## Megillah Daf 23a

###### Megillah 23a:1
[Megillah 23a:1](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Megillah/r/23a:1)

וְרָבָא דִּמְצַלֵּי אַצְלוֹיֵי.

**William Davidson Edition - English:**
**and Rava, who would bend** their heads and not actually prostrate themselves on the ground.


###### Megillah 23a:2
[Megillah 23a:2](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Megillah/r/23a:2)

בְּיוֹם טוֹב חֲמִשָּׁה, בְּיוֹם הַכִּפּוּרִים שִׁשָּׁה כּוּ׳. מַתְנִיתִין מַנִּי? לֹא רַבִּי יִשְׁמָעֵאל וְלָא רַבִּי עֲקִיבָא. דְּתַנְיָא: בְּיוֹם טוֹב חֲמִשָּׁה, וּבְיוֹם הַכִּפּוּרִים שִׁשָּׁה, וּבְשַׁבָּת שִׁבְעָה, אֵין פּוֹחֲתִין מֵהֶן וְאֵין מוֹסִיפִין עֲלֵיהֶן, דִּבְרֵי רַבִּי יִשְׁמָעֵאל. רַבִּי עֲקִיבָא אוֹמֵר: בְּיוֹם טוֹב חֲמִשָּׁה, וּבְיוֹם הַכִּפּוּרִים שִׁבְעָה, וּבְשַׁבָּת שִׁשָּׁה, אֵין פּוֹחֲתִין מֵהֶן אֲבָל מוֹסִיפִין עֲלֵיהֶן.

**William Davidson Edition - English:**
We learned in the mishna: **On a Festival, five** people read; **on Yom Kippur, six** people read; and on Shabbat, seven people read. One may not decrease the number of readers, but one may add to them. The Gemara asks: **Who is** the *tanna* of **the mishna?** It is **not Rabbi Yishmael and not Rabbi Akiva, as it is taught** in a *baraita*: **On a Festival, five** people read from the Torah; **and on Yom Kippur, six** people read; **and on Shabbat, seven** people read. **One may not decrease or add to** the required number of readers. This is **the statement of Rabbi Yishmael. Rabbi Akiva** disagrees and **says: On a Festival, five** people read from the Torah; **and on Yom Kippur, seven** people read; **and on Shabbat, six** people read. **One may not decrease** these numbers, **but one may add to them.**


###### Megillah 23a:3
[Megillah 23a:3](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Megillah/r/23a:3)

מַנִּי? אִי רַבִּי יִשְׁמָעֵאל — קַשְׁיָא תּוֹסֶפֶת! אִי רַבִּי עֲקִיבָא — קַשְׁיָא שִׁשָּׁה וְשִׁבְעָה!

**William Davidson Edition - English:**
**Who is** the *tanna* of the mishna? **If** you say it is **Rabbi Yishmael,** it is **difficult** due to the ruling with regard to **adding,** as the mishna states that one may add additional readers but Rabbi Yishmael holds that one may not do so. **If** you say it is **Rabbi Akiva,** it is **difficult** due to the ruling concerning the days on which there are **six and seven** readers.


###### Megillah 23a:4
[Megillah 23a:4](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Megillah/r/23a:4)

אָמַר רָבָא: תְּנָא דְּבֵי רַבִּי יִשְׁמָעֵאל הִיא. דְּתָנָא דְּבֵי רַבִּי יִשְׁמָעֵאל: בְּיוֹם טוֹב חֲמִשָּׁה, בְּיוֹם הַכִּפּוּרִים שִׁשָּׁה, בְּשַׁבָּת שִׁבְעָה, אֵין פּוֹחֲתִין מֵהֶן אֲבָל מוֹסִיפִין עֲלֵיהֶן, דִּבְרֵי רַבִּי יִשְׁמָעֵאל.

**William Davidson Edition - English:**
**Rava said:** It is **the *tanna* of the school of Rabbi Yishmael, as it was taught in the school of Rabbi Yishmael: On a Festival, five** people read from the Torah; **on Yom Kippur, six** people read; **on Shabbat, seven** people read. **One may not decrease these** numbers **but one may add to them.** This is **the statement of Rabbi Yishmael.**


###### Megillah 23a:5
[Megillah 23a:5](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Megillah/r/23a:5)

קַשְׁיָא דְּרַבִּי יִשְׁמָעֵאל אַדְּרַבִּי יִשְׁמָעֵאל! תְּרֵי תַּנָּאֵי אַלִּיבָּא דְּרַבִּי יִשְׁמָעֵאל.

**William Davidson Edition - English:**
The Gemara comments: If so, **there is a contradiction** between the opinion of **Rabbi Yishmael,** as expressed in the mishna, and the opinion of **Rabbi Yishmael** himself, as recorded in the *baraita*. The Gemara responds: **Two *tanna’im*,** students of Rabbi Yishmael, expressed different opinions **in accordance with** the opinion of **Rabbi Yishmael.**


###### Megillah 23a:6
[Megillah 23a:6](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Megillah/r/23a:6)

מַאן תְּנָא לְהָא דְּתַנְיָא: בְּיוֹם טוֹב מְאַחֲרִין לָבוֹא, וּמִמֻּהְרִין לָצֵאת. בְּיוֹם הַכִּפּוּרִים מִמֻּהְרִין לָבוֹא, וּמְאַחֲרִין לָצֵאת. וּבְשַׁבָּת מִמֻּהְרִין לָבוֹא, וּמִמֻּהְרִין לָצֵאת. לֵימָא רַבִּי עֲקִיבָא, דְּאִית לֵיהּ גַּבְרָא יַתִּירָא? אֲפִילּוּ תֵּימָא רַבִּי יִשְׁמָעֵאל — דִּנְפִישׁ סִידּוּרָא דְּיוֹמָא.

**William Davidson Edition - English:**
The Gemara asks: **Who** is the *tanna* who **taught that which is taught** in a *baraita*: **On a Festival, one is slow to arrive** at the synagogue because one is busy preparing for the festive meal, **and one is quick to leave** in order to eat; **on Yom Kippur, one is quick to arrive** at the synagogue **and slow to leave; and on Shabbat, one is quick to arrive,** as the meal has been prepared before Shabbat, **and quick to leave** in order to eat the Shabbat meal? **Let us say** it is **Rabbi Akiva, who holds** that **an additional man** reads from the Torah on Yom Kippur, which prolongs the service on that day. The Gemara rejects this suggestion: **Even** if **you say** it is **Rabbi Yishmael,** one leaves the synagogue late because **the order of the day,** i.e., the prayer service, **is** very **long,** as it includes many supplications and confessions.


###### Megillah 23a:7
[Megillah 23a:7](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Megillah/r/23a:7)

הָנֵי שְׁלֹשָׁה חֲמִשָּׁה וְשִׁבְעָה כְּנֶגֶד מִי? פְּלִיגִי בַּהּ רַבִּי יִצְחָק בַּר נַחְמָנִי וְחַד דְּעַמְיָה, וּמַנּוּ — רַבִּי שִׁמְעוֹן בֶּן פַּזִּי. וְאָמְרִי לַהּ: רַבִּי שִׁמְעוֹן בֶּן פַּזִּי וְחַד דְּעַמֵּיהּ, וּמַנּוּ — רַבִּי יִצְחָק בַּר נַחְמָנִי, וְאָמְרִי לַהּ רַבִּי שְׁמוּאֵל בַּר נַחְמָנִי. חַד אָמַר: כְּנֶגֶד בִּרְכַּת כֹּהֲנִים, וְחַד אָמַר: כְּנֶגֶד שְׁלֹשָׁה שׁוֹמְרֵי הַסַּף, חֲמִשָּׁה מֵרוֹאֵי פְּנֵי הַמֶּלֶךְ, שִׁבְעָה רוֹאַי פְּנֵי הַמֶּלֶךְ.

**William Davidson Edition - English:**
A question is raised with regard to the number of readers on different days. **Corresponding to what** were **these three, five, and seven,** readers instituted? **Rabbi Yitzḥak bar Naḥmani and one** other Sage **who was with him disagree about this. And who was** that other scholar? **Rabbi Shimon ben Pazi. And some say** that this was a matter of dispute between **Rabbi Shimon ben Pazi and one** other scholar **who was with him. And who was** that other scholar? **Rabbi Yitzḥak bar Naḥmani, and some say** it was **Rabbi Shmuel bar Naḥmani. One said:** These numbers **correspond** to the number of Hebrew words in the three verses of **the Priestly Benediction. And one said:** These numbers **correspond to the three guards of the door** (II Kings 25:18), **five of** the officers **who saw the king’s face** (II Kings 25:19), **and the seven** officers **who saw the king’s face** (Esther 1:14).


###### Megillah 23a:8
[Megillah 23a:8](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Megillah/r/23a:8)

תָּנֵי רַב יוֹסֵף: שְׁלֹשָׁה חֲמִשָּׁה וְשִׁבְעָה — שְׁלֹשָׁה שׁוֹמְרֵי הַסַּף, חֲמִשָּׁה מֵרוֹאֵי פְּנֵי הַמֶּלֶךְ, שִׁבְעָה רוֹאִי פְּנֵי הַמֶּלֶךְ. אָמַר לֵיהּ אַבָּיֵי: עַד הָאִידָּנָא מַאי טַעְמָא לָא פָּרִישׁ לַן מָר? אֲמַר לֵיהּ: לָא הֲוָה יָדַעְנָא דִּצְרִיכִיתוּ לֵיהּ, וּמִי בְּעֵיתוּ מִינַּאי מִילְּתָא וְלָא אֲמַרִי לְכוּ?!

**William Davidson Edition - English:**
Similarly, **Rav Yosef taught** a *baraita*: The **three, five, and seven** people who read from the Torah correspond to the **three guards of the door, five of** the officers **who saw the king’s face,** and **the seven** officers **who saw the king’s face.** When Rav Yosef taught this, **Abaye said to him: What is the reason that until now the Master did not explain** the matter **to us** in this way? Rav Yosef **said to him: I did not know that you needed this** information, as I thought that you were already familiar with the *baraita*. **Have you** ever **asked me something and I did not tell you?**


###### Megillah 23a:9
[Megillah 23a:9](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Megillah/r/23a:9)

אֲמַר לֵיהּ יַעֲקֹב מִינָאָה לְרַב יְהוּדָה: הָנֵי שִׁשָּׁה דְּיוֹם הַכִּפּוּרִים כְּנֶגֶד מִי? אֲמַר לֵיהּ: כְּנֶגֶד שִׁשָּׁה שֶׁעָמְדוּ מִימִינוֹ שֶׁל עֶזְרָא וְשִׁשָּׁה מִשְּׂמֹאלוֹ, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר: ״וַיַּעֲמוֹד עֶזְרָא הַסּוֹפֵר עַל מִגְדַּל עֵץ אֲשֶׁר עָשׂוּ לַדָּבָר וַיַּעֲמוֹד אֶצְלוֹ מַתִּתְיָה וְשֶׁמַע וַעֲנָיָה וְאוּרִיָּה וְחִלְקִיָּה וּמַעֲשֵׂיָה עַל יְמִינוֹ וּמִשְּׂמֹאלוֹ פְּדָיָה וּמִישָׁאֵל וּמַלְכִּיָּה וְחָשׁוּם וְחַשְׁבַּדָּנָה זְכַרְיָה מְשֻׁלָּם״.

**William Davidson Edition - English:**
**Ya’akov of Mina said to Rav Yehuda: Corresponding to whom were these six** readers **on Yom Kippur** instituted? Rav Yehuda **said to him:** The number six **corresponds to the six** people **who stood to Ezra’s right and the six** people **who stood to his left, as it is stated: “And Ezra the Scribe stood upon a platform of wood, which they had made for the purpose, and beside him stood Mattithiah, and Shema, and Anaiah, and Uriah, and Hilkiah, and Maaseiah, on his right hand, and on his left hand, Pedaiah, and Mishael, and Malchiah, and Hashum, and Hashbadanah, Zechariah, Meshullam”** (Nehemiah 8:4).


###### Megillah 23a:10
[Megillah 23a:10](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Megillah/r/23a:10)

הָנֵי שִׁבְעָה הָווּ! הַיְינוּ ״זְכַרְיָה״ הַיְינוּ ״מְשֻׁלָּם״, וְאַמַּאי קְרָאוֹ ״מְשֻׁלָּם״? דְּמִישְׁלָם בְּעוֹבָדֵיהּ.

**William Davidson Edition - English:**
The Gemara challenges this answer: **Those** that stood to his left **were seven** and not six. The Gemara responds: **Zechariah is** the same as **Meshullam,** that is to say, they are not two separate people, but rather one person with two names. **And why was he called Meshullam? Because he was perfect [*mishlam*] in his actions.**


###### Megillah 23a:11
[Megillah 23a:11](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Megillah/r/23a:11)

תָּנוּ רַבָּנַן: הַכֹּל עוֹלִין לַמִּנְיָן שִׁבְעָה, וַאֲפִילּוּ קָטָן וַאֲפִילּוּ אִשָּׁה. אֲבָל אָמְרוּ חֲכָמִים: אִשָּׁה לֹא תִּקְרָא בְּתוֹרָה, מִפְּנֵי כְּבוֹד צִבּוּר.

**William Davidson Edition - English:**
§ **The Sages taught** in a *Tosefta* (*Megilla* 3:11): **All** people **count toward the quorum of seven** readers, **even a minor and even a woman. However, the Sages said** that **a woman should not read the Torah, out of respect for the congregation.**


###### Megillah 23a:12
[Megillah 23a:12](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Megillah/r/23a:12)

אִיבַּעְיָא לְהוּ: מַפְטִיר, מַהוּ שֶׁיַּעֲלֶה לַמִּנְיָן שִׁבְעָה? רַב הוּנָא וְרַבִּי יִרְמְיָה בַּר אַבָּא, חַד אָמַר: עוֹלֶה, וְחַד אָמַר: אֵינוֹ עוֹלֶה. מַאן דְּאָמַר עוֹלָה — דְּהָא קָרֵי,

**William Davidson Edition - English:**
**A dilemma was raised before** the Sages: With regard to the reader who **concludes [*maftir*]** the Torah reading and reads from the Prophets [*haftara*], **what is** the *halakha*; does he **count toward the quorum of seven** readers? **Rav Huna and Rabbi Yirmeya bar Abba** disagreed about this matter. **One said: He counts, and one said: He does not count. The one who said** that **he counts** toward the seven readers holds that opinion **because he reads** from the Torah.


###### Megillah 23a:13
[Megillah 23a:13](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Megillah/r/23a:13)

וּמַאן דְּאָמַר אֵינוֹ עוֹלֶה — כִּדְעוּלָּא. דְּאָמַר עוּלָּא: מִפְּנֵי מָה הַמַּפְטִיר בְּנָבִיא צָרִיךְ שִׁיקְרָא בְּתוֹרָה תְּחִלָּה — מִפְּנֵי כְּבוֹד תּוֹרָה, וְכֵיוָן דְּמִשּׁוּם כְּבוֹד תּוֹרָה הוּא — לְמִנְיָנָא לָא סָלֵיק.

**William Davidson Edition - English:**
**And the one who said** that **he does not count** holds **in accordance with** the opinion of **Ulla, as Ulla said: For what** reason **must** the one **who concludes** with a reading from **the Prophets read from the Torah first?** It is **due to respect for the Torah,** so that those present should not conclude that he was called up only to read from the Prophets because the honor due the Torah and the honor due the Prophets are equal. **And since** he reads only **out of respect for the Torah, he is not included in the quorum** of seven readers.


###### Megillah 23a:14
[Megillah 23a:14](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Megillah/r/23a:14)

מֵיתִיבִי: הַמַּפְטִיר בְּנָבִיא לֹא יִפְחוֹת מֵעֶשְׂרִים וְאֶחָד פְּסוּקִין, כְּנֶגֶד שִׁבְעָה שֶׁקְּרָאוֹ בְּתוֹרָה. וְאִם אִיתָא, עֶשְׂרִים וְאַרְבָּעָה הָוְיִין! כֵּיוָן דְּמִשּׁוּם כְּבוֹד תּוֹרָה הוּא —

**William Davidson Edition - English:**
The Gemara **raises an objection** based upon the following *baraita*: **The one who concludes with** a reading from **the Prophets may not** read **fewer than twenty-one verses, corresponding to the seven who read from the Torah.** Each one who reads from the Torah must read at least three verses, for a total of at least twenty-one verses. **And if it is so,** that the one who reads the *haftara* does not count toward the quorum of seven readers, and he is an eighth reader, the minimum number of verses that must be read from the Torah **is twenty-four** and not twenty-one. The Gemara answers: **Since** the one who reads the *haftara* reads from the Torah first only **due to respect for the Torah,**