Questions tagged [tractate-megillah]
Tractate of Mishna dealing with the laws of Purim and the synagogue
5
votes
3answers
120 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 ...
4
votes
2answers
124 views
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 ...
3
votes
1answer
61 views
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
votes
1answer
116 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 ...
0
votes
0answers
58 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 ...
5
votes
2answers
103 views
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
votes
0answers
68 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:
...
1
vote
0answers
51 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 ...
1
vote
0answers
66 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?
3
votes
1answer
90 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 ...
2
votes
1answer
54 views
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 ...
3
votes
1answer
123 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, ...
-1
votes
1answer
64 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 ...
1
vote
0answers
25 views
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 ...
0
votes
1answer
161 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 ...
2
votes
2answers
186 views
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 ...
3
votes
0answers
66 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. ...
4
votes
1answer
380 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 ...
0
votes
1answer
62 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 ...
3
votes
1answer
93 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, ...
7
votes
3answers
204 views
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 ...
4
votes
0answers
40 views
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 ...
2
votes
1answer
97 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 ...
1
vote
1answer
44 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 ...
4
votes
0answers
94 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 ...
3
votes
0answers
50 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, ...
-1
votes
1answer
43 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 ...
-1
votes
2answers
95 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
votes
1answer
113 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 ...
7
votes
4answers
336 views
When and how did haman amass so much wealth?
In Masheches Megillah 15a at the bottom Rav Chisda brings a teaching on the passuk in the megilah 5:13 that Mordichai came with his wealth and Haman came with his poorness as Rashi explains the ...
6
votes
2answers
344 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
votes
0answers
86 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
votes
0answers
582 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
153 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
votes
4answers
360 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 ...
12
votes
2answers
350 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 ...
5
votes
6answers
986 views
How did Vashti grow a tail?
In מגילה דף יב (Megillah 12a-b) it gives two reasons as to why Vashti did not go to Achashveirosh when he requested her to the party. The first reason is that Vashti had Tzarat (a metaphysical skin ...
6
votes
1answer
130 views
Did Achashveirosh and Haman speak Hebrew?
Tosfos in Megilah (13b, s.v. הַכֶּסֶף נָתוּן לָךְ ) expound the pasuk in Esther (3:11)
וַיֹּאמֶר הַמֶּלֶךְ לְהָמָן, הַכֶּסֶף נָתוּן לָךְ; וְהָעָם, לַעֲשׂוֹת בּוֹ כַּטּוֹב בְּעֵינֶיךָ - And the king ...
4
votes
0answers
78 views
How were the “seven good men of the city” appointed?
How were the “seven good men of the city” שבעה טובי העיר appointed? Was there an election and if so who could be candidates?
10
votes
2answers
390 views
Were there more than seven prophetesses?
The Bavli, M'gila 14 amud 1, quotes:
Forty-eight prophets and seven prophetesses prophesied for the Jews….
Further along on the page, it questions this:
Were there no more? But it says [...
3
votes
2answers
166 views
Difference between Yegiah and Hipus
The Gemara in Megila 6b says that if someone tells you that they understood a piece of Torah and they didn't work hard for it you shouldn't believe them.
The Ramha"l says in the Hakdama to his magnum ...
4
votes
2answers
567 views
Why only ten? Why not all of Haman's children?
According to the Gemara Megila 15b Haman had 208 children. Why did they only hang 10 of them?
