Prayers on Purim Night
Rabbi Yeshua Pinto conveys the following tradition from the Mekubalim.
The holy
Arizal taught that the holiest 24 hours of the year are the 24 hours of Purim, and that there is no other day that reaches such a level of holiness and brings such blessings. It is no coincidence that the holiest day for the Jewish people is called Yom Kippur—ki-Purim (like Purim).
Rabbi Levi Yitzchak of Berditchev said that on Purim, every person is given the opportunity to turn his mazal for the better, even if a harsh decree has already been issued in Heaven.
This is similar to the way King Achashverosh signed and sealed the decree against the Jews, G-d forbid, yet everything was overturned and salvation came, be'ezrat Ha-Shem.
The Sages teach that within these 24 hours, there are 12 hours that are especially auspicious. They begin on Purim evening and continue until morning (approximately from 6 p.m. to 6 a.m.—for the precise time, see the zmanim).
During these 12 hours, there are 6 hours that are extraordinarily auspicious. During this time, even the simplest among us is equal to a great tzadik, whose request is fulfilled by G-d.
Baal HaAretz Tzvi taught that during these 6 hours (from midnight until 6 a.m.), the prosecuting angel has no power to oppose the prayers, and they ascend unhindered to G-d.
Prayers of the Mekubalim
The prayers should be preceded by lighting 2 candles le-khvod tzadikim:
Mordechai ben Yair ben Kush HaTzadik ve-Esther Malka bat Avichail;
1. Read
the Entire Book of Tehillim (those who cannot do so should participate in a communal division of the Book of Tehillim);
2. Read the
prayer “Pitum HaKetoret”. When enumerating the
11 ingredients of the Ketoret, set aside a prutah (coin) upon reciting each of the 11 ingredients of the Ketoret—11 coins;
The Order of "Pitum HaKetoret" According to the Arizal - Prayer Text with Transliteration
3. Read Psalm 22 seven times and ask Ha-Shem for everything you need;
Tehillim 22 at Ayelet HaShachar before Ta'anit Esther
4. Listen to
Megillat Esther. If it is not possible to listen to it, read the entire Megillah yourselves, from beginning to end;
5. Read chapters
Tehillim 51–73;
6. Before praying, it is advisable to write on a sheet of paper everything you wish to draw down from Heaven for yourself and your family. Then, during the 6 hours—from midnight until 6 a.m.—pray and ask for everything you have written down. If you cannot get up at that time to pray, you may do so at any other time.
At the end, ask Ha-Shem once again:
הצליני מקליפת המן עמלק, וזכני לקדושת מרדכי ואסתר
— “Atsileni mi-klipat Haman Amalek, ve-zakeni li-kedushat Mordechai ve-Esther” —
(Save me from the klipah of Haman—Amalek, and grant me the merit of the holiness of Mordechai and Esther);
יהי רצון שהמר יעשה מתוק אמן
“Yehi ratzon, she-ha-mar ya'aseh matok, amen.”
(May it be Your will that the bitter become sweet, amen).
(Based on a video lesson by the Gaon Rabbi Yoshiyahu Pinto)
