1)The Megilah should be read with the proper "Ta’amim" (Trop, or tune used for reading Torah Sh’Biksav).
However, reading it without the Ta’amim does not disqualify the reading, thus if no Ba’al Koreh is available to read it with the proper tune, it should be read anyway by someone in the congregation. (Mogen Avraham 691:10)
2) The Megilah must be read in order. If even one Posuk or letter was read out of order, the obligation to read the Megilah has not been satisfied, and it must be re-read from the Posuk that was read out of order until the end.
Likewise, if a Posuk was skipped, it must be re-read from that point until the end. (Mishna Berura Siman 690: 21 and 22)
The Megilah must be read from a Kosher Megilah. If part (up to half) of the Megilah was read from memory, without looking into the text, B’dieved you have satisfied your obligation. (Mishna Berura ibid. 7 and 8)
Halachos for Shabbos Kodesh
1) If one who does not understand Lashon HaKodesh (Biblical Hebrew) hears the Megilah being read in Lashon HaKodesh, even though they do not understand what is being read, they have satisfied their obligation of hearing the Megilah, as long as they hear every single word. (Mishna Berura ibid. 26)
2) The Ba’al Koreh should recite the Brachos on the Megilah while standing.
Many have the custom that the entire congregation stands while the Brachos are being recited. (See Mogen Avraham beginning of Siman 690. Though from the Biur Halacha in Hilchos Sefiras HaOmer Siman 489 it seems that the congregation need not stand)
While reading the Megilah, the Ba’al Koreh should stand, as doing so is "Kavod HaTzibur- respectful to the congregation" (Thus one who is reading for a woman, or for a group of less than 10 people, may sit L’Chatchilah).
The congregation may sit while listening to the Megilah.
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QUESTION & ANSWER CORNER:
Reader Submitted Questions of interest on topics related to Halachos we covered, as well as other interesting topic and my Answers. Taken from the Q & A page on the Halacha For Todaywebsite. For study purposes only, NOT for Psak Halacha. Questions can be emailed to Halacha For Today )
Reader’s Question:
If a man read the megillah in shul already, and then he comes to "lain" it for a group of women, does he repeat the brachos? Does he say all three (by day)?
My Answer:
Indeed, he may repeat all three Brachos when being Motzei them (See Shulchan Aruch 692:3 and Mishna Berura ibid.). According to many Poskim, if the women can, they should make the Brachos themselves (possibly with the nusach of "L’shmoa Megilah" as we discussed in the Halachos a while back). The Mishna Berura,however, seems to say that the custom is to be lenient and have the man make the Brachos for them.
If the women are making the Brachos, they should each make ot themselves (and not have one woman be motzei all of them, according to the Minchas Yitzchok Vol. 3 Siman 53 and 54. However Rav Shlomo Zalman Auerbach Zatzal paskened that one woman can and should be Motzei all the women. See Halichos Shlomo page 329)
The Bracha after the Megilah (...HaRav Es Riveinu) is not recited unless the Megilah was heard with a Minyan of 10 people(possibly even with 10 women, according to some opinions ), thus in most cases, women hearing the Megilah at home would not say the last Bracha.
Our holy sages, the Chazal tell us
תנא דבי אליהו כל השונה הלכות בכל יום מובטח לו שהוא בן עולם הבא, שנאמר הליכות עולם לו, אל תקרי הליכות אלא הלכות - one who studies [at least two] Halachos daily is assured a portion in Olam Haba - the world to come. (:מגילה כ"ח )
Important Numbers
