{"id":5915,"date":"2010-02-15T11:00:47","date_gmt":"2010-02-15T09:00:47","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/ph.yhb.org.il\/en\/?p=5915"},"modified":"2018-02-26T09:51:42","modified_gmt":"2018-02-26T07:51:42","slug":"05-15-11","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/ph.yhb.org.il\/en\/05-15-11\/","title":{"rendered":"11. The Laws of Reading the Megilla<\/em>"},"content":{"rendered":"

When not in use, the Megilla<\/em> is rolled up from the end of the scroll to the beginning. However, since Megilat Esther<\/em> is referred to as a \u201cletter,\u201d it is customary to prepare the scroll for reading in public by spreading it out and folding it over, leaf over leaf, in order to publicize the miracle. When the reading is completed, the Megilla<\/em> is rolled up again from end to beginning, making sure that it is not left open out of respect for the Megilla<\/em>. Only after the Megilla<\/em> is rolled up does the \u0125azan<\/em> recite the berakha<\/em> of \u201cHa-rav et riveinu<\/em>\u201d (sa 690:17, mb ad loc. <\/em>55-56, Kaf Ha-\u0125ayim<\/em> ad loc. <\/em>102-105).<\/p>\n

One may sit or stand while fulfilling the mitzva of reading the Megilla<\/em>. The only one who must stand is the reader, out of respect for the congregation (sa 690:1). Most Jews have a custom to stand for the berakhot<\/em> (mb 690:1; Ben Ish \u0124ai<\/em>, Year 1, Hilkhot Purim <\/em>4 [Tetzaveh]; see also Kaf Ha-\u0125ayim<\/em> 690:2).<\/p>\n

The Megilla<\/em> should be read with its cantillation, but if no one knows how to read it with the cantillation, it may be read without the cantillation, be-di\u2019avad<\/em> (Sha\u2019arei Teshuva<\/em> 690:1).<\/p>\n

One must read the Megilla<\/em> in order. If one reads it out of order, he does not fulfill his obligation. For example, if one misses a word or a verse during the reading, he should not say, \u201cI will continue listening to the Megilla<\/em> until the end, and I will make up what I missed afterward.\u201d Rather, he must immediately fill in what he missed, catch up to the reader, and continue listening to the reading, in the proper order, until the end of the Megilla<\/em>.[14]<\/a><\/sup><\/p>\n

One who dozes off while listening to the Megilla<\/em> does not discharge his obligation, as he certainly fails to hear some words (sa 690:12). As we learned above (section 9), one who hears the Megilla<\/em> fulfills his obligation even if he does not understand Hebrew.<\/p>\n

Le-khat\u0125ila<\/em>, one should read the Megilla<\/em> continuously, but be-di\u2019avad<\/em>, if one interrupted the reading in the middle \u2013 remaining silent or even speaking \u2013 he has not forfeited what he already read and may continue reading from where he left off (sa 690:5; also see mb ad loc. <\/em>18 and sa \u00a765).<\/p>\n

Many poskim<\/em> maintain that one who hears the Megilla<\/em> through an electric device, like a telephone, radio, or loudspeaker, does not fulfill his obligation. The reason for this is that such devices receive a person\u2019s voice as electronic signals and transform it back into a new voice. Therefore, it is like hearing a recording of the Megilla<\/em> reading, which is invalid. Le-khat\u0125ila<\/em>, one should heed this opinion.[15]<\/a><\/sup><\/p>\n

\n
\n
\n[14]<\/a>. If one comes late to the synagogue and finds that the congregation has already begun reading the Megilla<\/em>, he should not say, \u201cI will hear the Megilla<\/em> and make up the first few verses afterward,\u201d as that constitutes reading the Megilla <\/em>out of order. Rather, if he is concerned that he will not be able to hear it again later, he should quickly recite the berakhot<\/em>, begin reading from a printed megilla<\/em> until he catches up to the reader, and hear the rest from him. This solution is only effective on the condition that he hears most of the Megilla<\/em> from the reader. If, however, he is concerned that by the time he finds the text of the berakhot<\/em> and recites them, the reader will advance to such an extent that he will not be able to catch up to him before midway through the Megilla<\/em> \u2013 and afterward he will not be able to fulfill the mitzva any other way \u2013 it is better that he skip the berakhot<\/em>. This way, he will have enough time to catch up to the reader before the halfway mark and fulfill the mitzva (see bhl 690:3, s.v. \u201cve-davka\u201d).<\/p>\n

[15]<\/a>. See Peninei Halakha<\/em>: Berakhot<\/em> 12:10, which cites a dispute among the poskim<\/em> regarding this issue. Rav Kook (Ora\u0125 Mishpat<\/em> \u00a748) and Mikra\u2019ei Kodesh<\/em> (Frank) \u00a711 maintain that one who hears the Megilla <\/em>through an electric device discharges his obligation. Igrot Moshe<\/em>, o\u0125 2:108, 4:91:4 inclines this way as well. On the other hand, Mishpetei Uziel<\/em>, Min\u0125at Shlomo<\/em> 1:9, and Ye\u0125aveh Da\u2019at<\/em> 3:54 maintain that one does not fulfill his obligation in this way. Le-khat\u0125ila<\/em>, one should avoid using electronic devices to discharge his obligation, but if there is no alternative, one should rely on the more lenient authorities and fulfill the mitzva at least according to their opinion.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

When not in use, the Megilla is rolled up from the end of the scroll to the beginning. However, since Megilat Esther is referred to as a \u201cletter,\u201d it is customary to prepare the scroll for reading in public by spreading it out and folding it over, leaf over leaf, in order to publicize the […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":10,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[34],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-5915","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-05-15"],"yoast_head":"\n11. 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