Halachos of Kri’as haMegila for Cholim

Everyone is required to observe the Mitzvos of Purim, which include reading the Megila, giving Mishloach Manos, providing Matanos la’Evyonim, and partaking in the Seuda. However, these obligations can be difficult for elderly individuals, people with disabilities, or those in hospitals because of practical challenges, such as not having a Minyan, lacking access to a Sefer Torah or Megila, or facing obstacles in delivering Mishloach Manos.

Below are some guidelines and recommendations regarding Megila reading for those in these circumstances:

Eating Before Megila

1. It is forbidden to eat before hearing the Megila (Rema, O.C. 692:4), whether before the night or day reading (Mishnah Berura ibid. 15). Even tasting a small amount (“Te’ima”) is prohibited (ibid. 14). However, some Poskim permit a Te’ima after the fast (Yabia Omer 9, O.C. 67); it is praiseworthy to be stringent (Chazon Ovadia, Purim, p95).
2. Some Poskim only forbid Te’ima to residents of unwalled cities who go straight from the fast to the Megila reading. Residents of walled cities, who do not fast on the day before Megila reading, may have a Te’ima (Shiurei R’ Elyashiv, Brachos p22). On a Purim Meshulash,the Halacha is the same for both.
3. Regarding drinking, opinions vary. Some prohibit coffee or tea and other similar beverages (Chayei Adam 155:5; Teshuvos v’Hanhagos 3:221 asserts that the custom is to refrain even from tea before the night reading and that one may not deviate from the Minhag). Others permit any non-intoxicating drink (Kitzur Shulchan Aruch 141:8, referring to a person who fasted; Shoneh Halachos 692:2; Halichos Even Yisrael, Moadim 2:57:15).

Someone who would find extending the fast difficult, or an elderly person who, while not fasting (either due to his age or the fact that he lives in a walled city) would find it difficult to listen to the Megila without eating beforehand, may taste up to a k’Beitza of bread or pastries (Mishnah Berura 692:16). He may also eat fruit and vegetables and drink water or other light drinks.

If continuing to fast could lead to illness and Te’ima is insufficient, he may eat and drink as much as necessary. Still, he should appoint someone to remind him to hear the Megila afterward (Mishnah Berura 692:16, Sha’ar haTziyun 29).

4. Regarding drinking in the morning before Megila reading:

If someone regularly drinks before Shacharis, they may drink before the Megila reading as well (Teshuvos v’Hanhagos 3:221; R’ Avigdor Neventzal, Yerushalayim b’Moadeha, Purim 54).

Some forbid drinking before the Megila from sunrise (Teshuvos v’Hanhagos ibid., citing R’ Nissim Karelitz), while others hold that the Issur only applies after Shacharis when one becomes obligated to hear the Megila (Kaf haChaim 692:35). Some Poskim permit drinking before the Megila after one has davened Shacharis (Shiurei R’ Elyashiv, Brachos p22).

Time for Kri’as haMegila

5. The night reading must be performed between Tzeis haKochavim and Alos haShachar (Mishna Berura 687:1, 3). Even those who daven Ma’ariv after Plag haMincha must wait until Tzeis for the Megila reading (ibid. 692:14).

A weak or ill person who finds the fast difficult and can either eat at Tzeis before the Tzibur reads or hear the Megila before Tzeis, should eat before the Megila reading (Mishnah Berura ibid.) in accordance with the conditions outlined above.

6. In cases of great need, such as if someone reading for an elderly person must leave early to read for others, one may be lenient and read it from Plag haMincha onwards (Biur Halacha 692; Yabia Omer 1:43 regarding a time of Sakana).

In this case, it is debatable whether a Bracha is recited.^[1] If possible, it is preferable to read between Shekia and Tzeis rather than before Shekia (to fulfill the opinions that one is Yotze Bedieved during Bein haSh’mashos).

Reading for an Individual

7. If a sick person cannot come to shul and wants ten people to come to his home for Kri’as Megila, but this will mean that they forego the merit of hearing the Megila amid a larger group of people (b’Rov Am Hadras Melech), the Mitzva of Bikur Cholim outweighs this concern (Chut Shani, Purim, p44).
8. Three Brachos are recited before reading the Megila: “Al Mikra Megila”, “she’Asa Nisim”, and “Shehecheyanu” (Shulchan Aruch O.C. 692:1; there is a disagreement between the Shulchan Aruch and Rema regarding whether “Shehecheyanu” should also be recited before the daytime reading). Even an individual who reads the Megila alone recites these Brachos. However, the Bracha of “haRav Es Riveinu” after the Megila reading should not be recited unless ten people are present who fulfill their obligation with this reading (Rema ibid.). According to Rav Shlomo Zalman Auerbach zt”l (Halichos Shlomo, Purim 19:6), even if ten people gather for the reading on behalf of a particular individual, if even one of them has already fulfilled their obligation, the Bracha should not be recited.

Unable to Attend Kri’as haMegila

9. A person unable to attend Kri’as haMegila – such as a hospital patient or nursing home resident where no Megila reading has been arranged – should read the Megila himself from a printed book but should not recite the Brachos. This is because the reading in this scenario is only to ensure that the Megila is not forgotten (Shulchan Aruch O.C. 691:10). The Mishnah Berura (ibid. 27) explains that the Shulchan Aruch refers specifically to a Sefer printed in the manner of a real Megila, but the Pri Megadim holds that it is appropriate to read from any printed Sefer to preserve the Mitzva of Megila.
10. If someone has not heard the Megila reading or its Brachos, neither at night nor during the day, there are differing opinions. Some hold that he should recite Shehecheyanu during the Seudas Purim (over the Mitzvos of the day), while others disagree.^[2] Contemporary Poskim conclude that one should not recite the Bracha (Shevet haLevi 3:90; Chazon Ovadia, Purim, Hilchos Mikra Megila 18).

[1] The Mishna Berura and Biur Halacha imply that one recites a Bracha. However, the Yad Mordechai (Rotenberg, 12:13) and Mikdash Yisrael (Harpanes, Purim 63) disagree, though the Mikdash Yisrael concedes that one may recite a Bracha during Bein haShemashos (ibid. 64). The Shoshanas Yisrael (Purim p36) cites R’ Shlomo Miller shlit”a who rules that one may recite a Bracha during Bein haShemashos for a sick or elderly person.

[2] See Mishna Berura (692:1) and Biur Halacha (ibid. s.v. “v’Shehecheyanu”) who brings differing views (the Mor uKtzia asserts that one should recite it while the Magen Avraham and Birkei Yosef argue). He leaves it as a Safek. See Igros Moshe (O.C. 1:190).