Sunday, January 12, 2020

Shnayim Mikra Ve'echad Targum

BS"D


In todays Daf Yomi shiur (Brachot, page 8) we learned:
Rav Huna the son of Rav Yehuda says in the name of Rav Ami:
A person should always complete the weekly parasha with the congregation; reading each verse twice and the targum once... and one who follows this practice will have his days and years lengthened.
(This is done by reading each verse twice followed by the Targum Onkelus on that verse, and then going to the next verse, and so on until the parasha is completed).

This week we have begun Sefer Shemot, so we have here a nice hint. Shemot being an acronym of S'hnayim M'ikra V'e'echad T'argum.

The Shulchan Aruch: Orach Chaim, siman 285, tells us that from as early as Sunday, a person can begin reading the weekly parasha, and complete it by Shabbat. This is called completing the parasha with the congregation. The Shulchan Aruch also suggests learning the commentary of Rashi with the parasha and says that it can be substituted for the Targum. However he concludes that a G-d fearing person should read the Targum as well as the Rashi commentary for each parasha.

It was the minhag of the Ari Z"L to complete the entire Shnayim Mikra Ve'echad Targum on Friday mornings, but many prefer to break it up into smaller daily parts as the Shulchan Aruch suggests, for fear of being too rushed and not having enough time to complete it all on the Friday.

We see in the Be'er Heitev commentary that one may also fulfill his obligation of the Targum by reading a commentary such as Tzeina Ureina (a famous Yiddish midrash/commentary on the Torah - which has now also been translated into Hebrew and English). Stating that the main purpose is to gain an understanding of the parasha.
However, he does mention that according to the Kabbala, it is specifically the Aramaic Targum which should be read.

So to sum it all up, the easiest way to fulfill this halacha is probably by having a daily time where you read a section of the parasha, on a pace to complete each parasha by Shabbat.

The way I try to do it is that each morning starting Sunday, I read an aliya from the parasha. (There are seven aliyot in each parasha, so it is kind of an easy way to break it up).
I first read the aliya in English so that I understand what is going on. I am currently using the English Shteinsaltz Humash which explains things very nicely).
After that I read that same section, twice each verse followed by the targum.
And then at the end I just read through all the Rashis on that section in the Hebrew.

OK, may we all be blessed with success and merit length of days and years. Amen.





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