Eating Before Megillah

The Daily Halacha Moment - Eating Before Megillah 📜

״כל השונה הלכות בכל יום - מובטח לו שהוא בן העולם הבא״ (נידה עג ע״א, מגילה כח:)

“Anyone who studies Halachot every day is guaranteed that he is destined for the world-to-come” (Megilla 28b, Niddah 73a)

Question:

May one eat before listening to the Megillah?

May one eat after the fast but before listening to the Megillah?

Answer:

One may not eat a meal before listening to the Megillah, for either the nighttime or daytime readings. [1]

One may eat or drink fruit, vegetables, coffee, or other drinks, and less than a kebetzah (around 54 grams) of bread or mezonot before hearing the Megillah (but one may not eat if he hasn't prayed Shacharit yet). [2]

However, one who is stringent not to eat or drink anything before hearing the Megillah is praiseworthy. [3]

One who who celebrates Purim on the fourteenth of Adar and finds it difficult to concentrate when hearing the Megillah after fasting on Taanit Esther may eat just enough to help him concentrate. However, before he eats, he should ask someone to remind him to go to the Megillah reading so that he should not get distracted by eating and miss it. [4]

Sources:

[1]. Rama 692:4. See Chazon Ovadia, Purim, p. 95, which states that since women are also obligated to listen to the Megillah, one must explain to them that they may not eat until after the Megillah reading, even if they did not attend the reading in the synagogue.

[2]. See Mishnah Berurah 692:14, which permits a weak person to eat these foods before hearing the Megillah. See also Yabia Omer, vol. 9, O.C. §67 and Chazon Ovadia, Purim, p. 95.

[3]. Chazon Ovadia, Purim, p. 95.

[4]. Mishnah Berurah 692:16; Chazon Ovadia, Purim, p. 95; Yalkut Yosef, Purim, p. 556.

Eating Before Megillah

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