Megillah 4

הַקּוֹרֵא אֶת הַמְּגִלָּה עוֹמֵד וְיוֹשֵׁב. קְרָאָהּ אֶחָד, קְרָאוּהָ שְׁנַיִם, יָצְאוּ. מְקוֹם שֶׁנָּהֲגוּ לְבָרֵךְ, יְבָרֵךְ. וְשֶׁלֹּא לְבָרֵךְ, לֹא יְבָרֵךְ. בְּשֵׁנִי וּבַחֲמִישִׁי וּבְשַׁבָּת בַּמִּנְחָה, קוֹרִין שְׁלֹשָׁה, אֵין פּוֹחֲתִין וְאֵין מוֹסִיפִין עֲלֵיהֶן, וְאֵין מַפְטִירִין בַּנָּבִיא. הַפּוֹתֵחַ וְהַחוֹתֵם בַּתּוֹרָה, מְבָרֵךְ לְפָנֶיהָ וּלְאַחֲרֶיהָ:

One who reads the Megillah may [either] stand [or] sit. If one read it or two read it [together] they have fulfilled their obligation [and we do not say that two voices together are not heard as one. For since it (the Megillah) is beloved of them, they concentrate (on hearing it).] In a place where it is the custom to recite the [concluding] blessing, he does so; (where it is the custom) not to recite it, he does not do so. [But in all places, he must recite three introductory blessings: "al mikra megillah," "she'asah nissim," and "shehecheyanu," both at night and in the daytime, the reading of the day being the essential one, viz. (Esther 9:28): "And these days are commemorated and celebrated." Some hold that since he recites "shehecheyanu" at night, he need not do so in the daytime. And this would stand to reason.] On Monday, Thursday, and minchah on Shabbath three men read, no less and no more, [and there is no haftarah reading in Prophets, so that the congregation not be imposed upon, these (Monday and Thursday) being working days. And with minchah on Shabbath, too, (there is an imposition), it being close to dark and it being their custom to learn the entire day. And for this reason, too, there is no haftarah reading)]. The opener and the concluder in the Torah (reading) recite the opening and the concluding blessing, respectively. [The first one to read in the Torah recites the opening blessing, and the last, the concluding blessing. And all the others who read in the Torah (between them) recite neither an opening nor a concluding blessing. But nowadays, the custom is for all to bless before and after — a decree, by reason of those who enter (in the middle of the reading), who, not having heard the blessing of the first reader, might come to say that there is no opening blessing for the Torah; and by reason of those who leave (in the middle), who, not having heard the concluding blessing, the first readers not having recited it, might come to say that there is no concluding blessing for the Torah.]

בְּרָאשֵׁי חֳדָשִׁים וּבְחֻלּוֹ שֶׁל מוֹעֵד, קוֹרִין אַרְבָּעָה, אֵין פּוֹחֲתִין מֵהֶן וְאֵין מוֹסִיפִין עֲלֵיהֶן, וְאֵין מַפְטִירִין בַּנָּבִיא. הַפּוֹתֵחַ וְהַחוֹתֵם בַּתּוֹרָה, מְבָרֵךְ לְפָנֶיהָ וּלְאַחֲרֶיהָ. זֶה הַכְּלָל, כָּל שֶׁיֵּשׁ בּוֹ מוּסָף וְאֵינוֹ יוֹם טוֹב, קוֹרִין אַרְבָּעָה. בְּיוֹם טוֹב, חֲמִשָּׁה. בְּיוֹם הַכִּפּוּרִים, שִׁשָּׁה. בְּשַׁבָּת, שִׁבְעָה. אֵין פּוֹחֲתִין מֵהֶן, אֲבָל מוֹסִיפִין עֲלֵיהֶן, וּמַפְטִירִין בַּנָּבִיא. הַפּוֹתֵחַ וְהַחוֹתֵם בַּתּוֹרָה, מְבָרֵךְ לְפָנֶיהָ וּלְאַחֲרֶיהָ:

On New Moon and Chol Hamoed four men read, no less and no more. And there is no haftarah reading in Prophets, [For on New Moon and Chol Hamoed there is, likewise, (the factor of) keeping people from work, essential labor being permitted.] The opener and the concluder in the Torah (reading) recite the opening and the concluding blessing, respectively. This is the rule: Wherever there is mussaf and no yom tov, there are four (readers); on yom tov, there are five; on Yom Kippur, six; on Shabbath, seven. [For whatever occasion has more features than its neighbor has more readers. Therefore, on Rosh Chodesh and Chol Hamoed, where there is a mussaf offering, there are four readers; on yom tov, where work is interdicted, there are five; on Yom Kippur, where there is a punishment of kareth (cutting-off), six; on Shabbath, where there is a punishment of skilah (stoning), seven.] There may be no fewer, but there may be more. And there is a haftarah reading in Prophets. The opener and the concluder in the Torah (reading) recite the opening and the concluding blessing, respectively.

אֵין פּוֹרְסִין אֶת שְׁמַע, וְאֵין עוֹבְרִין לִפְנֵי הַתֵּבָה, וְאֵין נוֹשְׂאִין אֶת כַּפֵּיהֶם, וְאֵין קוֹרִין בַּתּוֹרָה, וְאֵין מַפְטִירִין בַּנָּבִיא, וְאֵין עוֹשִׂין מַעֲמָד וּמוֹשָׁב, וְאֵין אוֹמְרִים בִּרְכַּת אֲבֵלִים וְתַנְחוּמֵי אֲבֵלִים וּבִרְכַּת חֲתָנִים, וְאֵין מְזַמְּנִין בַּשֵּׁם, פָּחוֹת מֵעֲשָׂרָה. וּבַקַּרְקָעוֹת, תִּשְׁעָה וְכֹהֵן. וְאָדָם, כַּיּוֹצֵא בָּהֶן:

(The following are not done with fewer than ten:) The Shema is not "parceled" (porsin) with fewer than ten. [If ten came to the house of prayer, after the congregation had recited the Shema, one (of them) rises and says "Kaddish," "Barchu," and the first blessing before the Shema. "porsin," from "p'rusah," half a thing, i.e., of the two blessings before the Shema, he says only one.], and they (the Cohanim) do not lift their hands [for the priestly blessing], and they do not read the Torah [(congregational reading)], and they do not read the haftarah (in Prophets), and they do not perform "standings and sittings" (over the dead), and they do not recite the mourners' blessing and the mourners' consolations and the grooms' blessing, and they do not say grace with His name (— with fewer than ten.) [All of these are not done with fewer than ten because it is written (Leviticus 22:32): "And I shall be sanctified in the midst of the children of Israel" — Every matter of sanctity requires at least ten (participants). It is written here: "in the midst of the children of Israel," and, elsewhere (Numbers 16:21): "Separate yourselves from the midst of this congregation." Just as there, ten (there being no "congregation" fewer than ten), here, too, ten. ("and they do not perform 'standings and sittings'":) for the dead. When the dead were taken out to be buried, they would sit seven times in honor of the deceased and say at each interval of eulogy: "Rise, dear ones, rise; sit dear ones, sit." And this is not seemly with fewer than ten. ("the mourners' blessing":) the blessing in the open place (rechavah). They would recite a blessing for the consolers and a blessing for the mourners (Kethuvoth 8b). ("and the mourners' consolations":) They would stand in a row upon returning from the grave and console the mourners. And there is no row fewer than ten. ("and the grooms' blessing":) the seven blessings addressed to the groom. ("and they do not say grace, etc.":) Since "Let us bless our G-d" must be stated, this is not seemly with fewer than ten.] And with land [of hekdesh (consecrated to the Temple), if one wishes to redeem it], there must be nine and a Cohein, [i.e., ten, (at least) one of whom is a Cohein; for "Cohein" is written ten times in the section on valuations (Leviticus 27): three (times) in respect to dedications: three in respect to valuations, three in respect to beasts, and three in respect to land.]; and a man, like it [i.e., If a man dedicates his worth (to the Temple), he is assessed as a bondsman. And a bondsman is likened to land, viz. (Leviticus 25:46): "And you shall cause them to be inherited, etc." So that just as land requires ten (assessors), one of them a Cohein; so, a man.]

הַקּוֹרֵא בַּתּוֹרָה לֹא יִפְחֹת מִשְּׁלֹשָׁה פְסוּקִים. לֹא יִקְרָא לַמְּתֻרְגְּמָן יוֹתֵר מִפָּסוּק אֶחָד, וּבַנָּבִיא שְׁלֹשָׁה. הָיוּ שְׁלָשְׁתָּן שָׁלֹשׁ פָּרָשִׁיּוֹת, קוֹרִין אֶחָד אֶחָד. מְדַלְּגִין בַּנָּבִיא וְאֵין מְדַלְּגִין בַּתּוֹרָה. וְעַד כַּמָּה הוּא מְדַלֵּג, עַד כְּדֵי שֶׁלֹּא יִפְסֹק הַמְּתֻרְגְּמָן:

The reader in the Torah may not read fewer than three verses. He may not read to the translator more than one verse (at a time), [so that, translating by heart, he not err.] And in Prophets, he may read three (at a time) if he wishes, and we are not apprehensive as to his erring, for we do not derive halachah therefrom.] And if the three (verses in Prophets) were three (distinct) sections [as in (Isaiah 52:3-5): "For thus said the L-rd: 'Gratis were you sold … For thus said the L-rd: 'To Egypt, My people went down in the beginning … And now, what have I here,' says the L-rd," These are three (distinct) sections in three consecutive verses.], they are read one (verse) at a time. We skip in Prophets [from section to section, and even from one theme to another], but we do not skip in Torah [from one theme to another; but we do skip in one theme, e.g., the high-priest's reading on Yom Kippur in "Acharei moth" (Leviticus 16) and skipping to "Ach be'asor" (Ibid. 23)]. And how much may he skip? So long as the translator does not leave off (translating). [One who skips, whether in Torah in one theme, or in Prophets, even in two themes, may not pause (reading in the process of turning to the next part) longer than is necessary for the translator to finish translating what he had just read, it not befitting the honor of the congregation to have them stand there in silence.]

הַמַּפְטִיר בַּנָּבִיא, הוּא פּוֹרֵס עַל שְׁמַע, וְהוּא עוֹבֵר לִפְנֵי הַתֵּבָה, וְהוּא נוֹשֵׂא אֶת כַּפָּיו. וְאִם הָיָה קָטָן, אָבִיו אוֹ רַבּוֹ עוֹבְרִין עַל יָדוֹ:

The one who [regularly] reads the haftarah in Prophets "parcels" the Shema (see 4:3). [The sages instituted that he "parcel" the Shema for the congregation], and he acts as prayer leader [to effect for them the fulfillment of the obligation of the sanctification of the Name (kedushah) in the Amidah. Because he is forthcoming in reading the haftarah, which is not to his honor, they instituted this for him, for his honor.], and he lifts his hands (in the priestly blessing). And if he were a minor, [who cannot act as prayer leader or "parcel" the Shema, his father or his teacher acts as prayer leader for him.]

קָטָן קוֹרֵא בַּתּוֹרָה וּמְתַרְגֵּם, אֲבָל אֵינוֹ פּוֹרֵס עַל שְׁמַע, וְאֵינוֹ עוֹבֵר לִפְנֵי הַתֵּיבָה, וְאֵינוֹ נוֹשֵׂא אֶת כַּפָּיו. פּוֹחֵחַ פּוֹרֵס אֶת שְׁמַע וּמְתַרְגֵּם, אֲבָל אֵינוֹ קוֹרֵא בַתּוֹרָה וְאֵינוֹ עוֹבֵר לִפְנֵי הַתֵּבָה וְאֵינוֹ נוֹשֵׂא אֶת כַּפָּיו. סוּמָא פּוֹרֵס אֶת שְׁמַע וּמְתַרְגֵּם. רַבִּי יְהוּדָה אוֹמֵר, כֹּל שֶׁלֹּא רָאָה מְאוֹרוֹת מִיָּמָיו, אֵינוֹ פּוֹרֵס עַל שְׁמַע:

A minor may read in the Torah [Some of the geonim say (that he may do so) only from shlishi on.] and translate; but he does not "parcel" the Shema [For he comes to effect the fulfillment of the obligation for others; and one who is himself not obligated in something cannot effect fulfillment of the obligation therein for others], and he may not act as prayer leader, and he may not lift his hands (in the priestly blessing) [if he is a Cohein, it not befitting the honor of the congregation to be dependent upon his blessing.] A pocheach [one whose clothes are torn and whose arms show ("naked and barefoot" - Isaiah 20:2) - is translated: "pacheach veyachef")] may "parcel" the Shema, [for he himself is obligated therein] and translate, but he does not read in the Torah, and he does not act as prayer leader, and he does not lift his hands (in the priestly blessing). [He does not read in the Torah because of the honor of the Torah. And so, with acting as prayer leader and lifting his hands, for it is demeaning to the congregation.] A blind man may "parcel" the Shema [For even though he does not see the luminaries, he benefits from them. For (through them) others see him and rescue him from obstacles.], and he may act as translator. R. Yehudah says: One who never saw the luminaries, [so that he never benefited from them] may not "parcel" the Shema. [The halachah is not in accordance with R. Yehudah.]

כֹּהֵן שֶׁיֵּשׁ בְּיָדָיו מוּמִין, לֹא יִשָּׂא אֶת כַּפָּיו. רַבִּי יְהוּדָה אוֹמֵר, אַף מִי שֶׁהָיוּ יָדָיו צְבוּעוֹת אִסְטִיס וּפוּאָה, לֹא יִשָּׂא אֶת כַּפָּיו, מִפְּנֵי שֶׁהָעָם מִסְתַּכְּלִין בּוֹ:

A Cohein who has blemishes on his hands [likewise on his face or on his feet] may not recite the priestly blessing. [For Cohanim are not permitted to go up for the blessing in their shoes. And if he has blemishes on his feet, they will gaze at them, and thence, at his hands. And if one gazes at the Cohanim in their blessing, his eyes are dimmed (Chagigah 16a), the Shechinah abiding between their hands.] R. Yehudah says: Also, one whose hands are dyed with istis [a blue dye] or with puah [red roots, which produce a red dye] may not lift his hands, for he is gazed at. [The gemara concludes that if he were a "familiar" in his city, so that all knew about (and were indifferent to) his blemishes or to his dyed hands, or if most of the men of the city worked in dyes, it is permitted, for then he is not gazed at.]

הָאוֹמֵר אֵינִי עוֹבֵר לִפְנֵי הַתֵּבָה בִצְבוּעִין, אַף בִּלְבָנִים לֹא יַעֲבֹר. בְּסַנְדָּל אֵינִי עוֹבֵר, אַף יָחֵף לֹא יַעֲבֹר. הָעוֹשֶׂה תְפִלָּתוֹ עֲגֻלָּה, סַכָּנָה וְאֵין בָּהּ מִצְוָה. נְתָנָהּ עַל מִצְחוֹ אוֹ עַל פַּס יָדוֹ, הֲרֵי זוֹ דֶּרֶךְ הַמִּינוּת. צִפָּן זָהָב, וּנְתָנָהּ עַל בֵּית אֻנְקְלִי שֶׁלּוֹ, הֲרֵי זוֹ דֶּרֶךְ הַחִיצוֹנִים:

If one said: "I shall not act as prayer leader in dyed clothes," he may not do so even in white clothes. [We fear that he may have succumbed to heresy, the idolators being solicitous of such matters.] (If he said: "I shall not, etc.") in shoes, he may not do so even barefoot. If one made his (head) phylactery round [like a nut or an egg], he has placed himself in danger [of the phylactery piercing his head] and he has not fulfilled the mitzvah, [for square phylacteries are a "halachah to Moses upon Sinai."] If he placed it on his forehead or on the palm of his hand, this is the way of heresy. [For the heretics spurn the words of the sages and follow the literal meaning of the verse, saying that "between your eyes" and "on your hand" are to be taken literally, whereas the sages learned by identity (gzeirah shavah): "between your eyes" — on the hair site of the head, where an infant's brain throbs; "on your hand" — on the height of the hand, the biceps muscle at the top of the arm, so that it is opposite the heart.] If he plated it with gold [contrary to (Exodus 13:9): "so that the Torah of the L-rd be in your mouth" — from what is "permitted in your mouth" — that the whole (of the phylacteries) be of the hide of a clean animal and not of gold] (If he plated it with gold) and placed it on the sleeve of his garment [from the outside, contrary to (Ibid.): "to you as a sign" — and not to others as a sign], this is the way of the "outsiders" [those who follow their dictates "outside of" the dictates of the sages.]

הָאוֹמֵר יְבָרְכוּךָ טוֹבִים, הֲרֵי זוֹ דֶּרֶךְ הַמִּינוּת. עַל קַן צִפּוֹר יַגִּיעוּ רַחֲמֶיךָ, וְעַל טוֹב יִזָּכֵר שְׁמֶךָ, מוֹדִים מוֹדִים, מְשַׁתְּקִין אוֹתוֹ. הַמְכַנֶּה בָעֲרָיוֹת, מְשַׁתְּקִין אוֹתוֹ. הָאוֹמֵר, וּמִזַּרְעֲךָ לֹא תִתֵּן לְהַעֲבִיר לַמֹּלֶךְ (ויקרא יח), וּמִזַרְעָךְ לֹא תִתֵּן לְאַעְבָּרָא בְּאַרְמָיוּתָא, מְשַׁתְּקִין אוֹתוֹ בִנְזִיפָה:

If one says: "May the good (i.e., the righteous) bless You," this is the way of heresy. [For Israel must include the sinners among them in the assembly of their fasts. For though galbanum (chelbenah) has a foul odor, Scripture included it among the spices of the incense.] If one says: "To a nest of birds, let Your mercies extend," [i.e., as Your mercies extended to birds and You decreed (Deuteronomy 22:6): "You shall not take the mother-bird together with the young," so be compassionate and merciful to us], he is to be silenced. [For he makes the mitzvoth of the Holy One Blessed be He functions of mercy, whereas they are nothing else but decrees (of the King to His subjects)]. Or (if he says:) "For (Your) good let Your name be remembered," [the implication being: We shall acknowledge You for good (but not for evil)], he is to be silenced. [For we must bless for the evil as well as for the good.] Or (if he says:) "We thank you," We thank you," [the impression being given that two deities are being acknowledged and accepted], he is to be silenced. If one expounds [the section on] illicit relations figuratively, [e.g., If he interprets the interdict against living with one's father and mother as an exhortation against revealing their shame in public], he is to be silenced. If one interprets (Leviticus 18:21): "And from your seed you shall not give to pass (through fire) to Moloch" as: "Do not give of your seed for impregnation to Aramatism" [i.e., Do not live with a gentile woman and beget a son for idolatry], he is to be silenced with a sharp rebuke. [For he uproots the verse from its (true) meaning and makes one who lives with a gentile woman liable for kareth (cutting-off) if he does so wilfully, and for a sin-offering if he does so unwittingly.]

מַעֲשֵׂה רְאוּבֵן (בראשית לה), נִקְרָא וְלֹא מִתַּרְגֵּם. מַעֲשֵׂה תָמָר (שם), נִקְרָא וּמִתַּרְגֵּם. מַעֲשֵׂה עֵגֶל הָרִאשׁוֹן (שמות לב), נִקְרָא וּמִתַּרְגֵּם. וְהַשֵּׁנִי (שם), נִקְרָא וְלֹא מִתַּרְגֵּם. בִּרְכַּת כֹּהֲנִים (במדבר ו), מַעֲשֵׂה דָּוִד (שמואל ב יא) וְאַמְנוֹן (שם יג), לֹא נִקְרָאִין וְלֹא מִתַּרְגְּמִין. אֵין מַפְטִירִין בַּמֶּרְכָּבָה (יחזקאל א), וְרַבִּי יְהוּדָה מַתִּיר. רַבִּי אֱלִיעֶזֶר אוֹמֵר, אֵין מַפְטִירִין בְּהוֹדַע אֶת יְרוּשָׁלַיִם (שם טז):

The episode of Reuven (and Bilhah) is read and not translated. The episode of Amnon and Tamar is read and translated. [And we are not apprehensive for David's honor. This, when it is not written "Amnon son of David" (see below)]. The first part of the episode of the golden calf is read and translated. [And we are not apprehensive for the honor of Israel.] The second part of the episode of the golden calf [from (Exodus 32:21): "And Moses said to Aaron" until (Ibid. 25): "And Moses saw the people, etc." and (Ibid. 35): "And the L-rd sent a plague among the people, etc."] is read and not translated, [in deference to Aaron]. The priestly blessing [is read and not translated because it includes (Numbers 6:26): "The L-rd lift His countenance unto you." So that they not say that the Holy One Blessed be He (gratuitously) lifts His countenance (in forgiveness) — and they, not knowing that Israel merits the lifting of His countenance to them.] The episode of David and Amnon is not read [in the haftarah] and not translated [ — all those verses where it is written "Amnon son of David." But those where "Amnon" alone is written — it is stated above: "The episode of Amnon and Tamar is read and translated."] There is no haftarah reading in the Divine Chariot (Ezekiel 1) [lest they come to question and probe therein.] R. Yehudah permits it. [And the halachah is in accordance with him.] R. Eliezer says: there is no haftarah reading in (Ezekiel 16): "Make known unto Jerusalem, etc.", [for the honor of Jerusalem. The halachah is not in accordance with R. Eliezer.]