The targum-translation tag has no wiki summary.
13
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2answers
197 views
Why don't we use a translator during Torah reading?
Outside of the Teimanim I am not aware of any other segments of Judaism that still employ a meturgamen (translator) during kriat ha'torah. Why has this practice fallen into disuse?
12
votes
2answers
306 views
Where did “shabat shalom” come from?
What is the source for the greeting "שבת שלום"?
Where is it earliest attested in print?
What does it mean?
11
votes
2answers
308 views
What does “prohibited l’chatchila” mean?
To me the phrase prohibited l’chatchila seems a bit confusing. Can someone explain what this means in plain and simple english?
(context: someone says "action X is prohibited l’chatchila")
11
votes
2answers
215 views
What was the Arov?
The fourth plague is Arov commonly translated as wild beasts.
The word I think most literally translates to "a collection" or in this case, maybe along the lines of "a swarm" (consider the word ...
9
votes
2answers
180 views
Translation to Greek
I just read in parashat ki tavo that the torah was translated into 70 languages and written on giant stones, yet the talmud says the translation of the torah to Greek many years later was considered a ...
9
votes
1answer
172 views
Is there a rule for Rashi's French transliterations (Laaz)?
Rashi frequently uses French words in his explanation to Chumash or the Gemara. However, he doesn't write it in the original language, but he writes it in a "transliteration" of French in Hebrew ...
9
votes
2answers
120 views
verb + its infinitive
Many, many times in Tanach, including Chumash, a verb has its infinitive nearby. Examples include B'reshis 2:16 מִכֹּל עֵץ הַגָּן אָכֹל תֹּאכֵל (I think that's the first example in Chumash) and ...
9
votes
1answer
164 views
Traditionalist evaluation of the “New American Haggadah”?
One of the hot new offerings in the Haggada market this year is the New American Haggadah by novelists Jonathan Safran Foer and Nathan Englander. It features a new translation by Englander as well as ...
8
votes
3answers
263 views
All you need is love?
I once had a Hebrew professor state with absolute determination that "Ahavah" (the Hebrew word for "love") does not, in fact, mean love. His proof was twofold:
1. G-d could not have commanded us to ...
8
votes
2answers
189 views
Meaning of ח-ל-צ
Words of the root חלצ seem to have contradictory meanings. On the one hand it is used in the sense of "removing," as in בית חלוץ הנעל and כי חלצת נפשי ממות. On the other hand, warriors are called ...
8
votes
3answers
369 views
What is Rashi proving with words in different languages
There are many places in Rashi's commentary where he uses a foreign language to translate a word used in the Torah.
For example, Bereshit 6:14:
בכפר: זפת בלשון ארמי. ומצינו בתלמוד כופרא
With ...
8
votes
3answers
194 views
“Baruch shekivanti…”
There is a phrase of self-compliment people use when they find that they have independently arrived at the same conclusion as someone great. It begins with the words "ברוך שכיוונתי", translated ...
7
votes
4answers
426 views
What is the exact definition of Shituf (vis a vis 'Avodah Zarah)?
"Shituf" is the heretical idea of some sort of co-mingling of something with G-d (Has VeShalom). According to many rabbinic opinions, Christianity is Shituf (cf., Is Christianity Avodah Zara?), and ...
7
votes
5answers
4k views
Nefesh, neshama and ruach as words for “soul”
All three words can mean something like "soul", e.g., neshama in גלגול נשמות, and ruach in וַתְּחִי רוּחַ יַעֲקֹב אֲבִיהֶם (Bereshit 45:27). So, what is the difference?
7
votes
2answers
126 views
What does the aramaic “pon” mean?
Once in a while, Onkelos will throw in the word pon (פּוֹן) that doesn't directly translate from the Hebrew.
Avimelech to Yitzchak: k'z'eir pon shachiv d'm'yached b'ama (Toldos 26:10)
Lavan to ...
7
votes
1answer
101 views
Can the chazzan use the vernacular quietly?
When saying a private portion of the service, such as pesukei de-zimra, may the shaliach tzibur (aka chazzan, or the person leading services) use English, and switch to Hebrew for the portions said ...
7
votes
1answer
149 views
On Deuteronomy 28:23, Rashi says copper is “mazi'a”. What does this mean?
I have this question on Rashi every year in Ki Savo. Deuteronomy 28:23 says: "And the heavens above your head will be like copper and the earth that is beneath you, iron."
Rashi says that the heavens ...
7
votes
1answer
505 views
Keeping in mind the meaning of every word of prayer, vs. being mindful of general concepts
If I were to sit down with my prayer book, I could translate it. I know what the words mean, and I know what they are saying conceptually. However, when I'm praying, if I try to translate in my head ...
7
votes
1answer
149 views
What is the best online English translation of Tanach?
I am aware of a number of partial or complete English translations of Tana"ch online, but I am wondering if there are any I am unaware of, especially that fulfill the following criteria:
Precision ...
7
votes
1answer
136 views
Published Ladino version of Meam Lo'ez?
The Me'am Lo'ez (מעם לועז), begun by Rabbi Yaakov Culi in 1730, is a commentary to Tanakh written in Ladino. It was subsequently translated to Hebrew and translated from the Hebrew to English in a ...
6
votes
6answers
309 views
Why is the word for G-d in Genesis plural?
The word for G-d in Genesis 1:1 is plural in all the manuscripts, there's no debating that it's plural. So really it should read "In the Beginning Gods created the heavens and the earth". Why is this ...
6
votes
3answers
234 views
Why the emphasis on Hebrew in Judaism?
Why does Judaism have such an emphasis on Hebrew phrases in their religion and seems reluctant to translate them to English or another language?
6
votes
2answers
87 views
Need some good Russian Purim/kiruv links
I was totally shocked today, talking with one of my Russian colleagues. He had absolutely no idea what Purim was about. Not Mordechai, not Ester, not Achashverosh, not Haman - he didn't even know ...
6
votes
3answers
189 views
Difficult phrases in the “Sale of Chametz” document
I am currently working on a clarification of the document which is usually used by rabbis to sell chametz to a non-Jew. The version I am working with is that of Harav hagGaon Avraham Aharon Yudelewitz ...
6
votes
2answers
103 views
Ibn Ezra's Arabic-based explanation of the vav heading some clauses
Sh'mos 9:21:
וַאֲשֶׁר לֹא שָׂם לִבּוֹ אֶל דְּבַר יהוה וַיַּעֲזֹב אֶת עֲבָדָיו וְאֶת מִקְנֵהוּ בַּשָּׂדֶה
And 13:17:
וַיְהִי בְּשַׁלַּח פַּרְעֹה אֶת הָעָם וְלֹא נָחָם אֱלֹהִים דֶּרֶךְ אֶרֶץ ...
6
votes
1answer
84 views
What does מִלְמַעְלָה in Gen 7:20 mean?
Genesis 7:20, describing the flood, says:
חֲמֵשׁ עֶשְׂרֵה אַמָּה מִלְמַעְלָה, גָּבְרוּ הַמָּיִם; וַיְכֻסּוּ, הֶהָרִים.
Almost everybody translates the first clause as some approximation of ...
6
votes
0answers
49 views
How do we translate חַטָּאִים?
Isaiah 1 (28): And destruction shall come over rebels and sinners
together, and those who forsake the Lord shall perish. כח.
וְשֶׁבֶר פֹּשְׁעִים וְחַטָּאִים יַחְדָּו וְעֹזְבֵי יְהֹוָה ...
6
votes
0answers
83 views
Seeking Ramchal's Hoker u'MeKubal in English
Is the Ramchal's Hoker u'MeKubal available in English? I have already read Derech HaShem, Daas Tevunos, Mesillas Yesharim, and Ma'amar HaGeulas, so I would be interested in other of his works in ...
5
votes
2answers
168 views
What's the meaning of “Hashmal” (electricity in modern Hebrew) in the bible? (Ezekiel 1:4)
Ezekiel 1:4:
I saw, and behold, there was a stormy wind coming from the north, a great cloud with flashing fire and a brilliance surrounding it; and from its midst, like the color of the Hashmal ...
5
votes
4answers
919 views
What does the Bible mean by “those that urinate against the wall” in I Samuel 25:22?
A more precise version of this vague question:
What does the Bible mean by "those that urinate against the wall" in I Samuel 25:22?
There are different translations for the phrase; what is the ...
5
votes
3answers
434 views
Hebrew for ice - and other “new” words
After reading MB OC 301:17:65 (thanks, YDK!) I am baffled by a nagging question regarding Modern Hebrew and Biblical Hebrew. Eliezer Ben-Yehudah is known to have revitalized Hebrew, in part by taking ...
5
votes
1answer
326 views
What's the difference in Biblical Hebrew between “zahav” and “paz”?
Artscroll calls one "gold", the other "fine gold." Any other distinctions?
5
votes
1answer
91 views
Is the term Cushite used to refer to people of African descent?
While reading the book of Numbers (I am a Christian, I don't know if it is referred to something else in Judaism), I came across the passage (Numbers 12:1-15) where Miriam and Aaron were speaking ...
5
votes
2answers
433 views
Why is the word “tzvi” ambiguous?
The word tsvi (צבי) is traditionally considered to mean "deer". For example, the Hebrew name "Tsvi" has the Yiddish equivalent "Hersh", and "Hirsch" means "deer" in German.
On the other hand, in ...
5
votes
2answers
88 views
Why did Yosef's brothers speak freely in the presence of the interpreter?
In Parashat Miketz, Yosef's brothers encounter him disguised as the viceroy of Egypt, and he accuses them of espionage, jails them for three days, and makes a demand that they know their father would ...
5
votes
1answer
113 views
Can one make a siyum mesechta if it was learned in English?
If someone has some trouble with Aramaic and learned parts of a mesechta in English (for example with an Artscroll Gemara), can he still make a siyum?
4
votes
3answers
203 views
who spoke in Bamidbar 12:1?
In B'ha'alotcha Miriam and Aharon complain against Moshe, and Miriam
(alone) is punished with tzara'at. In looking at this passage I found
problems with the translations I had available.
JPS, the ...
4
votes
1answer
173 views
Is there a freely distributable English translation of Tanach available?
I am in the midst of creating a media project. The content is 'religion'. There is a publicly distributable set of 4 documents in XML format (programmer speak for a document that can easily be ...
4
votes
3answers
157 views
How to do Shnayim Mikra when the Aramaic Targum has multiple alternate wordings?
What should one do when saying שנים מקרא ואחד תרגום if one comes upon a verse where the Targum (Aramaic translation) has two alternative wordings? I would just say the verse in Targum twice (or four ...
4
votes
1answer
68 views
Timche Es Zeicher / Zecher Amalek
In Zeicher vs Zecher it discusses the reasons we say both, however I was wondering what is the difference in translation between Zeicher & Zecher?
4
votes
1answer
462 views
Is there a site where I can see several different jewish translations at the same time?
The christians have that
http://bible.cc/psalms/82-6.htm
Is there something like that for jews?
If there isn't, then perhaps lists of several good online jewish translation would be nice too. It ...
4
votes
3answers
57 views
Please translate “Shem Yinone mechoilol maichovim” in a selicho for Tzom Gedaliah
Please could someone offer a translation of the phrase “Shem Yinone mechoilol maichovim” in the Selicho for Tzom Gedaliah that begins “Oz Terem Nimtochu” (near the beginning of the selichos)?
4
votes
1answer
651 views
Davka, Mamash, and B'Emet
When speaking in primarily English but using the words Davka, Mamash, or B'Emet:
How do you define them into English?
What is the difference between them?
How do you use each one properly?
4
votes
2answers
126 views
Translation Issue, Exodus 21
Exodus 21:22 - This verse deals with two men fighting, and injuring a pregnant woman causing her to [miscarry] | [give birth prematurely]. The bracketed terms are in dispute due to different ...
4
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0answers
52 views
Why does Onkelos translate “לֹֽא יוּכַל” as “לָא יִכּוֹל” rather than “לֵית לֵיהּ רְשׁוּ”
The verse in Shemos 19:23 says "וַיֹּאמֶר מֹשֶׁה אֶל־יי לֹֽא־יוּכַל הָעָם לַֽעֲלֹת אֶל־הַר סִינָי." Rashi says that although it uses the words "לֹֽא־יוּכַל" it means they're not allowed. Onkelos ...
3
votes
3answers
1k views
Meaning and Difference between baruch and bar'chu
I'm sorry, I don't know a word of Hebrew, and I really want to know what these sentences mean:
Bar'chu et Adonai ham'vorach l'olam vaed
Baruch atah Adonai
If I didn't write them correctly, ...
3
votes
2answers
85 views
Question regarding ונביא גדול הוא קרוב ממשה רבנו in Rambam's Hilkhos Teshuva
Here is some text from Rambam's Hilkhos Teshuva:
לפי שבאותן הימים תרבה הדעה והחכמה והאמת...מפני שאותו המלך שיעמוד מזרע דויד בעל חכמה יהיה יתר משלמה ונביא גדול הוא קרוב ממשה רבנו ולפיכך ילמד כל העם ...
3
votes
3answers
138 views
What are the major ancient literature on Judaic mysticism and spiritual development?
What are the major ancient literature on Judaic mysticism and spiritual development? By ancient I mean B.C.E.
I also would appreciate if you can also provide links to online English translations if ...
3
votes
1answer
118 views
How do Jews understand this idiom in Psalm 40:7
Inspired by http://christianity.stackexchange.com/questions/1294/hebrew-ot-translation-to-greek-nt, I wonder what Jews interpret this idiom, "אָזְנַיִם כָּרִיתָ לִּי," to mean.
The English Standard ...
3
votes
1answer
46 views
What does ריש חזית mean?
I'm reading(/trying to read) the introduction to the Vilna Gaon's איל משולש (his geometry textbook). The first two words are ריש חזית.
What does ריש חזית mean?
If it helps, the phrase is immediately ...
