This is the second in a series intended to guide you step by step toward increased knowledge and observance of the Divinely mandated observance of the Rabbinic decrees concerning Purim, as systematized by the Divinely ordained Court of ancient Israel.
The following information is for those who, having already embraced our Creator’s everlasting Guidance through Moses, the first and final prophet of immutable Divine Law, are now ready to take the next step; so take notes! We are called to live a faith of action.
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In PURIM: First Step, we introduced the focal points of the Purim holiday.
http://bejewish.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=94%3Apurim-first-step
Here we want to provide a few more details in Purim observance:
Additions To Prayer
1) Blessing After Meals (Birkath ha-Mazon)
A special addition is added to the second blessing of Birkath ha-Mazon, the four part prayer recited after eating a bread based meal on any day of the week. Birkath ha-Mazon can be found on page 81 in our English siddur or on page 94 in our Hebrew siddur. The place where the special Purim addition is to be added is indicated in brackets. When one reaches the words in brackets that state “Purim addition here,” he recites the Purim addition that can be found on page 82 in our English siddur and on page 95 in our Hebrew siddur. Once you’ve recited the Purim addition, you should then continue reciting Birkath ha-Mazon where you left off, completing the second blessing of Birkath ha-Mazon and continuing on to the third and fourth blessings.
IF the Purim addition to the second blessing of Birkath ha-Mazon was not recited, one should not repeat Birkath ha-Mazon a second time in order to recite the Purim addition.
2) The “Standing Prayer” (the “Amida”)
The same special Purim addition that is added to the second blessing of Birkath ha-Mazon is likewise added to the eighteenth blessing of the “Standing Prayer,” the central daily prayer that is said in correlation to the daily sacrificial services in the Temple. Just as with Birkath ha-Mazon, when you arrive to the words in brackets stating “Purim addition here,” skip to page 82 in the English siddur or to page 95 in the Hebrew siddur. Once you’ve recited the Purim addition, you should then continue reciting the “Standing Prayer” where you left off.
IF the Purim addition to the Amida was not recited, one should not repeat the Amida a second time in order to recite the Purim addition.
Pew-reem sameyah
(Happy Purim!)
R’ Yosef Eliyah
