Megillah 25b

מגילה כ״ה ע״ב

Learn Megillah 25b step by step: Aramaic beside English, every question, answer and proof colour-coded.

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Topic

Which sensitive passages are read and translated, read but not translated, or not read at all; polite substitutes for crude words; mocking עבודה זרה; and the start of פרק בני העיר.

Overview

This amud goes through a list of embarrassing passages in תנ"ך and rules on how each is handled in the public reading. First comes a ברייתא of passages that are read and translated: לוט and his daughters, תמר and יהודה, the first account of the עגל, the קללות and ברכות, the אזהרות and עונשין, אמנון and תמר, אבשלום, פילגש בגבעה, and יחזקאל's rebuke of ירושלים. For almost every item the גמרא asks 'פשיטא!' and answers 'מהו דתימא': we might have worried about someone's honor or the listeners' feelings, and the ruling rejects that worry. For יחזקאל's rebuke, the ruling instead comes to reject רבי אליעזר, who objected to reading it. Next comes the list of רעבד"ן, passages that are read but not translated: ראובן, the second account of the עגל (where אהרן's careless words gave the מינין an opening), and ברכת כהנים, because of the word 'ישא'. The story of דוד and אמנון is not even read; the גמרא explains that this applies only to verses that say 'אמנון בן דוד'. A ברייתא then teaches that crude words are read with polite substitutes, and רב נחמן and others rule that mocking עבודה זרה is the one kind of mockery that is permitted. The פרק ends with a הדרן, and a new פרק opens with a משנה teaching that money from selling a holy item may only buy something holier.

Opening lines

The steps (46)

1. ResolutionFinishing the point about reading the Creation story in public
2. StatementThe story of לוט and his daughters is read and translated
3. ChallengeIsn't that obvious?
4. ResolutionWe might have worried about אברהם's honor
5. StatementThe story of תמר and יהודה is read and translated
6. ChallengeIsn't that obvious too?
7. Resolutionיהודה's honor is not hurt: the story praises him for confessing
8. StatementThe first account of the Golden Calf is read and translated
9. ChallengeIsn't this also obvious?
10. ResolutionThe shame of the עגל actually brings ישראל atonement
11. StatementThe curses and blessings are read and translated
12. ChallengeWhy is this ruling needed at all
13. ResolutionWe might have worried about upsetting the congregation
14. StatementThe warnings and punishments are read and translated
15. ChallengeAgain, why is this needed
16. ResolutionWe might have worried people would serve ה׳ only out of fear
17. StatementThe stories of אמנון and תמר, and of אבשלום, are read and translated
18. ChallengeWhy state this about דוד's family
19. ResolutionWe might have worried about דוד's honor
20. StatementThe story of פילגש בגבעה is read and translated
21. ChallengeWhy state this about פילגש בגבעה
22. ResolutionWe might have worried about the honor of שבט בנימין
23. Statementיחזקאל's rebuke of ירושלים is read and translated
24. ChallengeWhy would we need to say this?
25. ResolutionThe ruling rejects the view of רבי אליעזר
26. ProofThe story showing רבי אליעזר's objection
27. StatementNew category: read but not translated, starting with ראובן
28. Proofרבי חנינא בן גמליאל stops the translation
29. StatementThe second account of the עגל is read but not translated
30. QuestionWhich part is the second account?
31. ResponseFrom 'ויאמר משה' until 'וירא משה'
32. StatementBe careful with your answers: אהרן's words gave heretics an opening
33. Statementברכת כהנים is read but not translated
34. QuestionWhy is ברכת כהנים not translated
35. ResponseBecause the verse says God will 'lift up' His face
36. StatementThe story of דוד and אמנון is neither read nor translated
37. ChallengeBut another source says אמנון and תמר is read and translated
38. ResolutionIt depends on whether the verse says 'אמנון בן דוד'
39. StatementCoarse words in verses are read aloud with refined words
40. Statementרבי יהושע בן קרחה: mocking idols may be read as written
41. Statementרב נחמן: All mockery is forbidden except mockery of idols
42. Proofרבי ינאי's alternative source from הושע
43. StatementA Jew may tell a gentile to put his idol in a crude place
44. StatementShaming someone with a bad reputation and praising someone with a good one
45. Conclusionהדרן — Closing the פרק הקורא את המגילה עומד
46. StatementNew perek: selling holy items only to buy something holier