--- title: Siman 695 – The Seuda description: וChelek 6 1. On the night of Purim wear Shabbos clothes, light candles at home, and have the table set and beds spread. You should be happy and have a little seuda, but you will not fulfil your obligation until… url: "https://mishnaberurasummaries.com/docs/siman-695/" updated: "2026-10-04" category: Laws of Megilla --- # Siman 695 – The Seuda וChelek 6 1. On the night of Purim wear Shabbos clothes, light candles at home, and have the table set and beds spread. You should be happy and have a little seuda, but you will not fulfil your obligation until the day of Purim. (ShA - MB ) 2. We are obligated to increase in simcha on this day with food and drink until we lack absolutely nothing. Nevertheless, we are not commanded to lower ourselves in drunkenness. We are commanded in simcha of pleasure that leads to the love of Hashem, and gratitude for his miracles - not of silliness and craziness. (BeH “odd”) 3. The proper conduct in regard to drinking wine is to drink more than normal to remember the nais. This will induce sleep whereby you will not be able to discern between aroor Homan and boruch Mordechai. (Rama - MB ) 4. If you know yourself, that by drinking wine you will come to belittle one of the mitzvos (e.g. netilas yodayim, beracha, benching, miss Mincha or Maariv, or you will conduct yourself with lightheadedness) it is better not to drink. (BeH “odd”) 5. Whether you increase or decrease as long as your intentions are towards Shomayim. (Rama ) 6. The minhag is to daaven first Mincha while a lot of time is left to the day. Then have the seuda which most of it will take place during the day. Then daaven Maariv after nightfall. (Rama ) 7. Gather your family and friends to your seuda - you cannot be properly joyful alone. (MB ) 8. If you wish to make your seuda in the morning you may. When Purim falls out on Friday you should have a seuda in the morning because of kavod Shabbos. (Rama ) 9. The custom is to eat seeds on the first night of Purim. (Rama - MB ) 10. It is good to get involved in a little Torah learning just before beginning the seuda. (Rama ) 11. You are obligated in feasting and joy a little bit of both the 14th and 15th. (Rama ) 12. If you damage someone’s property unintentionally during simchas Purim, you do not have to pay unless it will incur a big loss. (Rama - MB , ) 13. Add Al Hanissim to the second beracha of benching. If you forgot to, you do not have to repeat the benching - just add to the Horachamons: “Horachaman hu yaaseh lonu nissim........” (ShA - MB ) 14. You should say Al Hanissim even after dark as long as you began the seuda during Purim day. (ShA ) 15. It’s best to bench with Al Hanissim before you go to daaven Maariv. If you want to continue your seuda after Maariv go ahead and continue - there is a mitzva of simcha on both days! (MB ) 16. You must send to one friend two portions of meat or two other types of food or drink. The more you send to friends the better the mitzvah. (ShA - MB ) 17. There is a doubt whether or not the food must be sent specifically through a messenger. (MB ) 18. If you were to send to a wealthy man a lowly gift you might not be yotzay - so be careful about this lechatchila. (BeH “chayav”) 19. The food should be ready to eat as is, or at least ready to cook. (MB ) 20. Send at least the minimum Shalach Monos and Matannos L’evyonim during the day of Purim. Any additional ones can be sent at night. (Rama - MB ) 21. Both men & women are obligated to gladden the hearts of the poor with Matanos L’evyonim and to send Shalach Manos. But with regards to Shalach Manos, men should send to men and women to women. (Rama ) ## Key **ShA** : Shulchan Aruch **MB** : Mishna Berura **ShaH** : Shaar Hatsiun **ShaT** : Shaaray Teshuva **BeH** : Beur Halacha **BaH** : Baer Haytayv [← PreviousSiman 694Money for the poor](https://mishnaberurasummaries.com/docs/siman-694/)[Next →Siman 696Prohibitions on Purim](https://mishnaberurasummaries.com/docs/siman-696/) **Want this on paper?** Print any simanim you choose as one clean document.