For the source text click/tap here: Megillah 5
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Our daf explains that a city must have at least ten (batlanim) idlers, or congregants who are not paid to be at the service, to qualify as a city. The difference between city and village is important because it determines whether the Megilla reading might be postponed when Purim falls on Shabbat.
Our daf ends with a question about walled cities. We know that those living in cities that were walled from the time of Joshua celebrate Purim on the 15th of Adar, postponed from the 14th of Adar. All others celebrate on the 14th of Adar. But what if we aren't sure whether or not a city has four walls?
We explore recent anomalies like Prague and Bet Shemesh to see how halachic authorities struggle with the issue of walled city status as it affects when to read the megillah.