Megilla (Mishnah)

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Detail of a megilla from Italy

Megilla / מגילה ( Eng . "[Book] roll") is the 10th treatise of the Mishnah in the order Mo'ed (festival times, festival day) .

The name of the treatise refers to the book of Esther to be read on Purim . In the first four Mishnajot, the first chapter deals with the questions of when and where the ester scroll should be read. The following applies:

“Cities that have been walled since the days of Yehoshua bin Nun read on the 15th [of the month of Adar]. Villages and small towns read on the 14th ”(mMeg 1.1).

In leap years when there is a second Adar , the scroll is read in that month. At Mishnah 4, which negotiates the distinction between the first and second Adar, follows a list of things or regulations that are introduced with the formula “There is no difference between ...”.

Detail of a megilla from Italy

The second chapter deals with the questions of how and by whom the scroll should be read and how it should be designed. Here, too, there are further comments that are not related to the initial topic of the “ester role”. In the third chapter the general topic of the treatise is left. Instead, it discusses questions about synagogues, their furnishings and the readings on Shabbatot and public holidays . Finally, the fourth chapter deals with the reading of the Ester scroll as well as similarities and differences to the reading of the Torah scroll . The treatise closes with a list of Tanach sections that should be read (not translated) and two sections ( Ezekiel 1 and 16) that should not be used as Haftara .

The treatise is significant because of the news about the design of the liturgy in early Judaism and the halachic rules for Purim that are still valid today. Further information can be found in the Tosefta and in the Gemara of the Eretz-Jisra'elic Talmud (Talmud Jeruschalmi) and the Babylonian Talmud (Talmud Bavli).

In the treatise of the Babylonian Talmud there is also (fol. 7b) the well-known passage calling for excessive celebration that it is a commandment to drink so much (alcohol) on Purim until one can no longer distinguish between "cursed be Haman" and " blessed be Mordecai ”.

literature

  • Joseph Rabbinowitz: Mishnah Megillah. Edited with Introduction, Translation, Commentary and Critical Notes. Oxford University Press et al., London 1931 (Reprinted by Gregg, Westmead 1970, ISBN 0-576-80154-2 ).
  • Lothar Tetzner: Megilla (Esther role). Töpelmann, Giessen 1968.
  • Michael Krupp (Ed.): The Mishnah. 2nd order. Mo'ed - festival times. Part 2, 10: Michael Krupp: Megilla role. Lee Achim Sefarim, Jerusalem 2002, ISBN 965-7221-09-9 .

Web link

See also