FYI - "Lost in Mis-Translation"

Regardless of the textbook series we use, teaching prayers includes developing students' basic translation skills. We expect students not only to decode (pronounce words accurately and fluently), but to demonstrate a level of understanding of the prayer text. To achieve that outcome, we teach word roots, prefixes, suffixes. The text books usually provide the English translation of the prayer, vocabulary lists, and numerous vocabulary exercises. But, what if, gasp! some of the commonly accepted English translations are wrong?

Intriguing mis-translations of prayer and Torah texts are the subjects of an article in the fall issue of "Reform Judaism" magazine. The article, entitled "Lost in Mis-Translation" by Joel M. Hoffman, analyzes, in a very readable way, how the meaning of words and texts can be distorted when translated from Biblical Hebrew to English.
Dr. Hoffman points out "Translation Traps" that lead to mis-translation. He chooses his examples of mis-translation from well-known texts including the V'Ahavta prayer and The Ten Commandments.

This article would be an excellent stimulus for discussion in a post B'nai Mitzvah class. Hoffman's article might be combined with an examination of Prayerbooks which your congregation has used over the years. While the Hebrew prayer texts have generally remained the same, the translations probably show an evolution in English language usage and social/philosophical thinking.

To pursue this subject further, Dr Hoffman moderates a blog on Bible translation.
www.GodDidntSayThat.com