Pronunciation of the letter “resh” in the Megillah
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Question
Shalom,
I read the Megillah at home and would like to clarify:
There are several ways to pronounce the letter “resh.” Some pronounce it like a “chet” (for example, the French), some pronounce it in the throat (as is customary in Israel), some pronounce it with the tongue (like Hungarians, for example Satmar chassidim), and Americans pronounce it in a completely different way.
At first glance it seems possible to divide the letter “resh” into several types of pronunciation.
Is one yotzei (fulfills the obligation) with all of these types of pronunciation, or must one read specifically according to the pronunciation that is customary for me?
Furthermore, there are Europeans who do not pronounce the letter “resh” at the end of a word; for example, in the word “vayomer” they read it as if there were a segol under the final mem, without pronouncing the resh at all.
Does one fulfill the obligation with such a reading? And if not, must the resh be pronounced in one of the forms of pronunciation mentioned?
I would be happy to know the ruling lechatchila and bediavad.
Yeyasher koach gadol (many thanks).
I read the Megillah at home and would like to clarify:
There are several ways to pronounce the letter “resh.” Some pronounce it like a “chet” (for example, the French), some pronounce it in the throat (as is customary in Israel), some pronounce it with the tongue (like Hungarians, for example Satmar chassidim), and Americans pronounce it in a completely different way.
At first glance it seems possible to divide the letter “resh” into several types of pronunciation.
Is one yotzei (fulfills the obligation) with all of these types of pronunciation, or must one read specifically according to the pronunciation that is customary for me?
Furthermore, there are Europeans who do not pronounce the letter “resh” at the end of a word; for example, in the word “vayomer” they read it as if there were a segol under the final mem, without pronouncing the resh at all.
Does one fulfill the obligation with such a reading? And if not, must the resh be pronounced in one of the forms of pronunciation mentioned?
I would be happy to know the ruling lechatchila and bediavad.
Yeyasher koach gadol (many thanks).
Answer
Shalom u’vracha
In this matter there is no “right” or “wrong”; everyone should follow the custom of his place.
The same halachic rule applies to Kriat Shema, which is a Torah obligation, and certainly to the reading of the Megillah, which is rabbinic.
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