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256 · Hilchot Purim Tzurba M’Rabanan

This understanding of the Rema is also explicit in the Magen Avraham, who explains that the Rema held
like the opinion of those Rishonim that a woman may not fulfill a man’s obligation. Based on this, Ashkenazi
poskim generally do not allow a woman to read the Megilla for a man, as recorded by Rav Eliezer Melamed
in the Peninei Halacha.

p Peninei Halacha, Zemanim 15:7 ז :וט םינמז | הכלה ינינפ . 22
And since the halacha is subject to a balanced dispute between ןיב הלוקש תקולחמב יונש ןידהש ןוויכו
the Rishonim [i.e., there is no clear majority opinion], most אל השאש םינורחאה בור ורוה ,םינושארה
Acharonim have ruled that a woman should not read the תעשב קרו .הליגמה תאירק ידי שיא איצות
Megilla for a man. Only in extenuating circumstances, when ארקי שיאהש תורשפא ןיא רשאכ ,קחדה
there is no way for a man to read for himself or hear it from ,השא ול ארקת ,רחא שיאמ עמשי וא ומצעל
another man, may a woman read for him, so that he fulfills the השאש םירבוסה יפל הווצמה ידי אציש ידכ
mitzva according to those who hold that a woman may fulfill
the obligation of a man. .שיא איצוהל הלוכי

Some Sefardic Acharonim (e.g., the Chida) hold that in principle, the opinion that a woman can read the
Megilla on behalf of a man is accepted. This is also the opinion of the Yalkut Yosef, though he says that in
deference to the other opinion, one should preferably not rely on it in practice.

p Yalkut Yosef, | ףסוי טוקלי . 23
Hilchot Mikra Megilla 689:10 י:טפרת הליגמ ארקמ תוכלה

Some say that even though women are obligated in the mitzva תובייח םישנהש יפ לע ףאש ,םירמוא שי
of Megilla, they cannot perform the mitzva on behalf of men. םישנאה תא תואיצומ ןניא ,הליגמ ארקמב
Others argue and say that women can perform the mitzva on םישנהש םירמואו םיקלוח שיו .םתבוח ידי
behalf of men. Although the latter opinion is the primary one, לע ףאו .הבוח ידי םישנאה תא איצוהל תולוכי
it is appropriate to take the first opinion into consideration ארבסל שוחל ןוכנ ,הנורחא העדכ רקיעהש יפ
unless it is a time of need. Nevertheless, there is no prohibition םוקמ לכמו .קחדה תעשב ןכ םא אלא ,הנושאר
of kol be'isha erva (“the voice of a woman is licentious,” and
forbidden for a man to listen to). 11 ”.הורע השאב לוק“ םושמ הזב רוסאל ןיא

The poskim also discuss whether a woman must try to hear the Megilla in shul together with a minyan. The
Responsa Chelkat Yaakov suggests that she is in fact not obligated to do so.

p Responsa Chelkat Yaakov, | בקעי תקלח ת”וש . 24
Orach Chaim 232 בלר ןמיס ח״וא

The conclusion is that there is no preference for women to go םישנל אתופידע םוש ןיאד אתלימד אנקסמ
to the Beit Midrash to hear the Megilla reading, and this also הארנ ןכו ,הליגמ ארקמ עומשל ד”מהיבל ךליל

11. One reason for this is that there is no concern when using cantillation for reading the Torah or the Megilla since it is for the purpose of a mitzva.
Alternatively, some suggest that the cases of women reading the Megilla are when no cantillation is used, or when dealing with family members
such as a sister, mother or daughter, to which there is no prohibition. However, it should be noted that some Rishonim, such as the Kol Bo, do not
allow women reading the Megilla for men because of the prohibition of kol b’isha erva. See the discussion in the footnote to Yalkut Yosef quoted
here, as well as in Peninei Halacha, Zemanim 15, footnote #8. [Addition of the editors of the English edition]

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