megillat

Megillat means "scroll" in Hebrew and denotes a class of biblical and liturgical scrolls traditionally read aloud in Jewish worship. The term is used for specific books of the Hebrew Bible, which, in contrast with other scriptures, are kept as separate scrolls and are read publicly on prescribed occasions.

The Five Megillot, part of Ketuvim (the Writings), are Song of Songs, Ruth, Esther, Ecclesiastes, and Lamentations. Each is associated with a festival or fast: Song of Songs is read on Passover; Ruth on Shavuot; Esther on Purim; Ecclesiastes on Sukkot; Lamentations on Tisha B’Av. In many communities, the Book of Jonah is also treated as a megillah (Megillat Yonah) and is read on the afternoon of Yom Kippur.

Historically these texts were composed to be read aloud in temple or synagogue settings, and the megillot are still typically written on parchment as a single scroll (klaf) that is unrolled for public reading. In contemporary practice, they are often printed as separate scroll volumes or as sections within a printed Tanakh, but the ritual reading on festivals remains a key feature.

The megillot occupy a distinct place in Jewish liturgy and biblical interpretation, reflecting varied themes from love and beauty to exile, memory, and divine justice.