All five of these
megillot ("scrolls") are traditionally read publicly in the
synagogue over the course of the year in many Jewish communities.
Song of Songs The
Song of Songs (
Shir ha-Shirim) is read publicly in some communities, especially by
Ashkenazim, on the Sabbath of
Passover. In most
Mizrahi Jewish communities it is read publicly each week at the onset of the
Shabbat (Sabbath). There is also a widespread custom to read it at the end of the
Passover Seder. In the Sephardi ritual it is read before the Mincha service on the afternoon of the seventh day of Passover (eighth day outside Israel). is the only book accompanied by blessings before and after, but certain communities adopted the custom of the
Vilna Gaon to recite blessings before the other four
megillot as well. As indicated above, however, only two of the
megillot are traditionally read in all Jewish communities, Esther on Purim and Lamentations on Tisha B'Av. The practice of reading the other three books on the
Three Pilgrimage Festivals is widespread but by no means universal. To read them is a venerable custom among Ashkenazim, but some
Sephardic Jews do not associate the three books with the three festivals. ==Cantillation==