Megilla 3 Translations, Interruptions, Mourning Practices and Walled Cities

We begin with a discussion of translation.  The rabbis debate whether or not translation is a helpful service.  Translating the Talmud from Hebrew to Aramaic is said to be helpful in a number of ways, including reducing the number of arguments among the Jewish people based on misinterpretation.  It would seem that we continue to argue about interpretation, regardless of translation.

Translation of the Song of Songs and of Daniel are hotly contested.  The rabbis continue to try to protect the Jewish people from our own writings.  Recently, it was announced that a particular ultra-orthodox group is publishing a newly edited version of the Torah specifically for women and girls.  This new version omits the 'racy' parts of the Torah.  My translation: it omits any images of women that are not what men are choosing.  The notion that people are not capable of comprehending, analysing and debating what they have read is, in my mind, an offense of their rights and freedoms as human beings.  But that is a longer conversation.

Is the Megilla reading more important that Torah study?  What else should be allowed to interrupt Torah study?  The rabbis explore this question.

Women are allowed to mourn in certain prescribed ways.  For example, they cannot clap or cry out in their mourning, where one woman calls and the others repeat her words on most Festivals and intermediate days.  However, when a Torah scholar dies, they are certainly permitted to engage in this spirited mourning.  I understand that this helps the people to value Torah scholarship, but this ruling seems far too self-serving to be classified as a practice "in the name of Torah".  

We end today's daf with some new considerations.  The rabbis wonder about walled cities.  Walled cities are given special status regarding the reading of the Megilla.  But what counts as a walled city?  The rabbis begin their investigation of this question.