The Date of Purim – Walled and Unwalled Cities

Walled Cities From the Time of Yehoshua

• Cities which were surrounded by a wall at the time of Yehoshua bin Nun observe Purim on the 15th of Adar, even if they are no longer walled. The same is true for nearby areas; the poskim debate the exact criteria to define an area as nearby (discussing factors such as if there are gaps in built up areas and the municipality it falls under) and as neighbourhoods develop around areas which keep Purim on the 15th, its poskim determine what day is appropriate to observe Purim.
• The only location which we are certain was walled at the time of Yehoshua bin Nun is the old city of Yerushalayim and Purim is observed there on the 15th of Adar. The other areas of Yerushalayim also observe Purim on the 15th as they are considered to be ‘near’ the Old City. As new neighbourhoods and suburbs of Yerushalayim are built, the poskim determine whether or not they are considered part of Yerushalayim for these halachos; for example the neighbourhood of Ramot has been discussed significantly over time. Those in affected areas should consult their Rabbanim for guidance (SA 688:1-2, PT 8, Dirshu 6)

Areas of Doubtful Status

• Areas where there is a doubt whether they were walled at the time of Yehoshua read Megillah on the 14th and 15th, but a bracha is only said on reading the megillah on the 14th  in line with the majority of areas which read on this day. The practice is also to observe the other mitzvos of Purim, namely Mishloach Manos, Matanos Le’Evyonim, Seudah and Simcha on both days and Al Hanissim is also said on both days(SA 688:3-4, MB 10, 17, BH”L 695:4 D”H O shel, PT 688:6).
• Areas where the Megillah is read twice out of doubt include Teveria, Tzfat, Chaifa, Chevron and Lod (PT 688:7).

Purim Elsewhere

• Elsewhere, Purim is observed on 14th Adar (SA 688:3)

Travelling From One Place to Another

• If one travelled from one’s home in an area which keeps Purim on the 14th of Adar to an area where it is kept on the 15th or vice versa, the halachos are particularly complex, both due to the permutations of different scenarios and the significant debate amongst the poskim about how to act in many of these cases. One should therefore always consult a Rav for guidance in such cases and one may be required to read Megilla etc on both days out of doubt.
• Below we note some cases which are universally agreed upon:
  • One who lives outside Yerushalayim (ie in a place which observes Purim on the 14th) but travelled to Yerushalayim (where Purim is observed on the 15th) prior to the 14th and intended when they initially travelled to and indeed did only leave Yerushalayim to return home after dawn on the 15th observes Purim on the 15th.
  • Likewise, one who lives in Yerushalayim but travelled elsewhere prior to the start of the 14th and when they travelled intended to and indeed did only return to Yerushalayim after dawn on the 15th observes Purim only on the 14th (if they planned to and indeed did return to Yerushalayim after dawn on the 14th – in such a case, they would observe two days of Purim)
  • One who lives in Yerushalayim (ie a place which observes Purim on the 15th) and had travelled elsewhere such that at the beginning of the nighttime of the 14th they were outside Yerushalayim, but intended to and indeed did return to Yerushalayim before dawn on the 14th , observes Purim on the 15th (SA 688:5, MB12, BH”L Ben Ir, PiskeI Teshuvos 11-12)

Two Days of Purim

• According to many opinions it is possible for one to be obligated to observe Purim twice out of certainty, not just out of doubt. Such a situation definitively arises if one lives in an area which observes Purim on the 14th and was there from the start of the 14th and during the course of the daytime of the 14th one then travels to Yerushalayim to be there from the nightime of the 15th until after dawn on the 15th.
• Again, there are a number of possible cases depending on the exact timing of one’s travel and one’s intention when one travelled and one should consult a Rav for exact guidance in all such cases (BH”L 688:5 D”H Ben Ir, Piskei Teshuvos 688:11-12).

Purim Meshulash – Three Day Purim in Yerushalayim

• Whilst the 14th of Adar never falls on Shabbos due to the design of the calendar, the 15th of Adar can fall on Shabbos. In such circumstances, the halachos for areas which normally observe Purim on the 15th are as follows:
  • Friday: Megillah is read on Friday, not Shabbos, to avoid the risk of people carrying the Megillah in the street where there is no eiruv. Matanos La’evyonim are also given on Friday.
    • However, Al Hanissim is not said (though if one did say it one doesn’t repeat the Amidah/bentching), nor is the Purim leining reading.
  • Shabbos: On Shabbos, the Purim leining is read as Maftir, Al Hanissim is said in davening and bentching, and the the halachos of Purim should be discussed, per the general halacha to learn the halachos of a Chag on the Chag itself.
  • Sunday: The Seudah and Mishloach Manos are deferred to Sunday 16th Adar. Some argue that these should be done on Shabbos; therefore some are strict to add to their seudah and drink a little extra wine on Shabbos and send one person Mishloach Manos when there is an eiruv. Some even do so on the Friday as well – Consult your Rav for guidance when required (SA 688:6, MB 14-18, PT 688:17)