Sotah 7:1-2
Is Hebrew necessary in Jewish ritual life? When and why?
讗诇讜 谞讗诪专讬谉 讘讻诇 诇砖讜谉, 驻专砖转 住讜讟讛, 讜讚讜讬 诪注砖专, 拽专讬讗转 砖诪注, 讜转驻诇讛 , 讜讘专讻转 讛诪讝讜谉, 讜砖讘讜注转 讛注讚讜转, 讜砖讘讜注转 讛驻拽讚讜谉.
The following ritual texts may be recited in any language: the passage read [by the priest] to the sotah, the tithing declaration, chanting Shema, the Prayer (i.e., the Amidah), grace after meals, the oath of testimony, and the oath over a pledge.
Comments:
This mishnah lists ritual acts where the priority is on comprehension rather than the use of original language. The sotah ritual involved a woman who had been accused of adultery by her jealous husband. If she pled innocent, even after being witnessed secluded with the suspected paramour, then she was subjected to a trial by ordeal. The mishnah here is concerned with her understanding the warning so that she has the chance to plead guilty.
讜讗诇讜 谞讗诪专讬谉 讘诇砖讜谉 讛拽讚砖, 诪拽专讗 讘讻讜专讬诐, 讜讞诇讬爪讛, 讘专讻讜转 讜拽诇诇讜转, 讘专讻转 讻讛谞讬诐, 讜讘专讻转 讻讛谉 讙讚讜诇, 讜驻专砖转 讛诪诇讱, 讜驻专砖转 注讙诇讛 注专讜驻讛, 讜诪砖讜讞 诪诇讞诪讛 讘砖注讛 砖讛讜讗 诪讚讘专 讗诇 讛注诐.
The following ritual texts must be recited in the Holy Tongue (i.e., Hebrew): the first fruit declaration, chalitzah, the original blessings and curses, the priestly benediction, the blessing of the high priest, the passage chanted by the king, the passage recited during eglah arufah, and the speech made by the War-priest at the time of battle.
Comments:
This mishnah identifies rituals in which the Torah itself specifies the wording, and hence the use of Hebrew. Chalitzah refers to a man who refuses to marry his deceased brother鈥檚 widow. Eglah arufa is a social purification ritual after a man is found murdered with no suspect. In each case a specific Hebrew text is required.
Questions:
We often try to balance the values of accessibility and authenticity in Jewish ritual life. Translation makes texts and rituals more widely accessible, but the use of Hebrew lends greater authenticity. What is the point of differentiation for the use of Hebrew or translation in these two mishnayot? What should it be for us?
