All are qualified to read the Megillah except one who is deaf, an imbecile, or a minor. R’ Yehudah declares a minor qualified.  We may not read the Megillah, nor circumcise, nor perform ritual immersion, nor sprinkle [purification water] —- similarly, a woman who counts a day corresponding to a day may not immerse herself until the sun has risen. However, [if] any of them did so after the [first] ray of dawn appeared, the act is valid.

The entire day is valid for reading the Megillah; reciting the Hallel; blowing the shofar; taking the lulav; [reciting] the Musaf prayer; [offering] the musaf-sacrifices; the confession [recited with the offering] of the bulls; the confession [recited with] the tithe; the confession of Yom Kippur; leaning the hands [on the head of a sacrificial animal]; slaughtering [of sacrifices]; waving [of sacrifices]; bringing near [the vessel with the meal-offering to the altar]; taking a handful [of the meal-offering] and burning it; nipping [the neck of the bird-offerings]; receiving [the blood of sacrifices]; sprinkling [the blood of sacrifices]; causing the sotah to drink; decapitating the heifer; and the cleansing of the metzora.

The entire night is valid for the reaping of the omer, and for the burning of [sacrificial] fats and limbs.  This is the general rule: Any rite which is to be done by day may be performed throughout the day; any rite which is to be done at night may be performed throughout the night.

[If] the representatives of a town sell the town square, they must use the proceeds [of that sale] to purchase a synagogue. [If they sell] a synagogue, they must purchase an Ark; [if they sell] an Ark, they must purchase wrappings [for the Torah scrolls]; [if they sell] wrappings, they must purchase Books [of Scripture]; [if they sell] Books [of Scripture], they must purchase a Torah scroll.  However, if they sold a Torah scroll, they may not [use the proceeds to] purchase Books [of Scripture]; [if they sold] Books [of Scripture], they may not purchase wrappings [for the Torah scrolls]; [if they sold] wrappings, they may not purchase an Ark; [if they sold] an Ark, they may not purchase a synagogue; [if they sold] a synagogue, they may not purchase a square. [Moreover], the same is true of any leftover [proceeds].  Communal property may not be sold to an individual for this would lessen the sanctity of the article —- this is the opinion of R’ Yehudah. They said to him: If so, [they may] not even sell [the synagogue] of a large town to [the residents of] a small town.

They may not sell a synagogue except under the condition that, if they wish, they may repurchase it —- this is the opinion of R’ Meir. The Sages say, however, they may sell it permanently [and for any purpose] except for [the following] four uses: as a bathhouse, a tannery, a mikveh, or a water closet. R’ Yehudah says: They may sell it as a courtyard and the purchaser may do as he pleases.

R’ Yehudah said further: In a synagogue that has been destroyed one may not offer eulogies therein, twist ropes therein, spread nets therein, spread produce on its roof, nor use it as a shortcut —- for the Torah states, And I shall make desolate your sanctuaries; [this implies that] they are holy even when they are desolate.  If grass grew [in the ruins], one may not detach it, because of grief.

On the first day of Adar which falls on a Sabbath, we read the portion of Shekalim. If it falls on a weekday we advance [the read-ing of Shekalim] to [the Sabbath] before and interrupt [the reading of the four parshios] on the next Sabbath. On the second [Sabbath we read the portion of] Zachor [“Remember what Amalek did”]. On the third [Sabbath we read the portion of] Parah Adumah, [“The Red Cow”]. On the fourth [Sabbath we read the portion of] HaChodesh Hazeh Lachem [“This month shall be to you”]. On the fifth [Sabbath] we resume [reading] the regular order.  For all [the following occasions] we interrupt [the regular order]: on Rosh Chodesh, on Chanukah, on Purim on [public] fasts, on maamados and on Yom Kippur.

On Pesach, we read the portion of the festivals in Leviticus (23). On Shavuos [we read the portion of] Seven Weeks. On Rosh Hashanah [we read the portion of] In the seventh month, on the first day. On Yom Kippur [we read the portion of] After the death. On the first day of the Festival we read the portion of the festivals in Leviticus and on all the remaining days of the Festival [we read the portion of] the sacrifices of the Festival.

On [the eighth day of] Chanukah [we read the portion of] the princes. On Purim [we read the portion of] And Amalek came. On Rosh Chodesh [we read the portion of] On your New Moons. On maamados [we read the portion of] the Creation. On [public] fasts [we read the portion of the] blessings and curses.  We may not interrupt [the reading of] the curses; therefore, one [person] reads them in their entirety.  On Mondays, Thursdays, and at Minchah on the Sabbath we read the regular order [of portions], but this [reading] is not taken into account.  As it is said, And Moses declared the appointed seasons of Hashem to the children of Israel —- the precept is that each [portion] should be read at the appropriate time.

One who reads the Megillah may stand or sit. Whether one person read it, or two read it, they have fulfilled their obligation.  Where they are accustomed to recite a blessing [afterward], one should recite the blessing; [where the custom is] not to recite a blessing, one need not recite the blessing.  On Monday and Thursday, and on Sabbath afternoon, three [people] read [the Torah]; we may not decrease them nor add to them; and we do not conclude [the reading with a section] from the Prophets.  The one who commences and the one who concludes [the reading of] the Torah [respectively] recite the blessings [said] before it and after it.

On Rosh Chodesh and on Chol HaMoed, four [people] read [the Torah]; we may not decrease them nor add to them; and we do not conclude [the reading with a section] from the Prophets. The one who commences and the one who concludes [the reading of] the Torah [respectively] recite the blessings [said] before it and after it.  This is the general rule: [On] any day on which there is a Musaf but which is not a festival, four [people] read [the Torah]. On festivals, five [people read]; on Yom Kippur, six [people read]; and on the Sabbath, seven [people read]; we may not decrease them but we may increase them; and we conclude [the reading with a section] from the Prophets. The one who commences and the one who concludes [the reading of] the Torah [respectively] recite the blessings [said] before it and after it.