How many מגילות?

 

5 מגילות? Only מגילת אסתר do Chazal refer to as a מגילה. Chazal never refers to the other 4 as a מגילה. Three editions of מגילת אסתר   1) written by the Persians* 2) written by מרדכי & אסתר** 3) written by the אנשי כנסת הגדולה*** * Esther 10:2 - The Ibn Ezra  in Hakdama writes the Persians copied theirs from the Megilah The Mahrsha Chulin 139b seems to hold the Persian edition was first  **  Esther 9:29 Megilah 19a *** Bava Basra 15a The Brisker Rav Zt"l explains "The Megilah Mordechai wrote was a kosher Megilah but wasn't part of כתבי הקודש The אנשי כנה"ג rewrote it in א"י  and then became part of כתבי הקודש" ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------               DID YOU KNOW? According to the רמ"א (O.Ch.147:1), It's preferable  to be מחמיר and do נטילת ידים (wash hands) before holding the מגילה with your hands.