Purim begins on Monday night, while Israel is at war: closed schools, a nationwide ban on gatherings, and Israel’s religious leadership is putting one message at the center of the holiday: drink less, stay alert, and be ready to move fast to shelter.
In letters issued ahead of the holiday, Israel’s chief rabbis urged controlled alcohol consumption during the Purim meal so families can respond quickly to warnings and reach protected spaces without delay. The IDF Military Rabbinate went further, ordering a complete ban on wine and other alcoholic beverages for soldiers, including those who may be called up, citing the need for full mental clarity during wartime.
The guidance comes as the IDF Home Front Command maintains a strict civil-defense policy through Wednesday, March 4, 2026, at 8 p.m., Shushan Purim, with gatherings prohibited nationwide and workplaces closed except for essential services. Schools and other educational activities remain shut. Officials have urged Israelis to stay close to approved protected spaces and maintain high awareness, warning that defenses are not airtight.
With public celebrations off the table, Purim’s familiar soundtrack has shifted indoors. Purim parties and Adloyada parades have been canceled, and Megillah readings are meant to take place only near an approved protected space. The report said the Western Wall is also expected to remain closed to worshippers under the restrictions.
Israel’s chief rabbis, Rabbi David Yosef, the Rishon LeZion (Sephardic chief rabbi of Israel), and Rabbi Kalman Meir Ber, the Ashkenazi Chief Rabbi of Israel, framed the moment around pikuach nefesh (saving life), which overrides communal preference and public ceremony.
Megillah reading during wartime
Yosef ruled that it is preferable to hear the Megillah in a protected space, even if it prevents reading “in a multitude” or requires reading alone. Ber emphasized “Venishmartem meod lenafshoteichem” (“You shall carefully protect your lives”) as a binding obligation and called on the public to avoid unnecessary risk.
The practical instructions are built for the reality of interruptions. According to the rulings cited in the report, listening to the Megillah by phone, radio, or Zoom does not fulfill the obligation. If a person cannot hear a kosher Megillah reading, the guidance calls for reading from a Chumash (Pentateuch) without blessings and saying Hallel shalem (full Hallel).
If a siren sounds during the reading, people should move quietly to the protected space, then resume from the point where the reading stopped, even after a long interruption, and even if people spoke in the meantime.
Still, Purim is Purim, and the meal remains the emotional core of the day. This year, the message is discipline. The rabbis referenced “levsumei” (drinking until tipsy or intoxicated) while stressing controlled drinking so Israelis remain alert enough to follow instructions quickly and reach shelter when needed. The goal, they said, is a Purim joy that does not weaken readiness.
In the IDF, the policy is stricter. The Military Rabbinate’s wartime guidance exempts all operational personnel from the Esther Fast, including air and sea crews, combat soldiers, technicians, and soldiers tasked with base defense. Reservists required to train to improve readiness are also exempt, and they are to continue training.
Alongside the fast exemptions, the guidance includes a complete ban on alcohol for soldiers, including those who may be called up, to ensure full alertness.