As we begin the Torah once again, it would be an opportune occasion to discuss the weekly mitzvah of Shnayim Mikra V’Echad Targum.
The Gemara in Brochos (8a) tells us:”לעולם ישלים אדם פרשיותיו עם הצבור שנים מקרא ואחד תרגום, שכל המשלים פרשיותיו עם הצבור מאריכין לו ימיו ושנותיו – One should complete the parsha along with the community, reading the pasuk two times and the targum once, and one who does so will merit longevity.” The commentators point out that the Gemara is telling us that one should not think that he will be losing out on precious time that he would have spent on other things. This should not be a concern because, on the contrary, one will only gain, and have a longer life from spending time on this mitzvah.
The Baal Haturim, in the beginning of Parshas Shimos, writes that this is alluded to in the very first words of the parsha. The acronym of the words “ואלה שמות בני ישראל” spells:שראאדם ו ניםשחיה ישיר יעים נקול ברגום, תאחד וקרא מנים שסדר הומד ל עולםלרוכות אבות ר – “One who learns the portion of the week, by reading the pasuk two times and the targum once, with a pleasant voice, will merit to live a long life.” The Levush has a slightly different acronym from the words ואלה שמות בני ישראל. He writes that it spells: קראמנים שפרשה הקרות לדם אחייב ו שראליני בל כייבים חזה ורגום, תאחד ו – “All Jews are required to study the portion of the week, by reading the pasuk two times and the targum once.”
Requirement or recommendation?
From the simple reading of the Gemara, we do not see that this is a chiyuv, something that one must do. The Gemara just states: “yashlim,” which sounds like something that you should do, but not necessarily a mandate. Even the Tur uses the expression yizaheir, which means to be careful about it, but does not spell out that it is required. However, the Rambam and the Shulchan Aruch do spell out clearly that it is, in fact, a bona fide requirement.
Many poskim write emphatically about the importance of this mitzvah, equating it with any other mitzvah d’rabanan, such as lighting the menorah on Chanuka. Rav Moshe Feinstein zt”l, – in a haskama to the sefer V’eleh Shimos, a sefer that discusses the importance of this mitzvah – writes quite strongly that it is a full-fledged chiyuv dirabanan, and all are required to do it.
In Teshuvos V’hanhagos (1:544), Rav Moshe Shternbuch quotes the Brisker Rav, who was quite outspoken about its importance, and that even one who is busy learning, must find time for this mitzvah.
In the biography on Rav Baruch Ber Leibowitz – Harav Hadomeh L’malach – it is recorded how the students would gather around and listen as Rav Baruch Ber read the parsha on Erev Shabbos, with a pleasant voice. When asked if there is any heter for those who are lax in this mitzvah, he responded that he does not know of any allowance (except for the “heter of Rav Huna, an allusion to the Gemara that when one does an aveira numerous times, it feels to the person like something that is allowed...).
The Shevet Halevi (8:46) also writes emphatically how throughout the generations it was something that everyone was vigilant in each week. Ha also points out that the Rambam doesn’t just quote the words of the Gemara, as he often does, but rather makes the point of writing that it is a full-fledged chiyuv.
Reason
What is the reason for this mitzvah? Many rishonim explain that the idea behind this mitzvah is to become fluent in the entire Torah. Although we read the Torah publicly – known as krias hatorah – if one also studies the parsha himself, along with the targum, which explains each pasuk, that will help a person to know and be able to keep the entire Torah.
The Aruch Hashulchan adds that this is a fulfillment of the tefillah that we recite every morning before krias shma. We ask Hashem: “lishmoah, lilmod – to hear and to learn.” Lishmoah is accomplished with leining, when we hear the words of the Torah. In addition, we have the mitzvah of shnayim mikra, which is when we learn the parsha. He adds that it is better to do it before leining, which will help a person understand the parsha better, when they lein the parsha in shul.
Summary
Shnayim Mikra is a real chiyuv. The reason for this mitzvah is to help a person know and keep the entire Torah. It is better to review the parshah before leining on Shabbos, which will help a person understand reading of the parsha better, when they lein in shul.
Rabbi Scheiner
