Purim Meshulash

What is this term "Purim Meshulash" that I see being used this year?

Shalom!

Thank you for your question.

Purim Meshulash is when the day that walled cities (i.e. Jerusalem) are supposed to celebrate Purim, the 15th of Adar, falls out on a Shabbat.

Due to the rabbinic ban on reading the Megilla on Shabbat, Jerusalemites are forced to advance their Megilla reading to Friday like the rest of the world. In other words, in such a unique year, the entire world reads Megilla at the same time: the night and day of the 14th of Adar (as unwalled cities do every year). It is interesting to note that the 14th of Adar can never fall on Shabbat so unwalled cities will never have this problem.

Since the mitzva of matanot la’evyonim, giving gifts to the poor, is connected to the Megilla reading, Jerusalemites are required to perform this mitzva on Friday, as well.

Although the Purim meal could theoretically be held on Shabbat, that rabbis postponed the Purim meal to Sunday because Shabbat already has its on special meal and because the Purim meal must be a distinct and independent meal. As such, it is not possible to have the Purim meal on Shabbat, which is the true calendar day of Purim, and hence it is postponed to Sunday.

The mitzva of mishlo’ach manot is connected to the Purim meal, and as such, that mitzva is performed on Sunday, as well.

Nevertheless, on Shabbat, there is a special Torah reading, and the Purim insertion of “al hanissim” is recited in the prayers and Birkat Hamazon.

As such, Jerusalemites have a bit of Purim on Friday, Shabbat, and Sunday, hence it is called the “Purim Meshulash” – the three day Purim.