Megillah 31a

מגילה ל״א ע״א

Learn Megillah 31a step by step: Aramaic beside English, every question, answer and proof colour-coded.

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Topic

The special Torah readings and הפטרות for fast days, weekdays, the holidays, חנוכה, פורים and ראש חודש

Overview

The משנה finishes its list of special Torah readings. On fast days we read the ברכות וקללות, and one person reads all the curses. On Mondays, Thursdays and שבת מנחה we read the start of the coming פרשה without moving forward. Each holiday gets its own reading, based on the פסוק 'וידבר משה את מועדי ה׳'. The גמרא then quotes a long ברייתא that gives the Torah reading and הפטרה for פסח, שבועות, ראש השנה, יום הכפורים, סוכות and שמיני עצרת. Along the way it adds how we read 'nowadays', when חוץ לארץ keeps two days of יום טוב. Prompted by the יום כפור הפטרה, רבי יוחנן teaches that wherever תנ״ך shows God's might, it also shows His humility, with a proof from תורה, נביאים and כתובים. The amud ends with רב הונא's rule for שבת חול המועד, the readings for חנוכה, פורים and ראש חודש, and the start of a new statement by רב הונא that continues on the next amud.

Opening lines

The steps (29)

1. StatementBlessings and curses are read without a break
2. StatementWeekday and שבת afternoon readings
3. ProofVerse source for reading about each holiday in its time
4. Statementפסח reading and הפטרה
5. Statementהפטרות for the two days of פסח nowadays
6. StatementThe middle days of Passover use a collection of Passover sections
7. QuestionWhich sections are these?
8. Responseרב פפא's memory aid: מאפ"ו
9. StatementReadings for the last day of Passover and the day after
10. Statementאביי reports today's custom for all eight days
11. StatementTwo opinions about the reading for שבועות
12. ConclusionWith two days, we follow both opinions in reverse order
13. StatementThe readings for ראש השנה: two opinions
14. ConclusionNowadays: two days of ראש השנה
15. StatementThe readings for יום הכפורים, morning and afternoon
16. Statementרבי יוחנן: God's might always comes with His humility
17. ProofProof from the Torah: God of gods, who cares for orphans and widows
18. ProofProof from the Prophets: the High and Lofty One is with the humble
19. ProofProof from the Writings: He rides the heavens and is a father to orphans
20. StatementReading for the first day of סוכות
21. ConclusionThe second day of סוכות nowadays
22. Statementחול המועד readings and the last day of the Festival
23. StatementThe next day: reading וזאת הברכה
24. Statementשבת during חול המועד
25. Statementחנוכה reading: the נשיאים, with the lamps of זכריה
26. ConclusionTwo שבתות of חנוכה: זכריה first, then שלמה
27. Statementפורים reading: 'ויבא עמלק'
28. StatementNew Moon reading: 'And in the beginnings of your months'
29. StatementSpecial הפטרות when ראש חודש falls on שבת or on Sunday