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...
Newspaper Delivery on Shabbat
The Status of Food Suitable Only for Animal Consumption With Respect to Muktzeh
If a Non-Jew Did Not Return a Rented Animal Before Shabbat
Renting Utensils to a Non-Jew before Shabbat
Asking a Gentile on Shabbat to Bring Something From One's Car
Eating After Sundown on Shabbat if One Began Se'uda Shelishit Before Sundown
Handling Mail Received on Shabbat
The Significance of the Word "Shabbat"
Ereb Shabbat: Haircutting, Nail Cutting, Bathing, and Immersing in a Mikveh
Cutting Vegetables for a Salad on Shabbat
Sitting or Leaning on a Car on Shabbat
Wearing a Handkerchief in a Public Domain on Shabbat
Is it permissible to use diapers with adhesive strips on Shabbat?
Home Construction on Shabbat
Hiring a Non-Jew to Perform a Task Which Might be Done on Shabbat
Page of 239
3585 Halachot found