Does anyone know the connection between poppyseeds and Purim

goodmorning

Sun, Feb 21 2021, 12:38 pm

The Rema (OC 695:2) records a minhag to eat seeds on Purim:

Quote:

(יש אומרים שיש לאכול מאכל זרעונים בפורים זכר לזרעונים שאכל דניאל וחביריו בבבל (כל בו
Some say that there is [significance] to eating seeds on Purim as a remembrance for the seeds that Daniel and his friends ate in Babylonia (Kol Bo).

The Aruch HaShulchan (695:9) notes that although the Rema references Daniel and his friends, Esther herself ate seeds in Achashverosh's palace:

Quote:

ותמיהני: למה לו לומר שאכל דניאל, שאין זה שייך לפורים? הרי אסתר עצמה אכלה זרעונים, כדאיתא במגילה (יג א) על פסוק: "וישנה ואת נערותיה לטוב…" – רבי יוחנן אמר שהאכילה זרעונים,

based on the Gemara in Megilla 13a that notes that both Esther and Daniel ate seeds:

Quote:

וְרַבִּי יוֹחָנָן אָמַר זֵרְעוֹנִים וְכֵן הוּא אוֹמֵר וַיְהִי הַמֶּלְצַר נוֹשֵׂא אֶת פַּת בָּגָם וְנוֹתֵן לָהֶם זֵרְעוֹנִים
And Rabbi Yoḥanan said a third understanding: He gave her vegetables, which did not pose a problem with regard to the kosher laws. And so it states with regard to the kindness done for Daniel and his associates: “So the steward took away their food and the wine that they should drink; and gave them vegetables” (Daniel 1:16).

(Translations courtesy of Sefaria)

amother

Sun, Feb 21 2021, 3:52 pm

goodmorning wrote:

The Rema (OC 695:2) records a minhag to eat seeds on Purim:

Quote:

The Aruch HaShulchan (695:9) notes that although the Rema references Daniel and his friends, Esther herself ate seeds in Achashverosh's palace:

Quote:

based on the Gemara in Megilla 13a that notes that both Esther and Daniel ate seeds:

Quote:

וְרַבִּי יוֹחָנָן אָמַר זֵרְעוֹנִים וְכֵן הוּא אוֹמֵר וַיְהִי הַמֶּלְצַר נוֹשֵׂא אֶת פַּת בָּגָם וְנוֹתֵן לָהֶם זֵרְעוֹנִים
And Rabbi Yoḥanan said a third understanding: He gave her vegetables, which did not pose a problem with regard to the kosher laws. And so it states with regard to the kindness done for Daniel and his associates: “So the steward took away their food and the wine that they should drink; and gave them vegetables” (Daniel 1:16).

(Translations courtesy of Sefaria)

Thank you this is so great to know!!