Q&A: Twice Scripture and Once Translation
Twice Scripture and Once Translation
Question
Hello Rabbi!
Is there an unequivocal obligation to read the weekly portion twice in the original and once in translation? I can't seem to keep up, and I'm constantly trying to catch up. I have studies in Talmud, philosophy/thought, etc., that are much more important to me, and I prefer to invest my free time in them. What can I do?
Answer
In principle, yes. Not necessarily the translation specifically. Rashi or another commentary can also be used. I think there is room to be lenient if this interferes with more significant learning for you. The question is whether it really comes at the expense of that, meaning that if you did not read the weekly portion twice in the original and once in translation, would you actually add more learning beyond what you would have learned anyway.
Discussion on Answer
After all, even in the Talmud in Berakhot, the case was that that sage (I don't remember his name right now) did not read the weekly portion twice in the original and once in translation because he was very busy with the tractate being studied during the Kallah Sabbaths, and he postponed all the readings until the eve of Yom Kippur. And even so, in the end he went back and read it in its proper time when it became clear that that is what should be done. (Presumably the interruption of Torah study it caused him was a bit greater than it is for the questioner here.)
Not presumably at all. This is a relative matter. Precisely for a great Torah scholar, a small interruption of Torah study is not significant. But if there is a person for whom this is a significant blow to his learning, there is room to be lenient. And again, the difference in the value of the learning has to be significant. The impression from the sources and from common practice is that reading the weekly portion twice in the original and once in translation is not an absolute obligation like the enactment of reading the Megillah, where I would hesitate to be lenient.
With God's help, 26 Adar 5778
Seemingly, one could suggest that he read the weekly portion twice in the original and once in translation during the Torah reading.
Best regards, Shatz Levenger
Unless, of course, he's reading Kant at that time 🙂
Shatz Levenger, I already suggested that here once to one of the questioners, and the local halakhic authority didn't like it. (I can't find it now. The question was asked in a comment on another question.)
Regarding there being room to be lenient: it is well known that one interrupts Torah study in order to fulfill a time-sensitive commandment or a commandment that no one else can fulfill. From where does the argument for leniency here arise?