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...
If a Person Forgot to Recite Ya’aleh Ve’yabo on Rosh Hodesh
Modesty in the Privacy of One’s Home
What Constitutes An Elder
The Proper Words to Use When Bidding Somebody Farewell
Standing for Kaddish; Reciting Kaddish After Learning Torah
Reading Tehillim at Night
May One Use an Electric Drier to Dry His Hands After Netilat Yadayim?
The Status of Charity Money That Does Not Reach the Intended Recipient
Does Money Used For A Sefer Torah Count As Ma'aser
Can A Congregation or Community Rely On A Designated Charity Fund and Restrict People From Soliciting From Individuals
Giving Sedaka in the Proper Manner and at the Proper Time
Is a Non-Verbal Commitment to Charity Binding?
Paying or Accepting Interest as a Gift
Doing Favors for the Lender in Lieu of Interest
Lending Money on Condition that the Borrower Fulfills a Wish of the Lender
Page of 239
3585 Halachot found