Siman - Megillah Daf 24
- The various roles of the one who is Maftir
The next Mishnah states: המפטיר בנביא הוא פורס על שמע והוא עובר לפני התיבה והוא נושא את כפיו – The one who is accustomed to read Maftir from Navi is the one who divides the Shema, which is the abbreviated tefillah service that is done when ten people who davened separately come together after the shul has recited Shema, and he goes before the aron and repeats the Shemoneh Esrei, and, if he is a Kohen, he lifts his hands to bless the congregation. The Gemara asks why the Maftir is afforded so many honors, and Rav Pappa said: משום כבוד – Because of honor. Rashi explains that since he diminished himself and read Maftir, which is not a kavod, we give him roles that do afford him honor. Rabbah bar Shimi said: משום דאתי לאנצויי – Because he might otherwise come to machlokes with the baal tefillah. Meaning, that since the baal tefillah received payment for his services, the Maftir might become resentful that he is not paid too. Therefore, he is given the role of leading the tefillos. The nafka mina between the two explanations is when the baal tefillah is not being compensated.
- Machlokes if a blind person may be פורס על שמע
The Mishnah stated: סומא פורס את שמע ומתרגם – A blind person may divide the Shema and translate. Rebbe Yehudah says, כל שלא ראה מאורות מימיו אינו פורס על שמע – Anyone who has never seen the luminaries in his life, may not divide the Shema. This is because it entails reciting the berachah of יוצר המאורות – the One who forms the luminaries, and a blind person, who has never benefited from their light, may not recite this berachah. The Gemara brings a Baraisa that taught: The Chochomim said to Rebbe Yehudah, הרבה צפו לדרוש במרכבה ולא ראו אותה מימיהם – Many people sought to expound on the Merkavah, even though they had never seen it. Similarly, a blind person should be able to recite the berachah on the luminaries. Rebbe Yehudah responded, התם באבנתא דליבא תליא מילתא – There, regarding the Merkavah, it is dependent on the understanding of the mind, והא קא מיכוין וידע – and it is possible for one to focus and know it without having seen it. הכא משום הנאה הוא והא לית ליה הנאה – Here, regarding the berachah on the luminaries, we recite a berachah because we are getting benefit, and the blind person is not benefiting. The Chochomim hold that a blind person does benefit from light since a sighted person can guide him.
- העושה תפלתו עגולה סכנה ואין בה מצוה
The Mishnah states: העושה תפלתו עגולה סכנה ואין בה מצוה – One who makes his head tefillin round, is in danger, (because if he bumps into a low doorway, he could puncture his skull), and there is no mitzvah performed when he wears it. The Gemara asks if it is possible to say that the Mishnah is teaching us that which was taught in a Baraisa: תפלין מרובעות הלכה למשה מסיני – The requirement that tefillin must be square is Halacha LeMoshe MiSinai, and Rava said concerning this Baraisa, בתפרין ובאלכסונן – In their stitching and in their diagonal. Rashi explains that the Chochomim taught that a diagonal of a perfect square is one and two fifths the length of one of its sides, and one who makes tefillin must be careful that the diagonal meets this requirement. Seemingly, the Mishnah and Baraisa, are both teaching that tefillin must be square. Rav Pappa said: מתניתין דעבידא כי אמגוזא – The Mishnah’s case could be where the tefillin was made round like a nut. The implication is that tefillin rounded like an egg or lentil would be permissible, if not for the ruling of the Baraisa.
