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Thursday, March 09, 2006

The real reading of the gemara in Megilla

There is an often misread gemara in tractate Megilla 7b that people enjoy to quote. The traditional reading is as follows:

אמר רבא מיחייב איניש לבסומי בפוריא עד דלא ידע בין ארור המן לברוך מרדכי

Rabba said: A person has to drink wine on Purim until he does not know the difference between "cursed is Haman" and "blessed is Mordechai"


This reading actualy only became popular during the prohibition era. The true reading of this gemara is as follows:

Rabba said:

A person has to drink wine.

On Purim, [he has to do so] until he does not know the difference between "cursed is Haman" and "blessed is Mordechai"


VeHamavin Yavin.