Hilchos Purim – 17 / The Purim Feast (c)

1. It is good to engage in learning some Torah before beginning the Purim feast. This is alluded to in the verse,The Jews had light and gladness (Esther8:16), and the Sages expound that “light” refers to Torah (Shulchan Aruch 695). One who engages in Torah study between the reading of the Megillah at night and the reading of the day is guaranteed that he is destined to the World to Come (Chasam Sofer).

2. One should gather the members of his family and friends to join in the Purim feast, because it is impossible to rejoice properly when one is alone (Mishnah Berurah ibid.).