Guidelines to Purim:
Over 250 of the Most Commonly Asked Questions about Purim
By Rabbi Elozor Barclay and Rabbi Yitzchok Jaeger

Reading the Megillah

93. Why is the megillah read twice — at night and again in the morning?
This is to recall the miracle that occurred through the Jews crying out in their troubles by day and by night.

94. What is the earliest time it may be read at night?
The correct time is after nightfall. In extenuating circumstances, it may be read earlier. If a person is suffering because of the fast it is better to eat a quantity of food and read the megillah only after nightfall than to read the megillah early and eat afterwards.

95. What is the latest time it may be read at night?
It must be read before halachic dawn. It is praiseworthy to read the megillah immediately after ma'ariv, since one should endeavor to perform mitzvos at the first possible opportunity.

96. What if a person missed the night reading?
The mitzvah cannot be made up by reading megillah twice during the day.

97. What is the earliest time for the daytime reading?
The correct time is after sunrise. In an unavoidable situation, it may be read after halachic dawn.

97. What is the latest time for the daytime reading?
It must be read before sunset. If a person did not read or hear the megillah before sunset, he should nevertheless read it before nightfall, but without reciting the brachos. He should also omit the brachos if he begins to read before sunset but will not complete the reading until after sunset.

99. If a person knows in advance that he will not be able to hear the megillah on Purim (e.g. he is scheduled for surgery on that day, travelling etc.) what can be done?
He should read the megillah (from a kosher scroll) at night and during the day on the 11th, 12th, or 13th of Adar. The brachos should not be recited. If this too is impossible, he may even read it from rosh chodesh Adar. It should preferably be read in the presence of ten people.

100. What if subsequently it becomes possible to read the megillah on Purim?
He must hear the megillah again on Purim with brachos.

101. What if a person accidentally missed both megillah readings on the 14th of Adar?
It is praiseworthy to be in Jerusalem on the 15th of Adar (see chapter thirteen). If this is not possible, he should read the megillah on the 15th without brachos. Preferably, it should be read in the presence of ten people.

102. Are women obligated to hear the megillah?
Yes. Although this is a time-bound mitzvah, women are obligated, since they were also included in the decree and the miraculous salvation.

103. May a woman read the megillah for herself from a kosher megillah?
Ideally, a woman should hear the megillah read by a man. In extenuating circumstances she may read it for herself.

104. May a woman read the megillah for a man?
No, a man must hear it read by another man.

105. May a woman read it for another woman?
Yes, but she should not read it for a group of women.

106. Are children obligated to hear the megillah?
Children who are mature enough to listen attentively to the megillah reading should do so. Preferably, such children should be brought to shul to hear the public reading. However, they must be properly supervised during the reading and should understand that they have not been brought to shul simply for the fun of banging at Haman. Young children who are likely to cause a disturbance and prevent others from hearing the megillah should not be brought to shul.

107. May a child read the megillah for an adult?
Ideally, an adult should hear the megillah read by an adult. In extenuating circumstances, he may hear it read by a child.

108. Must the reader and listener be celebrating the same day of Purim?
Ideally, the reader and listener must be keeping the same day. However, if someone who is keeping the 14th heard the megillah on the 14th from someone who will keep the 15th, he has fulfilled his obligation. If someone keeping the 15th heard it on the 15th from someone who kept the 14th, he has not fulfilled his obligation.

109. What must a person think before reading or listening to the megillah?
Men should have in mind that they are fulfilling the mitzvah to read the megillah. Women should have in mind that they are fulfilling the mitzvah to hear the megillah. Additionally, the reader should have in mind to include all the listeners who wish to fulfill their obligation.

110. Must one think about this throughout the reading?
No, it is sufficient to think this before the reading begins.

111. What if a person did not think about this?
If it is clear that he had this at the back of his mind, he has fulfilled his obligation. Therefore, the reader in shul is assumed to include all listeners and a person who comes to shul to hear the megillah is assumed to want to fulfill his obligation. The same applies when people gather in a house for the reading of the megillah.

112. When would the lack of thought invalidate the reading?
If it not clear from his actions that he intends to fulfill his obligation. For example;

if he was passing by a shul or house and happened to overhear the reading, or

if he reads the megillah in order to practice.

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