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Why do we read the Megillah?

by Rabbi Moshe Miller

  

Library » Holidays » Purim » The Laws | Subscribe | What is RSS?

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Rabbi Yehoshua ben Levi declared: “a person is obligated to read the Megillah at night and again during the day.”1 Rashi comments: “...to commemorate the miracle [that occurred] after they cried out [to G-d] day and night.”

The Beit Yosef adds: This is one of seven mitzvahs established by the rabbis.2

Through remembering the events of Purim by reading the Megillah, the identical achievements are renewed on a spiritual plane, which of course impacts the physical plane as well
Thus, the overt reason that we read the Megillah on Purim is to commemorate the events and the miracles that saved the Jewish people from total annihilation.

On a deeper level, we can offer another explanation as well: On the verse, “These days are remembered and celebrated [literally: made],”3 Kabbalists  comment: “By being remembered, they are remade.” In other words, through remembering the events of Purim by reading the Megillah, the identical achievements are renewed on a spiritual plane, which of course impacts the physical plane as well.4

Footnotes

  • 1. Talmud, Megillah 4a.
  • 2. Tur, Orach Chaim siman 687.
  • 3. Esther 9:28.
  • 4. Rabbi Moshe Zacuto (RaMAZ) in Tikkun Shovavim; Chida in Lev David ch. 29.

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Purim
A one-day holiday celebrated in late winter commemorating the miraculous deliverance of the Jewish people from a decree of annihilation issued by Persian King Ahasuerus in the year 356 BCE.
Rashi
Acronym for Rabbi Shlomo Yitzchaki (1040-1105). Legendary French scholar who authored the fundemental and widely accepted "Rashi commentary" on the entire Bible and Talmud.
Megillah
A scroll. Usually a reference to the Book of Esther, one of the books of the "Written Torah", which is read--from a scroll--on the holiday of Purim.
G-d
It is forbidden to erase or deface the name of G-d. It is therefore customary to insert a dash in middle of G-d's name, allowing us to erase or discard the paper it is written on if necessary.