1) It is the accepted Minhag amongst all of Klal Yisroel, when reading the Megilah, that the Megilah scroll of the Ba'al Koreh is unfurled and folded like a letter before commencing the reading. The reason for this Minhag is that the Megilah is referred to in the Posuk as an "Igeres - a letter".
The congregation need not unfurl their personal Megilahs (for those who follow along in a Kosher Megilah), though they may do so if they wish. (See Kitzur Shulchan Aruch Siman 141:10)
2) There are four Pesukim in the Megilah, which are referred to as "Pesukim Shel Geulah- Pesukim of redemption", and these Pesukim are customarily said aloud by the entire congregation, and afterwards read by the Ba'al Koreh. (The Mateh Moshe quotes the Ba'al HaTanya that this is only if children are present, as it is done to keep them interested, thus if one is reading the Megilah for adults only, it needn't be done. According to the Gaon of Vilna though, it is done even if no children are present)
The four Pesukim are:
1) Ish Yehudi Haya B'Shushan HaBirah... (Perek 2 Posuk 5)
4) Ki Mordechai HaYehudi...(The last Posuk of the Megilah)
If one does not have a kosher Megilah, he/she should have in mind not to be Yotzei the aforementioned Pesukim when saying them aloud, rather to be Yotzei with the Ba'al Koreh's reading like the rest of the Megilah. (Mishna Berura Siman 690:58)
When the Ba'al Koreh reads the words "B'Laila HaHu Nadedah Shnas HaMelech (Perek 6 Posuk 1) he raises his voice, as that is the beginning of the miracle. (MaHaril quoted in Mishna Berura Siman 690: 52)
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QUESTION & ANSWER CORNER
Reader Submitted Questions of interest on topics related to Halachos we covered, as well as other interesting topic and Answers.
These Q&A are taken from the Q & A pages on the Halacha For Today website.
Although the answers I give to questions are taken directly from the Sifrei HaPoskim, and aren't my own, they are still for study purposes only, NOT for Psak Halacha.
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Reader's Question:
Can one say Tehilim [or learn or daven] on a subway train where there are all kinds of people [dressed inappropriately] etc. ?
Answer:
As long as you avert your eyes away from any non-Tzniyus dressed women and keep them in the Tehilim or Siddur (or closed if possible) you may say Tehilim or daven.
Unless there is a bad and foul smell on the train, then you would not be allowed to daven as long as you were within range of the smell.
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CHIZUK CORNER
This section is dedicated L'Ilui Nishmos the Telzer Rosh Yeshiva, HaRav Chaim Yaakov Stein Zatzal and the Mir Rosh Yeshiva, HaRav Noson Tzvi Finkel Zatzal. May we all strive to follow in their ways and may they both be Melitzei Yosher for all of Klal Yisroel.
We will B'Ezras Hashem post here each day a short inspirational thought to help us all improve our lives and grow in our service of our Father in heaven, HaKadosh Baruch Hu.
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זכר צדיקים וקדושים לברכה
Question:
What should you think when saying "Amen Yehei Shmei Rabah"?
Answer by HaRav Avigdor Miller Zatzal:
I'll just tell you one thing now, just to be brief. A man has to be able to look back on his life and to see what Hakadosh Baruch Hu did for him. If you don't do that, then you can't say anything. You won't say Amen Yi'hei Sh'mei Rabah properly, or anything else. Now, when a man looks back on his life, and he sees that Hakadosh Baruch Hu spared him so many troubles that he noticed occur to other people in this world, and that he is perfect almost without any blemish.
Some people never broke a bone in their lives. If you're one of these people, it's a remarkable history. You never broke a bone in your life? Think how many people broke bones! They had casts at least for a few weeks. You never broke a bone in your life?! How many people never had a fire in their homes, even once in their lifetime? You never had a fire?! So many people had fires in their homes.
How many people were without work, didn't have a job for some time? You never were unemployed? Never in your life were you unemployed?
How many people had trouble, serious trouble in their houses, marital troubles? Either he ran out of the house or his wife ran out, and it was a great to-do before they were reunited in embarrassment. You never had that in your life?
So when you look back and you see Hakadosh Baruch Hu spared you, so you start thanking Him. But you'll never get through, there's so much, there's so much!! So you say, Yi'hei Sh'mei Rabah Me'vorach, I have to thank you Hashem and bless you, Le'olam, forever U'lolmei Ol'mayah, and ever and ever. No matter how much I'll say, I won't live long enough. In the next world I'll continue to thank You and praise You forever and ever. There's so much to be grateful for.
Of course, if a man's mind is empty of gratitude, so it's just empty words. It's easy to sign a blank check, he gives a check, a blank check,or he writes a check even for a million dollars. You don't have a penny in the bank, however. What good is check like that? A man says "I thank you Hashem forever and ever and ever, don't bother me anymore."
When a man's heart is overflowing, when he says it, let him think of at least one thing. Next time another thing.
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Important Numbers
