Welcome to the Judaism community on Codidact!
Will you help us build our community of learners? Drop into our study hall, ask questions, help others with answers to their questions, share a d'var torah if you're so inclined, invite your friends, and join us in building this community together. Not an ask-the-rabbi service, just people at all levels learning together.
Comments on Can one fulfill the obligation of megillah on Purim via Zoom?
Parent
Can one fulfill the obligation of megillah on Purim via Zoom?
I have heard (but have no source) that, to fulfill the obligation of reading the megillah, one must either be physically present for a reading or, if listening by phone, follow along in a kosher scroll. (First question: is that correct?)
What provisions, if any, exist for following remotely if one lacks a kosher scroll? Can a megillah reading be conducted via Zoom if a camera is pointed at the scroll being read from, so everybody can read along? If I understand correctly, one who attends a public reading needn't follow along at all, let alone from a scroll; I've been at (traditional) megillah readings where people followed in a Tanakh or on their phones using Sefaria. Assuming that's not incorrect, I'm having trouble reconciling "follow along in anything, in person" with "must follow in a kosher scroll, if alone".
The question is prompted by the special circumstances of the current pandemic, but I'm asking about the general case. (Also, not asking out of personal need.)
Post
I will quote from the guidance put out LAST YEAR by the OU and I will put in bold some salient points (Orthodox Union alerts@ounetwork.org Mon, Mar 9, 2020 at 1:17 PM )
The clear majority of Halachic authorities do not consider Halachically adequate a Megillah reading heard over the phone or online. There is however a minority opinion that does allow for this, provided that the reading is live, and not pre-recorded. Following the Halachic principle that we may rely upon minority opinions under extenuating circumstances – שעת הדחק כדיעבד דמי וכדאי הוא ר״ש לסמוך עליו בשעת הדחק - this minority opinion can be relied upon for those who are in mandated isolation.
IMPORTANT: Even for those in isolation, the ideal solution is to have a kosher, hand-written Megillah in hand which they read from audibly, either on their own (even without the correct טעמי המקרא, cantillation), or assisted by a reading heard by phone or on-line. In such situations – as in all situations where there is no Minyan present – the closing Bracha following Megillah reading is not recited.
To summarize:
Generally healthy individuals should attend public Megillah readings as usual, where the community is exercising the proper precautions. Those who are not currently ill but are not attending a public reading because they are deemed high risk, should reach out to their Rabbi and community to help arrange a private Megillah reading. Those who are ill or have had serious exposure and must remain in isolation must not come to shul. They should ideally have a kosher, hand-written Megillah in hand from which they read audibly, either on their own or assisted by a reading heard electronically. **Those who must be in isolation but are unable to read from a kosher, hand-written Megillah, may fulfill their obligation via hearing a live Megillah reading, by phone or online. **
This information was presented as for a sh'at had'chak, extremely extenuating circumstances -- last Purim. I have not heard any guidance from this year that directly contradicts any of this, but what I have heard has omitted certain parts.
0 comment threads