From the Rav’s Desk: May one hear Megillah prior to Davening Shacharis?

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  1. Question: [Tuesday, 14th Adar 5783]

I walked in late for Shacharis. May I hear Megillah reading first and Daven later, or must I wait for the next Minyan?

 

Answer:              

Your choice. According to Halacha, in such a case you should hear Megillah first. According to Kabbalah, you are to always Daven first.

Explanation: Initially one is to hear Megillah after Davening Shacharis, as was the institution of the Sages. If, however, one entered into Shul and the Minyan has reached the Megillah reading, one should first hear the Megillah with the congregation and then Daven, even if he is able to read the Megillah on his own after Davening. This applies even if the 4th hour of the day will pass by the time the reading is finished, and he will hence have to Daven past Zman Tefila. Nevertheless, he must say Shema within its proper time prior to the reading. The above is the ruling based on the legal aspects of Torah, however based on Kabalah one is to always Daven before hearing the Megillah, even if this will cause him to read or hear the Megillah later on without a Minyan. If, however, he will not be able to hear Megillah later on than obviously he must hear Megillah before Davening.

Sources: Shaar Hakavanos p. 109; Nehar Shalom; Kaf Hachaim 687:18

About The Author

Rabbi Yaakov Goldstein is a 6th generation descendent of the famous Chief Rabbi of Izhmir, Rav Yehoshua Avraham Krispin, who authored a number of Sefarim, and was a colleague of Rav Chaim Falagi, and father in-law of the Pesach Hadvir. He currently lives with his wife Shayna, and twelve children K”H, in Tzfas, Israel. Rabbi Goldstein received Semicha from Rabbi Schneur Zalman Labkowski of the Tomchei Temimim headquarters in 2005 and served as a chaplain in the Lotar/Kalatz and K9 unit of the IDF from years 2005-2008. He is also a certified Shochet, and has performed Hashgacha work in slaughterhouses. Rabbi Goldstein is the director of Shulchanaruchharav.com, the world’s leading web-based Halacha database, and is the director of the Home Study Semicha Program, a self-study web-based Semicha program. He is a prolific author of over 50 Sefarim studied by a wide range of readers throughout the world, which is used regularly in Semicha programs around the globe. He is a world renowned Posek, answering questions to a web-based market, and serves as a local Posek, Rav, and Lecturer, in the Tzemach Tzedek community Shul in Tzefas, Israel. His many classes can be heard both from his website, Vimeo and YouTube channel. Students can join live to classes given in the Tzemach Tzedek Shul, through the “בית חבד צפת Chabad Tsfat” YouTube channel.

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