soon, b'ezras Hashem.

Other Cambridge Megillah Readings

Purim Night:

6:00pm Maariv and Megillah at MIT Hillel

6:30pm Maariv and Megillah at TBS Orthodox (outdoors, weather permitting)

8:00pm, 10:00pm Joint Harvard/MIT Chabad megillah reading at Felipe's rooftop, Harvard Square

Purim Day:

7:35am Shachris and Megillah at MIT Hillel

8:00am Shachris and Megillah at Harvard Chabad

9:00am Shachris and Megillah at TBS Orthodox

9:15am Megillah at MIT Hillel (women's reading)

12:00pm Megillah at MIT Sloan (E62-250)

12:45pm Megillah at MIT Media Lab (E14-240)

5:15pm Megillah at Harvard Chabad 

Wishing everybody a freilichen Purim!

Julia and Leah

[Book, Julia]

A list of Megillah readings happening around Boston can be found at: https://docs.google.com/document/d/15KXvzm6whBpvH0lZFgoguvYfpWXNFQ68w8dMDDS4OgQ/edit?usp=drivesdk