Megillah Reading
בָּרוּךְ אַתָּה יְיָ אֱלֹהֵינוּ מֶלֶךְ הָעוֹלָם, אֲשֶׁר קִדְּשָׁנוּ בְּמִצְוֹתָיו, וְצִוָּֽנוּ עַל מִקְרָא מְגִלָּה:
בָּרוּךְ אַתָּה יְיָ אֱלֹהֵינוּ מֶֽלֶךְ הָעוֹלָם, שֶׁעָשָׂה נִסִּים לַאֲבוֹתֵינוּ, בַּיָּמִים הָהֵם בִּזְּמַן הַזֶּה:
בָּרוּךְ אַתָּה יְיָ אֱלֹהֵינוּ מֶלֶךְ הָעוֹלָם, שֶׁהֶחֱיָֽנוּ וְקִיְּמָנוּ וְהִגִּיעָֽנוּ לִזְּמַן הַזֶּה:
What are the b'rachos before the megillah?
This number of provinces ruled by Esther corresponded to the number of years Sarah lived.
Why 127?
Our calendar does not allow Purim to fall on this day of the week, because we are concerned one will carry the Megillah in a restricted area.
What is Shabbos?
The Purim story had a lot of this in it, so people tend ot consum it on Purim.
What is wine?
The date of Purim.
What is the 14th of Adar?
This blessing is omitted when reading without a minyan.
What is the brachah after Megillah reading (Harav es riveinu)?
The name of the holiday derives from this action performed by Haman to determine the date that the Jews should be killed.
What is a pur - lottery?
A situation where someone would have to reread the megillah.
What happens if you miss a word?
People wear costumes to remember this action of Esther.
What is Esther hiding her identity?
The three days Esther and the Jews fasting in the Purim story caused them to miss this mitzvah on the Holiday that falls in the spring.
What is Pesach Seder?
Sefardim leave this blessing out in the morning, because we already did the mitzvah the night before.
Ashkenazim still say it, because the morning is the main mitzvah + it refers to the other mitzvos of the day.
What is shehechianu?
His slumber was disturbed because he thought Esther wanted to kill him and marry Haman.
Who is Achashverosh?
If one misses this in Shul the Shabbos before Purim, they can listen to the Torah reading on Purim morning that discusses the same topic to fulfil their obligation b'dieved to remember this attack.
What is Parshas Zachor?
One reason people dress up is so they do not recognize and embaress these peopele when they give them money.
Who are poor people?
This fast day is NOT to remember Esther fasting before going to Achashverosh, rather it is because the soldiers fasting for victory when fighting against the enemies.
What is Taanis Esther?
Ashkenazim chant this poem after megillah reading, sephardim only chant the verses that explicitly refer to the characters from the Purim story.
What is Shoshanas Yaakov?
According to the Gemara, he wanted to get rid of the Jews just as much as Haman.
Who is Achashverosh?
Haman said that the Jews are dispersed, they are not united. Therefore, we do these things on Purim to show we have achdus.
Why do we give Mishloach manos, matanos l'evyonim, and invite people to purim seudah?
Noise is made over Haman's name, but make sure not to do this.
What is missing a word?
Haman thought Adar was a bad month for the jews because this leader died then, but he also was something else.
What is Moshe was born in Adar?
This pasuk that we say in Havdalah every motzei shabbos is from the Megillah, and during reading the whole tzibbur says it aloud also. It discuses the triumph of the Jews, and we say it as a prayer that we should be blessed likewise.
What is Layehudimm haysa ora vsimchah vsason vkar?
Ester's father.
Who was Avichayil?
The Rambam says this is the most important mitzvah of Purim, and one should spend as much or more money on it than all the others combined.
What is matanos l'evyonim?
The Purim seudah tends to end after this time.
What is sunset?
What Parshas Tetzaveh and the Megillah have in common.
What is an integral character's name being absent?