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    KASHRUS QUESTIONS OF THE WEEK WITH RABBI MOSHE ELEFANT FROM THE OU

    A person is in
    the midst of his
    Purim seudah
    & his neighbor
    knocks on the
    door to say that
    they are having
    a minyan for ma’ariv. He leaves
    his seudah and davens ma’ariv
    for chol. When he gets back to
    his seuda and it’s time to bentch,
    does he say Al Hanisim on his
    bentching? Is this the same case
    as one who is eating shalosh
    seudos on Shabbos afternoon
    and his neighbor asks him to
    daven ma’ariv in his house?
    After saying “ata chonantanu”
    in ma’ariv he goes back to his
    shalosh seudos and it’s time
    for him to bentch, does he say
    “retzei” in his bentching still?
    When it comes to Purim, there are many
    people that are more lenient since one
    goes from Purim into Shushan Purim.

    Even we who do not celebrate Purim on

    Shushan Purim, it’s still somewhat connect-
    ed. That’s why people are lenient with say-
    ing “al Hanisim;” even though it is already

    Shushan Purim and you haven’t bentched
    for your Purim Seuda. I would certainly say
    that you would say al ha’nisim if you began
    your meal during the day and went into the
    night, even when you had already davened
    maariv. This is a very important question
    not only relating to Purim: What happens
    if you’re starting your dinner, and your
    minyan comes for maariv but you intend
    to continue
    your meal
    when you
    come home?
    Do you have

    to say a bra-
    cha acharona

    before you
    go to maariv
    and then
    start all over
    again when
    you come
    back? Or do

    you just con-
    tinue where

    you left off? If you left someone at the ta-
    ble, whether it’s your wife or anyone else,

    then certainly you can come back and
    continue when you left off. If you aren’t
    leaving anybody at the table and if when
    you wash you have in mind that you
    might have to go to maariv in the middle
    of your meal, then you can come back.

    But if you aren’t leaving anyone at the ta-
    ble and you didn’t have in mind that you

    might have to go to maariv when you
    washed, then you need to start the meal
    all over. If you’re davening maariv at
    your house then it wouldn’t be an issue.
    The best example of this is at weddings or
    simchas. When you daven right there, then
    you can go back to your table. Here you’re
    leaving the house, going to shul, not leaving
    anyone at the table and you didn’t expect
    to have to go daven when you washed. The

    best thing to do is to say the bracha achro-
    na, daven maariv, and then come back and

    start the meal all over again.
    Is one permitted to bathe, take
    a haircut or listen to music on
    Taanis Esther?
    The Meiri (Sefer Magen Avos 23) writes
    that Taanis Esther is different than other
    communal fast days. Other communal
    fast days commemorate events of
    tragedy, while Taanis Esther is a day of
    celebration, for on that day, the Jews of
    old fasted before going to war (Mishna
    Berura 686:2), merited to have Hashem
    listen to their plea and overcame their
    enemies. This contrast is reflected in
    the following halacha: The Gemara
    (Megila 5a) states that when the 9th
    day of Av falls on Shabbos, the fast of
    Tisha B’av is delayed until Sunday. We
    do not observe the fast before Shabbos
    because one should postpone, rather
    than advance, the commemoration of
    tragedy. In contrast, when the 13th day
    of Adar falls on Shabbos (as is the case
    this year), Taanis Esther is observed
    on the previous Thursday. We may
    advance the fast since it commemorates
    a joyous event. By the same token,
    Rav Shlomo Zalman Auerbach,
    zt”l (Halichos Shlomo, Purim 18:6)
    contrasts Taanis Esther with other fast
    days with respect to bathing and cutting
    hair. Although bathing is technically
    permitted on all fast days except Tisha
    B’av (Shulchan Oruch 550:1), and hair
    cutting is acceptable on Tzom Gedalia
    and Asara B’teves, some are stringent
    and do not bathe and take haircuts on
    communal fast days, in keeping with
    the sad character of the day. This is
    not the case with Taanis Esther, where
    everyone agrees that bathing and

    haircuts are permissible. Rav Zilberstein,
    shlita (Chashukei Chemed Megila 16b)
    writes that one may even listen to music.
    However, Rav Elyashiv, zt”l is quoted in the
    sefer Ashrei HaIsh (Vol. 3:41:20) as saying
    that it is inappropriate to listen to music on
    Taanis Esther. Taanis Esther is also a day of
    forgiveness, and music will detract from the
    solemnity of the day.
    It is Taanis Esther. I have a
    headache. Am I permitted to
    break my fast?
    The halachos regarding breaking one’s fast
    on Taanis Esther are more lenient than
    with regard to other fasts. This is because
    the Rama (OC 686:2) writes that fasting on
    Taanis Esther is not a complete obligation.
    Taanis Esther is not explicitly mentioned
    in the Nevi’im (Prophets) or in the Talmud
    as a fast day. However, since it has become
    customary to fast on this day, one may not
    separate themselves from the rest of the
    Jewish people. Because Taanis Esther is
    more lenient, the Mishnah Berurah (686:4)
    writes that the custom in many places is
    that expectant or nursing mothers may
    eat even if they do not feel any discomfort.
    The Piskei Teshuvos (686:3) quotes many
    sources that write that today, this is the
    prevailing custom. An additional leniency
    is that on most fasts, one who is ill need
    not fast, but a common headache does not
    constitute an illness. However, on Taanis
    Esther, even one who has a headache is
    permitted to break their fast. However, one
    who has a headache might want to consider
    whether they really want to break their fast,
    since they are required to make up the fast
    at a later date (Rama ibid).