In the last siman in Shulchan Aruch Orach Chaim תרצו the Rama and the Shulchan Aruch dispute whether Purim Kattan, which this Year comes out on this Friday, is celebrated with a seudah. There is another question that we once discussed a few years back when Purim itself came out on Friday: whether one is allowed to make a seudah later in the day and then stop the meal with kiddish and continue after with what becomes a Shabbos Meal.
Today we will focus on the first question because the second question is complicated and usually leads to questionable situations and not recommended. Rather than have the meal late in the afternoon the better way would be to have the meal in the morning so even if one drank which we will discuss if that is what one should do still they would have enough time to sleep and be ready to greet Shabbas with proper respect.
The Rama lemaseh paskens that one should have some form of Seudah he doesn’t discuss drinking and certainly doesn’t not say to to get totally drunk. Whether one should drink or not depends on another fascinating discussion which is not discussed in the Rama or the classical poskim like the Mishna Berura; however it is discussed by the Ksav Sofer who offered a beautiful explanation regarding this dilemma.
The Ksav Sofer says that the answer is hinted in the last words of the Rama טוב לב משתה תמיד which roughly translates as a good hearted person parties all the time. Sounds like a strange way to end off Shulchan Aruch Orach Chaim which is the guide to how a God-fearing Jew should run his life. The Ksav Sofer gives a brilliant explanation he says that the parameters of the obligation of Mishloach Manos is based on the idea that when someone is happy and is celebrating with food he takes some of the food that he has at his meal and shares it with others. So in essence a good hearted person - טוב לב will share with others and hence משתה תמיד He is a person who is obligated. Meaning the Rama was hinting to us that if we are people that are going to be Machmir and celebrate with a meal then we should also be sending and sharing food with others. This is a novel idea because you don’t usually see anyone sending Mishloach Manos on Purim Kattan.
I wanted to offer a different explanation to the words of the Rama (see Sharai Teshuva and others that offer a similar idea and I’m only expanding on their idea) The Rama is hinting to us that whether we eat and especially drink wine it has to always be connected to the beginning of Orach Chaim where the Rama himself begins with שויתי השם לנגדי תמיד I place Hashem in front of me always. Meaning to say when engaged in any activity and especially eating and drinking it has to be clear that it’s being done with Hashem in front of me.
The parsha discusses the commandant of oil. Oil represents the Jewish people, who rise above everyone else. Oil doesn’t mix with water as it rises to the top. In this world we have a special mission to be the light to everyone else. No matter what we are doing — eating, drinking, driving, working, speaking — it has to be with Hashem in front of us and then we can inspire the rest of the world.
by Rabbi Daniel Coren
