What is the reason for שנים מקרא ואחד תרגום?

Question

The gemara in Berachos 8a-b states:

אמר רב הונא בר יהודה אמר רבי אמי לעולם ישלים אדם פרשיותיו עם הצבור שנים מקרא ואחד תרגום [...] שכל המשלים פרשיותיו עם הצבור מאריכין לו ימיו ושנותיו

Rav Huna bar Yehuda said that Rabbi Ami said: A person should always complete his Torah portions with the congregation, reading the Torah text of the weekly portion twice and the translation once [...] since whomever completes these Torah portions with the congregation is rewarded that his days and years are extended.

Have a few questions about this:

• 1) What is the reason for שנים מקרא ואחד תרגום?

• 2) Why must it been done in that form of twice reading the verse and once reading the תרגום?

• 3) What is it about שנים מקרא ואחד תרגום that keeping this law would lead to "long days and long years?"

Answer 1

Aruch Hashulchan (Orach Chaim 285:2) suggests that it is in commemoration of the three times that the generalities and the specifics (כללות ופרטות) of the Torah were repeated (Sotah 37b): once at Sinai, once by Hashem speaking to Moshe from the Tent of Meeting, and a third time by Moshe in the plains of Moav. The reason for doing the Targum one time, he says, is that it too was given at Sinai, and is necessary (or was, in Talmudic times) for the person to understand what he's learning.

The commentary Magen HaElef on Siddur R' Amram Gaon offers a different reason, and also uses it to explain why the reward for doing this is long life. It goes back to the time when people who got an aliyah were expected to read their own portion (as is still done in Yemenite communities); to do so takes prior preparation - reviewing the portion at least twice. If one is careful to do שמו"ת, then, he will always be able to receive an aliyah if one is offered to him, and will thereby merit the Torah's blessing of long life (Deut. 30:20).

Answer 2

The Mord'chai on B'rachos (#19) implies that the reason for the practice is to familiarize oneself with the words of the Torah. Ramifications of this law include the automatic fulfilment of it by teachers of Torah to children and the fact that a commentary is a valid substitute for the translation. Others disagree, holding that there is special significance to Unkelus's translation and that meanings absent from the commentaries are conferred by it (See Tosafos on 8a, s.v. " שנים מקרא ואחד תרגום".).

That this practice should enable one more than simple scheduled familiarity and actually preparation for the weekly public reading is implied by the Shibolei Haleket (#75) when it specifies that one should finish his reading before heading to shul in the morning. (Although it does state that failing to do so, one should still read it before eating anything later that day. Furthermore, Kol Bo (#37) even opines that in such circumstances one may read up until Wednesday.) It also may be the implication of Rambam in Hilchos T'fila Un'si'as Kapayim, 13:25, when he disqualifies hearing the weekly public reading from being a fulfilment of the obligation.

A very interesting limitation to this practice is made in a responsum (#88) of the Ra'ava"n when he explains that sh'nayim mikra v'echad targum applies (or was originally intended) only for individuals who live in secluded cities without a minyan. They are to emulate a fulfilment of public reading by reading once for each of the two people reading directly out of the Torah and once for the real-time translator who it was the custom to follow along for public comprehension at the exact time it was being read elsewhere in public.

Answer 3

Two answers that were given here:

(a) The Gemara later on (Berachos 55a) says that if one refrains from reading the Torah when he is called upon to read, this "shortens one's days and years." If he prepares the Parshah two times, he becomes sufficiently familiar with the words and is able to read from the Torah in the event that he is called upon. He thereby avoids having his days and years shortened, and he merits long life. (Rav Elazar Moshe Horowitz)

(b) One who disciplines himself and arranges his schedule in order to ensure that he has time to read the Parshah twice and its Targum once each week shows that he appreciates the value of time and uses it productively. He is granted more time in this world to learn Torah and do Mitzvos. (-As heard from Rav Kalman Weinreb shlit'a.)

Answer 4

ראב"ן: כנגד הקריאות שעתידים לקרוא בבית הכנסת: קריאת הבעל קורא, קריאת העולה לתורה והתרגום (שנקרא כיום רק בקהילות מסוימות אך בעבר נקרא בכל קהילות ישראל). יש המפרשים את דבריו כי מדובר דווקא בתקנה עבור מי שלא שמע את הקריאה בתורה בציבור.חזון איש: כדי שילמד ויבין האדם את תוכנה של פרשת השבוע הקרובה מטה משה סי' תס"ד: זכר לנתינות התורה השונות – בסיני ובאוהל מועד בעברית ובערבות מואב. בתרגום. מהר"ל בתפארת ישראל פרק י"ג: כנגד שלושת הרבדים בתורה – נגלה, נסתר והרובד הנעלם מעיני כל אדם. על פי הקבלה הקריאות בלשון הקודש הן כנגד עם ישראל והקריאה בארמית היא כנגד שבעים אומות העולם