Al Hanisim on Shushan Purim

Q. Purim is celebrated on the 15th of Adar (Shushan Purim) in cities that were walled in the time of Yehoshua. If the status of the city is uncertain, the Megillah is read on both the 14th and 15th of Adar, at night and during the day, but a bracha is recited only on the 14th (Shulchan Aruch OC 688:4). The Mishnah Berurah (ibid.:10) says that both days should be filled with joy and matanos l’evyonim should be given. Does it follow then, that in such cases, al hanisim is recited in Shemoneh Esrei and Birchas Hamozon on both days?

A. The Rama (OC 693:2) writes that al hanisim is recited in a regular city only on the 14th of Adar. The Taz (OC 693:3) comments that it is not proper to recite al hanisim on the 15th of Adar, as this would constitute an interruption in the Shemoneh Esrei. However, if one did accidentally recite al hanisim on Shushan Purim, bidieved (after the fact), it would not be necessary to repeat the Shemoneh Esrei. This is because Shushan Purim was a time of miracles, and the al hanisim prayer is still appropriate. Based on this, the Pri Megadim (OC 693:3) ruled that al hanisim should be recited on both the 14th and 15th of Adar in a city whose classification is uncertain. Perhaps it is the proper day, and even if it is not, it would not be an interruption.

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