Megillah 31b

מגילה ל״א ע״ב

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Topic

Megillah 31b: special readings for אב and fast days, the merit of the מעמדות and קרבנות, reading the קללות, and where the weekly Torah readings resume

Overview

This amud first covers the special readings of the month of אב. When ראש חודש אב falls on שבת, the הפטרה is 'חדשיכם ומועדיכם'. On תשעה באב itself, several opinions are given, and אביי reports the custom: 'כי תוליד בנים' with the הפטרה 'אסוף אסיפם'. The גמרא then explains why the מעמדות read מעשה בראשית: the world stands because of the קרבנות. A dialogue between אברהם and הקדוש ברוך הוא teaches that when there is no בית המקדש, reading the סדר קרבנות counts like bringing them. Next, the גמרא explains why the קללות are not split on a תענית, and אביי limits that rule to the curses in ויקרא. A story about רב הונא shows this rule in practice. A ברייתא then teaches that עזרא set the curses before עצרת and ראש השנה so that the year ends with its curses. After a teaching about following elders, with רחבעם as the example, the amud ends with a מחלוקת between רבי מאיר and רבי יהודה about where the weekday Torah readings resume. It closes with רבי זירא's ruling and a question about his wording, which is answered on the next amud.

Opening lines

The steps (38)

1. StatementThe הפטרה when ראש חודש אב falls on שבת
2. QuestionWhat does 'a burden to Me' mean?
3. ResponseIsrael sins and then makes God reconsider the punishment
4. QuestionWhich הפטרה is read on תשעה באב itself?
5. Responseרב: 'How did she become a harlot'
6. QuestionWhich Torah reading is used on תשעה באב?
7. ResponseA ברייתא with three opinions on the Torah reading
8. Conclusionאביי: the custom nowadays
9. StatementBack to the משנה: the מעמדות read מעשה בראשית
10. QuestionWhy do the מעמדות read מעשה בראשית?
11. Responseרבי אמי: the world exists because of the מעמדות
12. Proofאברהם asks: במה אדע?
13. ResponseGod answers: No
14. Questionאברהם asks how he can be sure
15. ResponseThe answer is קרבנות
16. ChallengeWhat about when there is no Temple?
17. ResponseReading about קרבנות counts like bringing them
18. StatementThe משנה: blessings and curses on fast days
19. QuestionWhere does this rule come from?
20. ResponseDo not despise ה׳'s rebuke
21. ResponseNo blessing over a calamity
22. QuestionSo how is it done?
23. ResponseStart before the curses and end after them
24. Statementאביי limits the rule to the curses in ויקרא
25. QuestionWhy the difference?
26. ResponsePlural from ה׳ versus singular from משה
27. Proofרב הונא lets a nervous reader stop in the middle of the curses
28. StatementEzra set the times for reading the two sets of curses
29. QuestionWhy did Ezra set this timing?
30. ResponseSo that the year ends together with its curses
31. ChallengeBut is שבועות a new year?
32. ResolutionYes, שבועות is a new year for fruit trees
33. StatementThe tearing down of elders is building; the building of youths is tearing down
34. Proofרחבעם בן שלמה as the example
35. Statementרבי מאיר: each reading picks up where the last one ended
36. Statementרבי יהודה: all the readings start from where שבת morning ended
37. Statementרבי זירא rules by spelling out the full rule
38. ChallengeWhy not just say the law follows רבי יהודה?