MEGILLAH READING
All men and women over the age of Bar/Bat Mitzvah must hear the Megillah. Children (both boys and girls) should also attend the Megillah reading and quietly follow along according to their ability, unless they are too young and will create a disturbance. [An infant who cries or makes noise should be taken out of Shul.]
Ideally, one should attend a Megillah reading in a Shul where a large crowd has congregated. However, one can hear Megillah anywhere. At the very least, one should hear the Megillah with a Minyan. [This applies even if he will be reading the Megillah later for individuals who could not attend a Minyan.] If this is also not possible, one should still endeavor to hear the Megillah with as many people as possible.
One does not fulfil the Mitzvah of Megillah when hearing it with the aid of a microphone, or over the phone or radio.
A perfectly Kosher Megillah should be used. [If that is unavailable, a Megillah may still be used if disqualified words or altogether missing words do not occur at its beginning or end, nor do they comprise an entire section or the majority of the Megillah. Needless to say, the Ba’al Koreh must still recite every single word even when using a Megillah with missing words.]
One may assume that his friend consents to his Megillah being borrowed for the sake of performing the Mitzvah, as long as it remains in the vicinity at all times and it is returned to exactly the same place in the same condition.
It is preferable that the listener follows along in a proper Megillah and recites the words in a barely audible whisper – but only if he is sufficiently familiar with the proper pronunciation of the words. One who follows along from a Chumash should not recite the words at all, but must rather pay especially close attention to the Ba’al Koreh.
The Megillah is unrolled before the first Brachot are recited. [This also applies to everyone else following along with a proper Megillah.]
It is permissible to touch the parchment of the Megillah directly, unlike a Sefer Torah. The Ba’al Koreh in Shul should be flanked by at least one person on his right and another on his left.
An Avel (within 12 months of a parent’s passing or within 30 days of a spouse, child or sibling’s passing) should not serve as the Ba’al Koreh in Shul, unless this is his regular function, or there is nobody as fluent as him.
Everyone should stand for the Brachot, unless it is too difficult. During the actual Megillah reading in Shul, the Ba’al Koreh must stand (and may lean for support if necessary), but those listening don’t need to stand. Nevertheless, most people do stand.
When the Ba’al Koreh recites the Brachot, he should have in mind to be Motzeh everyone who is listening to the Brachot and the entire Megillah. Similarly, everyone in attendance should have in mind to be Yotzei the Brachot and the entire Megillah, and should not say “Baruch Hu u’Varuch Shmoh”. [If one accidently did so, he does not recite the Brachot again.]
If the Ba’al Koreh already heard the Megillah, the Brachot are recited by another man who did not yet hear the Megillah, and he is Motzeh everyone. If none of the men present are able to recite the Brachot, the Ba’al Koreh may recite it for them (or prompt them word by word).
When the Megillah is read for less than a minyan of men or for women only, and the Ba’al Koreh already heard the Megillah, the women recite the Brachot themselves (standing), however some hold that the last Brachah, Harav Et Riveinu is not said. They may either recite the Brachot individually, or have one woman be Motzeh all the others. The same applies when reading the Megillah for children under the age of Bar/Bat Mitzvah.
One should not speak from the time of the Brachot until after the Megillah reading (and the last Brachah) is concluded, because unnecessary speech is considered an interruption, and also prevents him from hearing every word of the Megillah.
Whenever Haman’s name is mentioned (according to Chabad only alongside a title), one stamps his feet vigorously. Children should be encouraged in spinning their graggers and stamping out Haman’s name. The Ba’al Koreh should wait for absolute silence before resuming.
The following Pesukim are read aloud by the congregation, followed by the Ba’al Koreh: 2:5, 8:15, 8:16, 10:3. The Ba’al Koreh raises his voice at “Balailah Hahu” (6:1). The Baal Koreh reads “Laharog Ul’abed; v’Laharog Ul’abed” (8:11) and “V’ish Lo Amad Bifeneyhem; V’ish Lo Omad Lifeneyhem” (9:3).
The congregation reads the ten sons of Haman quickly in one breath, from the words “Chamesh Meot Ish” until “Aseret” (9:6-10), followed by the Ba’al Koreh. [Despite the speed, the Ba’al Koreh should ensure that he is looking at each word in the Megillah as he pronounces it.]
Some give the Megillah a light shake at the words “Ha’igeret Hazot” (9:26) and “Ha’igeret Hapurim Hazot” (9:29). [This also applies to everyone else following along with a proper Megillah.]
The final Brachah is recited by the Ba’al Koreh only when the Megillah was read with a Minyan. [Some would recite this Brachah even when they heard or read the Megillah without a Minyan.]
At the end of the Megillah reading, some hold it should remain unrolled until the conclusion of the Brachah recited afterwards and some hold it should be rolled before the concluding Brachah. [This also applies to everyone else following along with a proper Megillah.]
