"The word "Megillah" (מְגִלָּה) in Hebrew indeed means "scroll." It’s a pretty common word, and you’ll encounter it in various contexts.

Most notably, it refers to specific books of the Hebrew Bible that are read aloud in synagogues on certain holidays. The five "Megillot" are:

Song of Songs (שִׁיר הַשִּׁירִים – Shir HaShirim): Read on Passover.
Book of Ruth (מְגִלַּת רוּת – Megillat Rut): Read on Shavuot.
Book of Lamentations (אֵיכָה – Eicha): Read on Tisha B’Av.
Book of Ecclesiastes (קֹהֶלֶת – Kohelet): Read on Sukkot.
Book of Esther (מְגִלַּת אֶסְתֵּר – Megillat Esther): Read on Purim.

When people simply say "the Megillah," they are almost always referring to the Megillat Esther, which tells the story of Queen Esther, her cousin Mordecai, and their triumph over the evil Haman. The reading of the Megillat Esther on Purim is a central and often very lively event in Jewish communities!

The Hebrew word "Megillah" (מְגִלָּה) translates to "scroll" or "roll." It originates from the root word "galal," which means "to roll" or "to wrap." In ancient times, scrolls were the primary medium for recording texts, including sacred writings, legal documents, and literary works. The term "Megillah" is also famously associated with the five scrolls in the Hebrew Bible, known as the Five Megillot, which include the books of Esther, Ruth, Lamentations, Ecclesiastes, and Song of Songs.

• Hebrew-English vocab, but also texts on Israel, Jews, linguistics