Purim - Megillas Esther

QUESTION: Given that it is preferable to hear Megillas Esther together with a large crowd (b’rov am hadras Melech), is it better to daven with a small crowd at the Vasikin Minyan (at sunrise), or to daven with a larger crowd later at the main Minyan?

ANSWER: In this case, there are two competing factors. On the one hand, it is preferable to perform a mitzvah at the earliest opportunity (zerizim makdimim l’mitzvos). On the other hand, it is preferable to hear the Megillah together with a large crowd (b’rov am). The question here is which one of these considerations takes precedence. Rav Zylberstein (Chashukei Chemed, Megila 27b) rules that in this case, it is proper to delay the mitzvah, so it can be performed b’rov am. This is because joining together with a large crowd offers a greater publicization of the miracle, which is a fundamental component of the mitzvah of reading the Megillah. However, if one is accustomed to davening with the Vasikin Minyan all week long, they should daven there on Purim as well. This is because the Mishnah Berurah (687:7) writes that one who has a makom kavua (set place to daven) need not change their location to daven b’rov am.

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The Gerald & Karin Feldhamer OU Kosher Halacha Yomis is dedicated to the memory of Rav Yisroel Belsky, zt"l, who served as halachic consultant for OU Kosher for more than 28 years; many of the responses in Halacha Yomis are based on the rulings of Rabbi Belsky. Subscribe to the Halacha Yomis daily email here.