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I cut a special swan’s quill for the occasion and even left the barbs on so it looked good in any photos - one normally removes them, otherwise, as Vivian says, they tickle your nose when you’re writing.
Seven individuals were called to the bimah (3 selected beforehand and 4 by drawing lots - very apt for Purim I thought!). After reciting their intention to write for the sake of the holiness of the megillah, they each held my hand as I sang out the letters and wrote on their behalf - as their agent. I had guessed this wasn’t going to be easy - I was right. I also discovered that swan quills are too soft: I should have stuck with turkey and never mind the showmanship. Still the seven letters were completed to the appropriate standard, the last one, vav, in front of Vivian, my teacher, and after what must have been the umpteenth shehecheyanu of the evening (and after the ink had had a bit of time to dry) we unrolled the megillah fully for all too see (a general tradition before reading, not just for new megillot) held up by half a dozen strapping men.
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