YOSSI: Yes! Two days of Purim every year!
YOELI: Wait, what?
YOSSI: Yup! The Gemara says (Megillah 2b) that all cities that have walls from the time of Yehoshua Bin Nun keep Purim on the 15th of Adar instead of the 14th. The reason for that is because in Shushan they had an extra day to fight. They made Purim a different day for Shushan and cities like Shushan. The chachamim wanted to make sure Yerushalayim wasn’t “embarrassed.” At that time, Yerushalayim’s walls were broken. To give honor to Yerushalayim, Shushan Purim would be celebrated in all cities with a wall from the times of Yehoshua.
YOELI: Right, so why two days?
YOSSI: Only Yerushalayim for sure had a wall way back then. There are cities that have a safeik – like Teveria (which back then was called Rekes) and Chevron…. So…. they are machmir to lein Megillah on “Regular Purim” and Shushan Purim!
YOELI: WOW! Imagine the ohr of Purim times two!
YOSSI: The truth is Yoeli, my Rebbe told me that even if you don’t live in Teveria, or in Yerushalayim (where this year Purim’s mitzvos are spread over three days!), Shushan Purim is still a very special day – and isn’t just the “day off” after Purim.
YOELI: You’re right, Yos! And this year, it falls on Shabbos, which makes it even more special!
YOSSI: So what are you dressing up as for Purim Yoeli?
YOELI: Ha ha! You’ll have to wait to find out!
This article was found in Nekuda Tova Issue 27 Special Purim Editions.