Megilla 31 The Recitation of the Curses of Leviticus; To Demolish or to Build?

At the start of today's daf, the second-to-last in Masechet Megilla, we continue to learn the Mishna on which parashayot to read during different Festivals and holidays.  We learn that on fast days, one person reads the full list of blessings and curses.  On Mondays, Thursdays and Shabbat afternoons, we follow the regular order of parasha readings.  In Leviticus 23:44 we are taught that Festivals and holidays include a focus on the characters that are part of those special days.

The Gemara specifies which parashayot are read.  As well, they add to the Mishna's recommendations to reflect current practices.  For example, the diaspora celebrates two 'first' days of Pesach.  The rabbis explain which parashayot to read on each day, although the Mishna only provided instruction for the 'first' day.  The rabbis create mnemonics to help us remember what to read when.   They refer to baraitot to further explain our practices.  Notes help us to understand traditions that accompany these readings.

Steinsaltz teaches us that when a portion is split to accommodate multiple readers, each section should begin and end on a positive note.  This is because  we do not say blessings over calamities.  On fast days we hear the blessings and curses, and so this is particularly relevant to remember when examining today's daf.

If we are thinking that it might be alright to pause and switch readers during the recitation of the Leviticus curses, Rabbi Shimon ben Elazar has news for us.  He teaches: if old men say "demolish" and young children say "build", then demolish.  Why should we do a seemingly destructive act? Because when elders say "demolish" what is done may actually be 'building'.  Further, the 'building' done by children may actually be demolition.  We can't trust our own opinions, he teaches.  Instead we are to follow the advice of our rabbis.