Post date: Mar 13, 2011 2:5:11 AM
עֲשֶׂרֶת בְּנֵי הָמָן …וְאֵת .חֲמֵשׁ מֵאוֹת אִישׁ
Chameish me’os ish. V’eis…a’seres bnei Haman
(9:6-10)
There are a few items of interest to mention about this string of Pesukim.
The Gemara (Megillah 16b) tells us that the Vav of “וַיְזָתָא” (Vayizusu) is tall to hint to us that all 10 of Haman’s sons were hanged one above the other on one singular tall gallows.
We attempt to read all of the names of Haman’s sons in one breath because they all died at the same moment—they all took their last breath at the same time.
The unusual layout of these Pesukim is explained by the Gemara (Megillah 16a) as follows: The format of a half-brick (or whole brick) directly on top of (or above) another similarly sized brick indicates a lack of stability. Unlike the Shiras Hayam (Az yashir) which is written in a very sturdy manner (half-brick on top of whole brick on top of half-brick, etc…), the setup here is one that will not endure. We hope that those that make up Amalek never rise again after their downfall. Also, just as we don’t want them to rise again, so too we don’t want them to help others in their own rise to prominence, as indicated by the lack of “steps” missing in this “stacked” format.
The Yosef Lekach explains that significant people are deserving of having their name written on their own line. Though the sons of Haman are usually referred to in this manner (as the sons of Haman), they should not be mistaken for commoners whose sole claim to prominence was their father. On the contrary, these were very clever, skilled and calculating individuals who were each deserving of the punishment meted out to them. Which leads us to one more Vort on this Pasuk.
Rav Galico explains to us why each of the names of Haman’s sons is preceded by the word “וְאֵת” (V’es/and). This word is used to bridge a connection between that particular son and the 500 men mentioned before the beginning of the list. Meaning that the prominence of each son was equal to that of the 500 other men killed in Shushan on that day. Each of Haman’s sons was that significant!
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דַּלְפוֹן
Dalphone
(9:7)
The Gabai makes certain announcements before the reading of the Megillah. He reminds everyone to have in mind to fulfill his obligation of hearing the Megillah and to be included in the blessings that the Ba’al Kriah will make. He makes an announcement that everyone should have in mind that the Bracha of Shehechiyanu should apply to the Mitvos of the day. And he also announces that it’s critical to have no interruptions by people, their noise makers, or their ringing phones during the reading of the Megilah. Not a single word may be missed.
Invariably, someone forgets to set his phone to silent. And, of course, it rings at the most inopportune time, and interrupts the reading of the Megillah.
At this point in the reading, the Gabai calls out one more time, pleading with the Tzibur in Aramaic (presumably, because an announcement English would make for a more severe Hefsek/interruption) “פוֹן דַּלְ,” remove the phone!