עבודה זרה סה

A priest once asked רבי יהונתן איבשיץ why Jews make קידוש and have a festive meal on the evening before a Holiday, but on פורים they have the סעודה in the afternoon of the Holiday itself.  רבי יהונתן answered: “You have the same situation in your religion.  You celebrate your holidays during the daytime, but you celebrate Xmas the evening before.  Why the difference?  The answer in both of our cases is the same.  פורים came to us because of a גוי, namely המן, so we conduct ourselves like you do and have the festive meal during the day.  And Xmas came to you because of a Jew and therefore you follow the custom of the Jews and celebrate on the evening when it begins.”

06/10/2021