Questions tagged [tractate-megillah]
Tractate of Mishna dealing with the laws of Purim and the synagogue
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What is meant by “congregational honor” regarding disallowing women reading the Torah publically?
The Talmud Bavli (Megillah 23a) says that while, if a woman read from the Torah it counts towards the required 7 aliyot, the chachamim disallowed it because of kavod hatzibbur - the respect for the ...
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20 views
Why is שהחיינו called “ז” in P'sachim but “ח” in M'gila?
Why is the "שהחיינו" blessing abbreviated "ז" in Bavli P'sachim 103 but "ח" in Bavli M'gila 21? I'd expect some consistency. And it's not like "ז" makes more sense, or "ח" less sense, in P'sachim than ...
2
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1answer
42 views
How old were the Sages in Megillah 27b-28a?
The Gemara, starting in Megillah 27b, starts describing various situations where different sages were asked how they merited to reach a long life. Presumably, this was because, at the time they were ...
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1answer
50 views
Why does Tanach specifically describe these women as “beautiful”?
Companion question to Why does Tanac"h specifically describe these males as "beautiul"?
Off the top of my head, the pesukim describe the following women as being beautiful:
Sarah (...
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24 views
Were the ten sons of Haman specifically Zeresh's sons?
Megillah 15b records three opinions as to how many children Haman had:
Rava: Ten died in childhood, ten died at the end of the Megillah, and ten were reduced to poverty, totaling 30.
Rabbanan: There ...
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1answer
51 views
Ashkenazi shat”z?
In meseches Megillah (daf 24b):
אמר רב אסי חיפני (ובשיני) לא ישא את כפיו תניא נמי הכי אין מורידין לפני התיבה לא אנשי בית שאן ולא אנשי בית חיפה ולא אנשי טבעונין מפני שקורין לאלפין עיינין ולעיינין ...
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2answers
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What country is Tarsia / טרסי?
In Bavli Megilla 13b, we are told that Bigtan and Teresh were two טרסיים, translated by R. Steinsaltz as Tarsians. We are told that they spoke in the Tarsian language.
In what modern country or ...
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40 views
We need ten consolers; why not ten mourners?
The mishna, M'gila 23 amud 2 as described by Rashi, says we don't say the mourners' outdoor blessing without the presence of ten people, and the mourners themselves don't count toward the requisite ...
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2answers
144 views
How did Haman know Moshe Rabeinu's Yahrzeit but not his Birthday?
I remember learning some years ago in Gemarah Megillah 13: that when Haman drew lots he was happy it landed in Adar since it is the month that Moshe Rabeinu died. However, he didn't know that Moshe ...
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Adding to Torah reading?
In meseches megillah (22A) sefaria translation:
מיתיבי פרשה של ששה פסוקים קורין אותה בשנים ושל חמשה פסוקים ביחיד קרא ראשון שלשה השני קורא שנים מפרשה זו ואחד מפרשה אחרת ויש אומרים שלשה לפי שאין ...
5
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1answer
42 views
Missing line in Tractate Megillah
At Sefaria there is a kind of commentary on Talmud called ‘Daf Shevui’. Commenting on Meg. 15b the author writes:
The Attribute of Justice argues before God—why do you give this reward to righteous ...
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1answer
151 views
Do any Rishonim or Achronim view Rava’s opinion of Mordechai as a negative one?
Recently I was browsing some source sheets on Sefaria regarding Purim, and I stumbled upon this sheet, which, based on various comments of Rava’s throughout Shas, argues that, in Rava’s opinion, ...
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How to understand this Tosfos in Megila 5b
This is a Tosfos from Megilah 5b which is talking about lessening the different type of work(s) of simcha on Purim. However, I'm a bit troubled on understanding the last 6 words. What does Tosfos mean?...
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24 views
Why mention Achashverosh's pillars?
The Bavli spends several pages (M'gila 10–16) going through parts of the book of Esther with aggadic commentary.
Esther 1:6 describes a party:
חוּר כַּרְפַּס וּתְכֵלֶת אָחוּז בְּחַבְלֵי בוּץ ...
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3answers
136 views
Why did Rebbe want to get rid of Tishah b’Av Nidcheh?
Megillah 5a-b:
אמר רבי אלעזר אמר רבי חנינא רבי נטע נטיעה בפורים ורחץ בקרונה של צפורי בשבעה עשר בתמוז ובקש לעקור תשעה באב ולא הודו לו אמר לפניו רבי אבא בר זבדא רבי לא כך היה מעשה אלא תשעה באב שחל ...
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Please help explain 1st Tosfot on Megillah 22a
In viewing Gemarah Megillah 22א, there is a rule that each person receiving a Torah aliyah must have at least 3 verses remaining in the parsha (paragraph) as well as starting with a minimum of 3 ...
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1answer
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Proof of Divine Inspiration in Megillas Esther
The Talmud (Megillah 7a) tries to prove that Megillas Esther was composed with Divine Inspiration:
It has been taught: R. Eleazar said: Esther was composed under the
inspiration of the holy ...
4
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1answer
119 views
What are the parameters of “one should not return a ruinous report”?
The gemarah in Megillah (15a) states:
“And they told Esther’s words to Mordecai” (Esther 4:12), but he, Hathach himself, did not go to tell him directly. The Gemara explains: From here we see that ...
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70 views
How and why celebrate Purim according to Rabi shimon bar Yochai?
In the famous give and take discussing the miracle of Purim found in Maseches Megilah 12a, quoted below with Sefaria's translation, Rabi Shimon bar Yochai tells his studets that the danger the Jews ...
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Haman decreeing against circumcision
The gemara implies that after the Jews were victorious they restarted the mitzvah of circumcision which Haman decreed against. Are there any other source-based indications that Haman had made such ...
3
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1answer
144 views
Why didn't Mordechai bow?
Tosfos in AZ 3a (DH Shelo Histachavu L'Tzelem) brings several proofs that Nevuchadnetzar's statue could not have been Avodah Zarah, and bowing to it would have been considered merely showing honor:
...
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61 views
Who fasted with Ester?
The Bavli, M'gila, says that the seven servants that Ester had while in Hegay's harem were שהיתה מונה בהן ימי שבת, used by Ester to count the days of the week. Rashi explains שהיתה משרתת לה אחת באחד ...
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70 views
What's so bad about looking into the face of a wicked person?
In tractate megila of the Babylonian talmud the sages say that it is forbidden to look into the face of a wicked person. What is the reason for this prohibition?
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1answer
100 views
When reading the megillah why do we pasken like Rebbi Meir?
In Megillah 19a there is an argument as to how much of the actual text of the megillah one needs to read in order to fulfill the obligation. Rebbi Meir says you need to read the whole things and the ...
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1answer
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Talmud Megilla 21a seems to have the reasoning reversed
Talmud Megilla 21a discusses two conflicting verses about how Moses acted when on Mt. Sinai. The verses are (the full verses are in the margin of the linked Talmud page, mentioned above):
Devarim 9:9 ...
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1answer
128 views
Can a deaf person read the Torah or the Megillah on Purim?
As a hearing impaired individual that can often be classified as deaf, I face discrimination on a daily basis. Not so much in my Jewish community, but out in the world.
As I was reading the Mishnah, ...
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1answer
69 views
Megillah 4.6 — Why can't the blind recite the Shema with their benedictions (according to R. Judah)?
In Megillah 4.6, R. Judah says: "He that has never seen the light may not recite the Shema' with its Benedictions."
I interpret "has never seen the light" as "blind" (rather than lacking inspiration ...
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Parshat Shmini Building of the Mishkan “Vayehi” linked to “Vayehi” in Bereshit, is it linked to 7 days of creation?
Leviticus Chapter 9
א וַיְהִי, בַּיּוֹם הַשְּׁמִינִי, קָרָא מֹשֶׁה, לְאַהֲרֹן וּלְבָנָיו--וּלְזִקְנֵי, יִשְׂרָאֵל. 1 And it came to pass on the eighth day, that Moses called Aaron and ...
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1answer
177 views
Difference between touching a naked Torah vs. a naked Megillah
Megillah 32a:
Megillah 32a:38-44:
כל האוחז ספר תורה ערום נקבר ערום ערום סלקא דעתך אלא אימא נקבר ערום בלא
מצות בלא מצות סלקא דעתך אלא אמר אביי נקבר ערום בלא אותה מצוה
Whoever takes hold of a ...
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2answers
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How did Esther reveal to Achashveroch that Mordechai is her husband
Avrohom ordered Sarah to say that she is his sister (he was afraid that Egyptian kill him). How was Esther not afraid that Achashverosh kills Mordechai? (Esther 8, 1[1])
She was the wife of ...
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0answers
75 views
Difference between the words מיחייב and חייב
Rava in masheches megillah 7b famously said that one is obligated to drink until he cannot differentiate between Haman and Mordechai. My question is: Rava used the loshon of מיחייב instead of חייב. ...
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1answer
505 views
Haman's daughter's name
Masechet Megilah says that Haman's daughter threw the garbage on him. Does the gemoro mention her name anywhere?
I looked in Gemora Megilla 16a where the story is but it does not mention a name. Does ...
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1answer
69 views
Trying to understand Mishnah Megilla 1:4
Mishnah Megillah 1:4 states:
קראו את המגילה באדר הראשון ונתעברה השנה, קורין אותה באדר השני. אין בין
אדר הראשון לאדר השני אלא קריאת המגילה ומתנות לאביונים .
If the Megillah was read in first ...
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1answer
131 views
Why is there no exchanging of food gifts during Purim Katan?
Purim Katan ("little Purim") occurs on the 14th and 15th of Adar I, which is only during leap years, such as the current year.
Mishnah Megillah 1:4 says:
קראו את המגילה באדר הראשון ונתעברה השנה, ...
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3answers
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Why Italia of Yavan?
The gemara in Megila 6b refers to איטליא של יון זה כרך גדול של רומי, which translates literally as: Italy of Greece, this is the great city of Rome.
This seems odd insofar as I know, Italy never ...
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1answer
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Interpreting Abayyei's mnemonic in Megillah 31a
In Megillah 31a, Abayyei lists the sections from the Torah that we read on each successive day of Pesach as follows: "משך תורא קדש בכספא פסל במדברא שלח בוכרא". Each of the eight words within this ...
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1answer
101 views
Understanding Megillah 3a
The gemarah megillah 3a expalians that were it not for the targum we would not understand the verse in Zecharya 12:11 which says there on that day the mourning in Jerusalem was like the mourning of ...
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1answer
47 views
Based on Talmud Bavli Megillah 30a - 30b, how can we have a break betwen Parshiot Zachor and Parah?
According to what it says in the Talmud, the 3rd of the 4 Shabbatot is Parah, and the Talmud says that this 3rd Shabbat is the one immediately after Purim.
In most years this is true. However, this ...
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0answers
107 views
Source for the oral traditions in Megillas Esther?
I'm trying to understand where the Rabbis in tractate Megillah get their information.
I thought that the way they interpret the five books of Moses was because they already knew all the laws and ...
4
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1answer
75 views
Concerning the time when Esther must be read
The first Mishnah in Tractate Megilla says:
מגילה נקראת באחד עשר, בשנים עשר, בשלושה עשר, בארבעה עשר, ובחמישה עשר--לא פחות ולא יתר.
The Megilla is read sometimes on the 11th, 12th, 13th, 14th, ...
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1answer
49 views
Pshat in Pasuk of Velo Yavor
Chazal say that the reason why we don't read the Megillah on the 16 is because the passuk (Esther 9:27) says "velo yavor" - וְלֹא יַעֲבוֹר.
Why is there a need for this Passuk? The Megillah said that ...
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2answers
128 views
Why is Adar 1 30 days long?
The Talmud Ta'anit 6b says אין בין אדר הראשון לאדר השני אלא קריאת המגילה ומתנות לאביונים
"There is no difference between the 1st Adar and 2nd Adar except for reading the Megillah and giving presents ...
4
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1answer
120 views
Why do people say a half-verse as part of shabbos morning kiddush?
I have seen people make kiddush shabbos morning by only stating the following
עַל-כֵּן, בֵּרַךְ יְהוָה אֶת-יוֹם הַשַּׁבָּת--וַיְקַדְּשֵׁהוּ
Which is half of the verse in Shemos 20:10. I realize ...
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votes
5answers
412 views
When and how did Haman amass so much wealth?
In Megillah 15a at the bottom, Rav Chisda brings a teaching on the passuk in Esther 5:13 that Mordechai came with his wealth and Haman came with his poorness as Rashi explains the situation:
וזה ...
6
votes
2answers
354 views
Abigail's Thigh
The Talmud in Megillah 14b says that Abigail revealed her thigh, and that David followed her for 3 parasangs in his desire for her.
In Tosafos it is asked how this righteous woman could have revealed ...
2
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0answers
97 views
Was Yosef sold at age seventeen?
While the start of Vayeshev (the start of Genesis 37) sounds as though the events all take place at one time, so that Yosef was sold (verse 28) at age seventeen (as mentioned in verse 2), it's not ...
3
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0answers
623 views
Did Achashverosh rule over the entire Old World?
Megilla 11a says "Three ruled over the world - Achav, Achashverosh and Nebuchadnetzar." It suggests a few other names that weren't on the list and rejects them because they didn't rule over one ...
3
votes
1answer
162 views
Why does 'sharpening' depend on effort, and memorization on divine assistance?
The Bavli, M'gila 6 amud 2:
ואמר ר׳ יצחק אם יאמר לך אדם יגעתי ולא מצאתי אל תאמן לא יגעתי ומצאתי אל תאמן יגעתי ומצאתי תאמן הני מילי בדברי תורה אבל במשא ומתן סייעתא הוא מן שמיא ולדברי תורה לא אמרן ...
3
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4answers
376 views
Are those who reject idolatry Yahudim (Jews)?
I found the following quote referencing Gemara from a book on converts in Judaism:
The Gemara (Megillah 13•) states that we find the appellation “Yehudi”
in Nach only three times: once for ...
13
votes
2answers
401 views
Are you Yotzei Mikrah Megillah if you're spacing out?
The Mishnah in Megillah (2:2) says that one who reads the megillah while semi-asleep ('מתנמנם') is yotzei. The gemara comments (18b):
מתנמנם יצא וכו': היכי דמי מתנמנם אמר רב אשי נים ולא נים תיר ...
