Sources
The following information is from four (4) sources:
- הוד יוסף חי by Hakham Yosef Messas ע''ה, at one time Chief Rabbi of Haifa
- דברי שלום ואמת edited by R. Meir Avetbul-Meyasod
- ילקוט שמ''ש by Hakham Shalom Messasת ע''ה
- קצור שלחן ערוך של הרה''ג מרדכי אליהו ע''ה by Hakham Mordechai Eliyahu ע''ה
North African traditions frequently are different from Mizrachi traditions and often are the same as, or similar to, Ashkenazi traditions.
All traditions are valid. This exercise is meant to (a) broaden perspective and (b) to give some minimal guidance to people who never knew their family's traditions.
Fast of Esther
Brit melah on fast day. If there is a brit in a synagogue on a fast day, the congregation reads "סליחות" with Vedui but omits "ובוא רחום"
הוד יוסף חי
Cohanic blessing at minhah for fast day. The tradition in North Africa is for the cohanim to forego "נשיאות כפים" during minhah of a fast day. The Mizrachi minhag* is for the cohanim to perform "נשיאות כפים"
דברי שלום ואמת
Reciting the 13 attributes on fast day. The North African tradition is that the hazan leads the service to ויעבור ה'' על פניו ויקרא"" and then the congregation recites the 134 attributes. The hazan then repeats the 13 attributes. The Mizrachi minhag* is for only the hazan to recite the 13 attributes.
דברי שלום ואמת
Megillah
After the megillah reading. Following the reading, the hazan recites "ובא לציון" and afterwards "ואתה קודש".
ילקוט שמ''ש
Apparel. In honor of the holiday, men and women are encouraged to dress in Shabat clothing from erev Purim.
קצור שלחן ערוך של הרה''ג מרדכי אליהו ע''ה
Brit melah on Purim. If there is a brit melah (circumcision) on Purim day, the brit is done before the megillah is read (Torah, brit, megillah) because the days are already long enough so there is no worry about the megillah being read too late.
הוד יוסף חי'
Half kadish after Ahmedah. Half kadish, rather than full kadish or titkabel, is recited after the Shmonah Esray (Ahmedah) on erev Purim
לקוט שמ''ש
Hearing the megillah. Both men and women are obliged to hear the megillah; however, women are obliged only for the evening reading.
הוד יוסף חי'
Megillah trope (ta'am). The megillah must not include ta'amim. If the reader does not now the proper ta'amim, someone should stand by the reader and give the reader directions (as is one in many congregations when the hazan reads the Torah).
קצור שלחן ערוך של הרה''ג מרדכי אליהו ע''ה
No kosher megellot. If there are no kosher megellot, the story is read sans blessings.
קצור שלחן ערוך של הרה''ג מרדכי אליהו ע''ה
Standing or sitting during blessings and reading. The hazan stands while reciting the blessings and reading the megillah. The congregation, however, sits during both the blessings and the reading.
ילקוט שמ''ש
Women's minyan. The blessing "הרב את ריבמו" after reading the megillah is omitted if only women are listening to the megillah. A woman who reads the megillah only for other women may recite the blessing.
ילקוט שמ''ש
Women's obligations. Women have almost all the obligations of men (excluding hearing the megillah in the morning); they are obliged to include על הניסים in the Shmonah Esray (Ahmedah), to send gifts, and to give a cash gift to one or more poor persons.
קצור שלחן ערוך של הרה''ג מרדכי אליהו ע''ה
Meshloach manote (General Sefardi & Mizrahi minhagim)
Sending gifts (משלוח מנות). A gift of money to a poor person must be at least sufficient for that person to buy a decent meal.
קצור שלחן ערוך של הרה''ג מרדכי אליהו ע''ה
Mourner receiving a gift. If the gift was sent in error (the sender did not know the mourner's status) the mourner may accept the gift.
קצור שלחן ערוך של הרה''ג מרדכי אליהו ע''ה
