Megillah Reading

Men, women and children old enough to sit still (both boys and girls) are obligated to listen to the Megillah.

• The reader should spread out his Megillah for the reading so that it resembles a “letter”. The Chabad custom is to fold it twice so that it has three layers. In addition, according to Chabad custom, those who are listening to the reading with their own Megillah should also spread out it in this way. The Megillah should be placed on a table and should not be “hanging” in the air.
• The Chabad custom is to leave the Megillah spread out until after the blessing is said after the reading. In other communities the custom is to wrap it up before the blessing.
• The reader should only pause between each verse in order to breathe. In between each chapter, he should pause for a little bit longer.
• Care should be taken to hear every word. If one misses a word, one should catch up to the reader by reading to themselves from their (printed) Megillah.
• One must hear the entire Megillah in order. Therefore, one who came late and missed the beginning of the reading should listen to the entire reading later rather than hearing the end in the earlier reading and the beginning in a later reading.
• For this reason, one should not talk from the beginning of the Brachot until after the end of the bracha following the Megillah reading.
• If one has his own hand-written Megillah, he may read along with the reader, word for word. (This is recommended.) He should do so in an undertone so as not to disturb the other congregants who are listening to the Ba’al Koreh. One who is following in a printed Megillah should not read along.
• One who doesn’t understand Hebrew fulfills the mitzvah by simply listening to the reading.
• The Chazan should pause while the children shake their graggers etc. when Haman’s wicked name is mentioned.
• In Chabad synagogues, it is customary to shake the graggers only when Haman’s name is mentioned together with an adjective, e.g., “Haman Ha’Agagi” or “Haman ben Hamdata.”
• When hearing the brachot, it is proper for all the assembled to stand.
• During the reading, the reader should stand (if a minyan or more are present) while those listening may sit.
• It is better to hear the Megillah in Shul where there will be a large attendance rather than at home, even if there will be a minyan at home. If the noise in Shul makes it impossible to hear every word it is preferable to hear it in a private home, with a minyan.
• It is important to have at least ten people present for this reading. If this is not possible, one still fulfills the mitzvah.
• Some say that women count towards the number ten. Others disagree.
• One should not bring very young children and babies to Shul as they may disturb the reading. In such a case, it is better to arrange for a private reading.
• If one is reading the Megillah with less than a minyan, one should not say the blessing after the reading. One may say the blessing without G-d’s name (Baruch Asher Kideshanu etc.)
• In addition to the four verses that are recited aloud by the congregation, the Chabad custom is that the congregation also recites the ten sons of Haman (in one breath) before the reader. The children should make noise after they are mentioned as well.
• One does not fulfill this mitzvah by hearing the Megillah being read over the phone, radio, Skype, or even a microphone.
• One who is in a place that does not have a kosher Megillah should read from a printed Megillah to remember the miracle but should not say a blessing on that reading.

Reading for Others

The Lubavitcher Rebbe encouraged people to seek out people who need to hear the Megillah and share this mitzvah with them. If one is reading for others after having already fulfilled this mitzvah, it is preferable to have one of the listeners make the blessing if one of them is able to do so.