Shushan Purim
Shushan Purim – What does it mean?
Purim commemorates the miracle where the people of Israel were saved from the evil Haman who wanted to destroy all Jews at the times of the Persian empire.
At Beit Chabad’s Purim website, you will learn the day’s mitzvahs and customs as well as everything you need to know about Purim.
In addition, you can observe the mitzvahs of Matanot La’Evyonim and the Machatzit HaShekel through Beit Chabad using Bit or credit card.
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תוכן עניינים
Shushan Purim – What does it mean?
Purim is set by Our Sages to be celebrated in two different days: the majority of Jews around the world celebrate the holiday on Adar 14 while the Jews of the capital Shushan (and later also the Jews of Jerusalem) celebrate on Adar 15.
This is why the common name for Adar 15 is Shushan Purim.
The reason for this: since in all the world, battles between Jews and their enemies took place on Adar 13 and the next day the Jews rested, the holiday was chosen for Adar 14.
But in Shushan, the capital city of Persia Empire of those days, they also fought on the next day – Adar 14 – and only rested on Adar 15, which is why the Jews of Shushan were set to celebrate Purim on Adar 15.
Walled cities
Our Sages further decreed that any city surrounded by a wall from the times of Joshua would celebrate Purim on Adar 15, like Susa the capital.
Today, the only city that we know for certain is surrounded by a wall from the days of Yehushua Bin Nun is Jerusalem.
Shushan Purim in cities of a certain doubt regarding the wall
There are cities where there’s a certain doubt on whether they were surrounded by walls at the time of Yehushua Bin Nun, such as: Safed, Tiberias, Hebron, Jaffa and others.
It is customary to take Adar 14 as the main day of celebration.
The next day, on Adar 15, the holiday can be celebrated in a limited way, and so the reading of the Megillah takes place on the second day without saying a prayer.
Once again, the mitzvahs of Purim are observed – Mishlo’ach Manot, Matanot La’Evyonim, and additional Mishte (feast) is held.
We note that V’Al HaNissim is not said during the prayer.
