Megillah 23a

מגילה כ״ג ע״א

Learn Megillah 23a step by step: Aramaic beside English, every question, answer and proof colour-coded.

Open Megillah 23a in Gemara Clarity

Topic

How many people are called to the תורה, what the numbers stand for, and who counts toward the seven

Overview

The amud opens by finishing the earlier discussion about bowing: like אביי, רבא only bent over and did not lie flat on the ground. The גמרא then asks who wrote the משנה that gives five readers on יום טוב, six on יום הכפורים, and seven on שבת, with adding allowed. A ברייתא shows that this fits neither רבי ישמעאל nor רבי עקיבא. רבא answers that it follows the version of רבי ישמעאל taught in his school, and the גמרא explains that two תנאים reported רבי ישמעאל's view differently. Next the גמרא discusses what the numbers 3, 5 and 7 stand for: either the word counts of ברכת כהנים or the king's officials named in the verses, which רב יוסף's ברייתא supports. The six readers of יום הכפורים match the six people who stood on each side of עזרא, with זכריה and משולם being one man. Finally, a ברייתא teaches that anyone, even a קטן or a woman, counts toward the seven, though a woman should not read because of כבוד ציבור. The גמרא then asks whether the מפטיר counts as one of the seven, and it starts to defend the view that he does not, an answer that continues on the next amud.

Opening lines

The steps (26)

1. Resolutionרבא only bent over instead of fully lying down
2. StatementThe משנה's numbers of Torah readers
3. QuestionWho is the author of the משנה?
4. ProofThe ברייתא with both views
5. ChallengeSpelling out why neither תנא fits
6. Resolutionרבא: It follows the school of רבי ישמעאל
7. Challengeרבי ישמעאל seems to contradict himself
8. ResolutionTwo תנאים reported רבי ישמעאל differently
9. QuestionWho taught the ברייתא about arriving and leaving?
10. ResponseSuggestion: it is רבי עקיבא
11. RejectionEven רבי ישמעאל fits, because the prayers are long
12. QuestionWhat do the numbers 3, 5 and 7 stand for?
13. ResponseTwo answers: ברכת כהנים or the king's officers
14. Proofרב יוסף's ברייתא supports the royal officers view
15. Questionאביי asks why רב יוסף never explained this before
16. Responseרב יוסף: I did not know you needed it
17. QuestionWhat do the six readers of יום הכפורים match?
18. ResponseThe six match the people standing beside Ezra
19. ChallengeBut the left side has seven names
20. Resolutionזכריה and משולם are one person
21. StatementAnyone counts toward the seven, but a woman should not read
22. QuestionDoes the מפטיר count as one of the seven?
23. Responseרב הונא and רבי ירמיה בר אבא disagree
24. ResponseWhy one opinion says the מפטיר does not count
25. ChallengeThe 21-verse הפטרה seems to show the מפטיר is one of the seven
26. ResolutionStarting the answer: it is only for כבוד תורה