Rabbinical Council of Bergen County Purim Guidelines

As seen on social media

 February 2021

Dear Friends,

In response to our recent letter about Purim and Pesach during the pandemic, many of you have asked for more detailed guidelines about how to safely fulfill the various mitzvos of Purim this year. Please see below for additional parameters, and please direct any questions to your local Orthodox rabbi in a

masked, socially distanced fashion. We empathize with the general feelings of “Covid-19 fatigue.” However, we have been informed that a new, more virulent Galitzianer strain has been spreading in

our community. As such, this is not the time to let our guard down.

Kriyas Hamegillah

Every Jew is obligated to hear the megillah twice on Purim, but safety concerns must take precedence. We recommend that all megillah readings be done in less than 15 minutes, to stay below the CDC time frame for Covid-19 exposure. As breathing is dangerous for everyone, instead of just reading the

ten sons of Haman in one breath, the baal korei should attempt to read the entire megillah in one breath. If he must take a breath during the reading, a plastic supermarket bag should be placed over his head. Care should be taken to use one of the thick kosher supermarket bags, not those thin ones from CVS.

In addition, while normally a “hei degusha” is aspirated in words like “lah” and “bah,” aspirating is considered a sakanas nefashos and therefore should be avoided, as bedieved the reading is kosher without such aspirated letters. Similarly, the letter “pei” should be replaced with the softer “fei” if the

meaning of the word is not changed. Perhaps this is why Hashem in His infinite wisdom named the holiday Furim instead of Purim (see Esther 9:26). 

Finally, we are all familiar with the minhag to read pesukim relating to a threat of death for the Jewish people in Eicha trop. This year many more pesukim refer to deadly threats, such as “leich kenos es kol hayehudim” (Esther 4:16) and “vayikahalu hayehudim” (Esther 9:15). To ensure that people do not follow these examples and gather in groups, these pesukim should also be read in Eicha trop. If it does not impede one’s ability to finish reading in less than 15 minutes, one may choose to read the entire megillah in Eicha trop, so as to diminish any

feelings of mirth that may lead to a momentary lapse in Covid-19 precautions, chas v’shalom

Matanos L’Evyonim

While giving money to the poor is an important part of the holiday, extreme care must be taken to not infect those who we are trying to help. While paper money is normally handed to the poor on Purim, this will necessitate the giver coming too close to the receiver, thus putting him or her in grave danger. It is also difficult to properly sanitize paper bills with Purell. Therefore, it is recommended

to pre-sanitize coins and then throw them at the poor from a distance of at least six feet.

Mishloach Manos

Our usual practice of bringing food to others’ homes should be avoided this year, as standing outside someone’s door may inadvertently lead to entering their house. Many of you have asked whether one who pays taxes which are then used to provide free boxes of food to the members of our community can consider this their mishloach manos. Since the distribution of these food boxes is done in a contactless manner, this is an ideal way to fulfill the mitzvah. Those who have not reported sufficient income to require paying taxes should give some money to a wealthier neighbor and thus be considered a meshutaf (partner) in his tax payments.

Seuda

The Purim seuda is usually a festive gathering and is thus the most challenging mitzvah to fulfill this year. In addition, while drinking alcohol is always discouraged, especially on Purim, it is even more inadvisable this year as it would require removing one’s mask. There is a common misconception that the mitzvah of simcha on Purim requires one to be happy the entire day. However, according to most rishonim, the shiur of simcha only requires being happy for a toch kedei dibur - about 3.4 seconds, or 4.2 seconds according to the Chazon Ish. While it is so hard for us to find any joy these days, one can read a posuk of the Torah for a few seconds (quietly, alone, and masked) and thus fulfill the

mitzvah of simcha as required on Purim. Please make sure to finish being happy by chatzos so as to have time to prepare for another lonely shabbos.

Lifnim Mishuras Hadin

While none of these restrictions are necessary based on CDC or state guidelines, it is critical that we continue to signal to the world how much more virtuous we are than our “frummer” brothers and sisters in Passaic, Lakewood, and the Five Towns. We therefore urge everyone to get at least three shots of

the vaccine, stay at least eight feet apart, and wear at least two masks (unless that becomes commonplace, in which case we should wear a minimum of three masks).

Wishing everyone a safe, meaningful, and safe Purim.

The Rabbinical Council of Bergen County