When to Bang for Haman

There are many different customs about when to bang for Haman:

• Arur Haman: The Shibolay HaLeket (200) writes, that one should bang when “arur Haman” is said during asher heiney after the Megillah.
• Every Single Haman: The simple reading of the Avudraham in the name of the Even HaYarchi and ruled by the Rema, is to bang every time the name of Haman is mentioned.
• The Mekor Chaim writes that he saw: המון ונשים שדורסים בכח ברגל על הארץ כשמזכירים המן – “That crowds of men and women would stamp with their feet on the floor, when mentioning the name of Haman,” which sounds like the minhag was to bang every time.
• The Ben Ish Chai and the Mishnah Berurah bring from the Ya’avatz that his father the Chacham Tzvi: היה מכה ברגלו וטופח בסנדלו כשמזכיר שם המן בקריאת המגילה – “Would bang his foot when the name of Haman was mentioned during the Megillah reading.” Again, it sounds like every single time.
• From the Sefer Matamim who says we bang 54 times as the gematria of מחה is 54, it is also clear that the minhag was to bang for every Haman.
• Sons of Haman: There is a minhag to bang when mentioning the ten sons of Haman.
• The First and Last Haman: The Ben Ish Chai testified about himself, that he would bang with his feet when they read the first Haman (Esther 3:1), גדל המלך אחשורוש את המן, and the last Haman (Esther 9:24), כי המן בן המדתא האגגי צרר כל היהודים.
• Vayaku HaYehudim: The sefer Minhagei Vormiza (page 221) writes that children would bang when the ba’al koreh read: ויכו היהודים בכל איביהם – “And the Yidden were smitten” (Esther 9:10), and the reason for the custom is that they would write on the wood that they used for banging the name of Haman, and it would get erased when banging. Additionally, it helped the children to stay awake, and children are also obligated to hear Megillah.
• Only By Haman’s Downfall: The Emek Berachah writes that one should only bang when we mention the downfall of Haman, and no more than that.
• The sefer Shalmei Chagigah brings that Gedolei Yisrael were not concerned for the minhag of banging for Haman, and they even protested against it, as one shouldn’t act lightheadedly in a shul. The Beis Yosef who writes not to annul any minhagim, is talking about the longstanding minhag to bang by the Haman that is mentioned at the time of his downfall, and not like those who have a custom to bang every time his name is mentioned.
• The sefer Keser Shem Tov writes the minhag of Klal Yisrael, both elderly and the young is to bang with hammers when the ba’al koreh recites the words (Esther 7:6), המן הרע הזאת, when the list of Haman’s ten sons is mentioned, and when saying “Arur Haman”.
• Haman Ha’agagi: The Itim LeBinah brings that the minhag is to bang when mentioning המן בן המדתא האגגי, i.e. when mentioning Haman and the name of his father which is found in 3:1;8:5;9:10;9:24, as well as when mentioning המן האגגי which is found in 8:3. And it is fitting to make a noise at these points as we are mentioning Haman and the family he came from, however, one shouldn’t make a noise every single time. This was the minhag in Lita and Reisin.
• Rabbi Yaakov Yisrael HaCohen Beifus shlita testifies that the minhag of R’ Eliyohu Lopian, zt”l, was to bang for the Haman’s mentioned in המן בן המדתא האגגי צורר היהודים (3:10;9:24). Seemingly, his reasoning was, since he banged minimally, he chose to bang by the places which speak out the evilness of Haman to the full extent.
• During Al HaNissim: There is a custom in some communities to bang and make noise when Haman is mentioned during Al HaNissim in Shemonei Esrei.

How Many Times?

Some say that one should bang three times when the name of Haman is said, but once is definitely sufficient.