Daf Yomi Megillah

Megillah 2a and Megillah 2b, starting our journey with the obligations of Purim, in particular the various times allowed for the mitzvah of reading the Megillah.

Megillah 3a and Megillah 3b, the challenges of translating Tanach, and the priorities among Torah study, Temple service, Megilla reading, and burying a met mitzvah.

Megillah 4a and Megillah 4b, walled cities built by Yehoshu’a, destroyed, and rebuilt, reading Megillah at night and during the day, and then how smaller towns read early and what to do when Purim falls on Friday or Shabbat.

Megillah 5a and Megillah 5b, why we observe certain things early (like reading Megillah) and push off others (like fasting), and the prohibition of labor on Purim, either day.

Megillah 6a and Megillah 6b, identifying places in Israel based on their names in Tanach and as known at the time, the permanent competition between Rome and Jerusalem, staying away from evildoers in their successful times, and then what happens when a second Adar is instituted after already having read Megillah.

Megillah 7a and Megillah 7b, including Esther in Tanach (and other disputed books), the meal of Purim, and then starting a series of comparison Mishnayot, where there is only one significant difference between two areas of halacha.

Megillah 8a and Megillah 8b, more ein beins, especially about sacrifice and versions of ritual impurity.

Megillah 9a and Megillah 9b, what books of Tanach can be written in which languages, how the Septuagint came about and why the translators changed certain verses, the differences between types of High Priests, and between places where the Mishkan (or central mizbeah)was.

Megilla 10a and Megilla 10b, the question of how lasting a sanctity was invested in Jerusalem (and the rest of Israel) at the original conquest, with ramifications for whether we can offer sacrifices anywhere else in the absence of the Temple, and then starting to read Megillat Ester, with the Gemara’s understanding of its intentions.

Megillah 11a and Megillah 11b, finishing the ways various amoraim opened their discussion of the Megillah, and then investigating Ahashverosh, his character, and his choices to open the story.

Megillah 12a and Megillah 12b, studying the first verses of the Megillah, particularly the party and Vashti’s demise.

Megillah 13a and Megillah 13b, meanings of the name Esther or Hadassah, the value of tzeni’ut in terms of care about sharing information, Gd placing the solution to Haman before he rises to power, and then how he convinced Ahashverosh to let him plan to wipe out the Jews.

Megillah 14a and Megillah 14b, why there’s no Hallel on Purim, and then figuring out who the prophets, male and female, of the Jewish people have been.

Megillah 15a and Megillah 15b, prophets and their fathers, a series of statements by R. Elazar in the name of R. Hanina, as we continue our way through the Megillah, up to Ester’s first invitation to Ahashverosh, and his sleepless night after.

Megilla 16a and Megilla 16b, the downfall of Haman, a digression to Yosef and his brothers, and the end of the Megilla, expounded.

Megillah 17a and Megillah 17b, a review of Yishmael’s life and how that tells us what happened to Yaakov when, and then a new chapter, starting with what parts of Scripture or the liturgy must be recited in Hebrew and from a book.

Megillah 18a and Megillah 18b, finishing the order of the daily prayer and how it was set, then the rules for reading it by heart or in other languages, with the Hebrew knowledge of the maid of the house of Rebbe.

Megillah 19a and Megillah 19b, who is obligated/qualified to read the Megillah, how much of it, when, and from what kind of scroll, not in that order.

Megillah 20a and Megillah 20b, daytime mitzvot must be after sunrise, although the break of dawn already counts as day, and then a series of mitzvot that can only happen during the day, and how we know that.

Megillah 21a and Megillah 21b, finishing a chapter, with the mitzvot that apply in the day or at night, and a new chapter about reading the Megillah, and other readings, how many people, how many verses, and more.

Megillah 22a and Megillah 22b, how many aliyot there are on fast days, and the issue of making a blessing before and/or after Torah reading, with when a great rabbi may read the first aliyah even if not a kohen.

Megillah 23a and Megillah 23b, the numbers of people getting aliyot on regular days, holidays, and Shabbat, and their symbolisms, the ceremonies that require a minyan, and why.

Megillah 24a and Megillah 24b, how to handle the translator of Scripture, where we can or cannot jump around in Scripture, who gets to lead various services and/or perform the priestly blessing.

Megillah 25a and Megillah 25b, inappropriate ways to address Gd in prayer, parts of the Torah we read in public with or without translation, and why, where we insist on refined language and where it is appropriate to use vulgar language (to denigrate evil).

Megillah 26a and Megillah 26b, relative sanctity of various items, teaching us what can be bought or sold, and by what mechanism, how the council of a city can revoke its sanctity, and the difference between items of support for a mitzvah or for kedushah, sanctity.

Megillah 27a and Megillah 27b, selling items of sanctity for other items, when we may and may not.

Megillah 28a and Megillah 28b, ways to earn long life, what we may and may not do in synagogues, and the kinds of honor we give to Torah scholars, as well as to those who learn without any deep insight.

Megillah 29a and Megillah 29b, defining the proper honor for shuls, the deceased (both at funerals and cemeteries), and brides, then moving on to the four special readings around Purim time, especially figuring out what to read for Parshat Shekalim.

Megillah 30a and Megillah 30b, figuring out the order of the four special Torah readings around Purim and Pesah, with their haftarot, and then starting to list the various other special Torah readings of the year.

Megillah 31a and Megillah 31b, the Torah readings and haftarot of special days throughout the year.

Megillah 32a, finishing the Masechet with discussions of how to read the Torah and wrap it in public.