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...
Establishing a Partnership with a Non-Jew in a Business Open on Shabbat- Part 1
Sending Express Mail over Shabbat
Mailing Letters That Will be Handled on Shabbat
Elective Surgery Before Shabbat
May a non-Jew Carry Items Out of a Jewish Home on Shabbat?
Dropping Off Clothes at the Cleaners on Erev Shabbat
Ordering a Taxi for Immediately After Shabbat
Submitting Items for Servicing by a Non-Jew
May a Jew Allow his Non-Jewish Sales Representative to Work on Shabbat?
Is it Permitted to Participate in an Online Auction Taking Place on Shabbat?
Is it Permissible to Have a Check Cashed on Shabbat?
May One Allow a Plumber to Perform Repairs on Shabbat?
Is it Permissible to Schedule a Bank Payment for Shabbat?
May a Jew Engage a Customer Service Company on Shabbat?
May e-Commerce be Conducted on Shabbat?
Page of 239
3585 Halachot found