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Eating Bread in the Se’udat Purim
A Parasha & Halacha Shiur Summary, Parashat Vayikra by Rabbi Ariel Ovadia
The Rambam writes that the obligation of “Mishte” – a feast – on Purim is to eat meat and prepare a “proper Se’uda (meal)” according to what one can afford and drink wine etc. The expression “A proper Se’uda” would seem to imply that one must eat bread as in all other Se’udot. The reason for this may be that Purim is called a Yom Tov (although the Gemara says that regarding Melacha, Purim is clearly not a Yom Tov). According to the Rosh and others, one must eat a meal with bread on Yom Tov. Therefore, says the Rosh, if one forgets Ya’aleh V’Yavo in Birkat HaMazon on Yom Tov, according to the Rosh, one must repeat it.
This would be problematic, however, because it would imply that on Purim, if one forgot to say Al HaNissim in Birkat HaMazon one would have to repeat it – as the day requires a Se’uda with bread – yet, if one forgets it in the Amidah one doesn’t have to repeat the Amida. Can Birkat HaMazon be stricter in this regard than the Amida? The Magen Avraham and others write, that while there may be an obligation to eat bread on Purim, one would not have to go back to say Al HaNissim – unlike Yom Tov – as the recitation of Al HaNissim is only a Minhag and not as “serious” as having to say Ya’aleh V’Yavo.
Still, it seems from the Rambam elsewhere (Hil. Berachot) that Purim is compared to Hanukkah and Hol HaMo’ed in which all agree there is no obligation to eat bread. R’ Akiva Eiger explains that Purim only requires happiness and not bread. This too is the opinion of the Hid”a and others.
L’Halacha, one should preferably eat bread, however, it is not required according to most Poskim. If one forgets Al HaNissim, whether in Tefilla or Birkat HaMazon one doesn’t have to go back. The Purim meal must include meat and wine. Purim Sameah!