If on Purim this year we first read megillah late in the afternoon, just before Shabbat, do i still say the bracha Shehecheyanu? we will have had seudah already and already performed matanot la’evyanim and shalach manot. Please send me the sources for your answer as well. Thank you and a freichin Purim!
Answer
In response to your shailo,
Regarding the brecha shechyanu , there is a great discussion amongst the halachic authorities if one says shechyanu at Purim day after one has already said it Purim night for just like by other festivals we only recite shechyanu one time so too here its is sufficient if one says it at Purim night for the whole day or do we say that the primary obligation to read the megillah is by Purim day and therefore one is to recite shechyanu again.
The alter Rebbe in his siddur follows the opinion of the Rambam and the Shulchan aruch that one doe does not say shchyanu again by Purim day as it is sufficient the shechyanu which is said Purim at night on the megillah.
Yet his grandson the Tzemach Tzedek disagrees and rules that one is to say shechyanu by Purim day as well, and following his ruling is the custom of Chabad chassidim to recite shechyanu Purim day as well.
The Rebbe points out that so was the minhag of beis harav (the family of the Chabad Rebbe’s), the Rebbe points out that it can very well be that the Alter Rebbe himself said the shachyanu just being that it isn’t mandated in the Talmud or Kabalas hAriza”l therefore he didn’t insert it in the siddur.
The opinions who hold that one should say shchyanu add a additional point that one should have in mind the additional Mitvois of the day (mishloch manos matanos levyonim and the Seudas Purim). Additional point is that the the chazzan/ball koreh when he pronounces the bracha for the tzibbur is to have them in mind also for their fulfillment of these mitzvah as well.
If one did not have a megillah some halachic authorities hold that he does not say shechyanu as meal related mitzvahs mishloach manos and seudas Purim exist every Shabbos and Yom Tov therefore they don’t warranty a shechyanu while others hold that one is still to recite shechyanu with recognition to the miracle which happened that day just like we do every festival .
The Mishna berurah rules that in any case if one recited shechyanu Purim at night (on the megillah) he will not say it again Purim day with regards to the festival or the additional mitzvahs.
Therefore, in response to your question you will not say shechyanu on the other mitzvahs as you have said it at Purim night and additionally you will be saying shechyanu when you read the megillah.
One is not to eat or drink before they fulfil the mitzvah of megillah (at night and by day) even if it’s hard for him to fast so therefore one should not have a seudas purim before they hear the megillah
if one is weak then they can drink or eat fruit or bread and mezonos less than the measurement or a beitzah (apx 56 gram).
If waiting will hurt one’s health the Mishna berurah rules that he can eat but is to appoint a shomer to make sure he doesn’t forget to hear the megillah.
