THE PURIM MEAL ON FRIDAY

When Purim (the 14th of Adar, or the 15th for those who celebrate Shushan Purim) occurs on Friday, many opinions hold that one should preferably have one’s Seudat Purim (Purim festive meal) in the morning1.

However, many opinions allow, and even encourage, beginning the meal later, and even continuing it through the advent of the Shabbat2. This arrangement has the important advantage of easing the stress of this extremely busy day, thus likely contributing both to the joy of Purim as well as to the enjoyment of Shabbat (two gains which are quite significant halachically). In such a situation one should daven Mincha (pray the afternoon service) before beginning the meal3, and make sure not to overeat during the pre-Shabbat section of the meal, so as to allow room for eating what will be considered the Shabbat meal Friday evening4. Anywhere from Plag Mincha (an hour and fifteen minutes of sha’ot zemaniot, which on Purim is usually close to a standard 75 minute period, before evening) until sunset, one should decide (and ideally verbalize) that one is accepting Shabbat5, and then not eat any more until the recitation of Kiddush6. (Whoever will light the Shabbat candles must do so before she/he accepts the Shabbat upon her/himself7). One may immediately recite the Friday night Kiddush over a cup of wine (or grape juice), but one should delete the Borei Pri HaGefen blessing (assuming one has already recited this blessing during the Purim meal)8. One should then bring out two Challot (bread loaves), and hand out pieces to the meal’s participants9. The blessing of Hamotzee is also deleted (assuming it was recited for the Purim meal)10. When one recites Birkat HaMazon (Grace after Meals), one should include the Shabbat addition of “Retzai”, but not the Purim addition of “Al HaNissim”11. (It should be noted that in Yerushalayim, where Shushan Purim is observed, Al HaNissim is recited specifically on Shabbat, but not on Friday12).

One should be careful not to forget Ma’ariv (the evening prayers), either during or after the meal13. Efforts should be made to coordinate one's schedule so as not to sacrifice Tfilla BiTzibbur (praying the Friday evening services with a quorum of ten adult males).