Q. An elderly great teacher who has been the reader of the Purim Megilah for many years, and is an excellent reader, finds it difficult at his age to stand. Can he now read it sitting down? Does he have to be replaced by someone who is not close to his abilities? Can he at least lean on the Bimah?
A. Shulchan Aruch (O.H. 690: 1) rules that ‘Lechatchila - on the onset’ one should not read the Megilah for the Tzibur
or a Minyan while seating down.
However, Mishna Berura (ibid. 2) permits leaning when needed.
Horav Shlomo Miller’s Shlit’a opinion is to be stringent when one will not be able to remain standing without the leaning.
Rabbi A. Bartfeld as revised by Horav Dovid Pam, Horav Aharon Miller and Horav Chanoch Ehrentreu Shlit'a
Important Numbers
