DailyHalacha.com for Mobile Devices Now Available

Halacha is In Memory of
 Sarah bat Helen
"Who didn't love your beautiful smile? We will always love you mom"

Dedicated By
Her family

Click Here to Sponsor Daily Halacha
      
(File size: 612 KB)
Purim – The Writing of the Names of Haman’s Sons in the Megilla

Halacha requires that the verses which list the names of Haman’s ten sons should occupy an entire column of the Megila; these names must appear on a separate column, without any other text. It is therefore common to write the names in especially large script, as otherwise, there would be blank space, which, according to some opinions, would disqualify the Megilla (as it would constitute an unwarranted paragraph break).

The Vilna Gaon (Rabbi Eliyahu of Vilna, 1720-1797), however, noted that there is no established tradition that the letters of the names of Haman’s sons should be written in large script. We have such a tradition regarding a number of other letters in the Megilla, such as the "Tav" in "Va’tichtov" and the "Vav" in "Vayezata," but there is no tradition regarding the names of the ten sons of Haman. Therefore, the Gaon maintained that the entire Megila should be written with only eleven lines in every column, so that the column with the names of Haman’s sons will be the same size as all the other columns of the Megilla, and they could be written in normal-sized script.

Most Megillot that are written and used today are not written in accordance with the Gaon’s view. Nevertheless, those who are looking to purchase a Megilla should be aware that there is a Hiddur (means of enhancing the Misva) to have the entire Megilla written with only eleven lines in each column, to satisfy this opinion of the Vilna Gaon.

 


Recent Daily Halachot...
Reciting "She'hecheyanu" Upon Being Reunited With a Close Friend
Guidelines for When Food Falls and Becomes Inedible After One Recited the Beracha
Repeating the Beracha of Besamim After Birkat Ha'mazon
In The Event One Forgot To Say Birkat Hamazon or Me’en Shalosh And Left The Place Where He Ate
Making Berachot While Driving, or While Drying Hands Is Not Proper
Proper Concentration While Reciting a Beracha
Cleanliness During a Meal and The Importance of Reciting Berachot Before Eating
The Proper Beracha for Cereals Containing Both Corn and Grains
The Proper Beracha to Recite Over Rice Krispies, Puffed Rice, Rice Cakes, Hot Cereals and Granola
The Proper Beracha for Cereals Produced From Corn
What To Do if One Mistakenly Recited a Beracha Over Food on a Fast Day
Must One Wash His Hands if He Placed His Hands in the Restroom?
Situations Requiring One to Repeat Netilat Yadayim During a Meal
Berachot Order of Varying Types of Food & Fruit
Beracha Aharona for Fruit
Page of 239
3585 Halachot found