Shnayim mikra ve-echad targum
Encyclopedia
Shnayim mikra ve-echad targum (Hebrew: שנים מקרא ואחד תרגום), translated as "Twice Torah (text) and once Targum (translation)" is the Jewish practice of reading the weekly Torah portion in a prescribed manner.

Source

According to the Gemara in Tractate Berakhot
Berakhot (Talmud)
Berachot is the first tractate of Seder Zeraim, a collection of the Mishnah that primarily deals with laws relating to plants and farming...

 8a: Rav Huna bar Yehuda says in the name of Rabbi Ammi: "one should always complete the reading of one's weekly Torah portion with the congregation." This statement was interpreted as the ritual of Shnayim mikra ve-echad targum.

Laws

Times of Recitation (starting with most ideal)
1. On Friday, after the morning prayer
2. On Friday, after midday
3. On the Sabbath morning, before the lunch meal
4. After the Sabbath lunch meal but before the time for the Mincha prayer
5. Up until Tuesday evening following the Sabbath of a particular weekly portion
6. Up until Shemini Atzeret
Shemini Atzeret
Shemini Atzeret is a Jewish holiday. It is celebrated on the 22nd day of the Hebrew month of Tishrei. In the Diaspora, an additional day is celebrated, the second day being separately referred to as Simchat Torah...

 of that particular year

The basic obligation of Shnayim mikra ve-echad targum involves reciting the Hebrew text of the weekly portion twice and then reciting Targum Onkelos
Targum Onkelos
right|thumb|Interlinear text of [[Hebrew language|Hebrew]] [[Book of Numbers|Numbers]] 6.3–10 with [[Aramaic language|Aramaic]] Targum Onkelos from the [[British Library]]....

 once.
  • The proper formula involves reading each verse of the week's portion twice in a row, followed by the Targum translation of that verse. The next verse is then recited in that order, until the end of the portion. Other authorities (e.g. the Kitzur Shulchan Aruch
    Kitzur Shulchan Aruch
    Kitzur Shulchan Aruch may refer to:#The famous work of that name by Shlomo Ganzfried#A similar Sephardi work entitled "Kitzur Shulchan Aruch" by Rabbi Raphael Baruch Toledano....

     72:11) recommend dividing the text into its closed and open paragraphs as set out in a Torah scroll
    Sefer Torah
    A Sefer Torah of Torah” or “Torah scroll”) is a handwritten copy of the Torah or Pentateuch, the holiest book within Judaism. It must meet extremely strict standards of production. The Torah scroll is mainly used in the ritual of Torah reading during Jewish services...

     and in most printed copies, reading each paragraph as a whole, first twice in Hebrew and then once in Targum.

  • While listening to the Torah in synagogue, one can read the text along with the reader and count it towards one recitation of mikra.

  • By “Targum,” the Talmud refers to the Targum Onkelos
    Targum Onkelos
    right|thumb|Interlinear text of [[Hebrew language|Hebrew]] [[Book of Numbers|Numbers]] 6.3–10 with [[Aramaic language|Aramaic]] Targum Onkelos from the [[British Library]]....

    . Numerous authorities say that the commentary of Rashi
    Rashi
    Shlomo Yitzhaki , or in Latin Salomon Isaacides, and today generally known by the acronym Rashi , was a medieval French rabbi famed as the author of a comprehensive commentary on the Talmud, as well as a comprehensive commentary on the Tanakh...

     is also acceptable. Some maintain that it would be appropriate for one to study both Rashi and the Targum. If one does not have time for both, however, most poskim agree that Targum takes precedence over Rashi. The Mishnah Berurah
    Mishnah Berurah
    The Mishnah Berurah is a work of halakha by Rabbi Yisrael Meir Kagan , also colloquially known by the name of another of his books, Chofetz Chaim "Desirer of Life."...

      concludes that if one cannot understand the commentary of Rashi, he may use a translation that conforms with traditional interpretations of the text; as an example, the book Tzena u’Renah in Yiddish is suggested.

  • Ideally, Shnayim mikra ve-echad Targum should be recited in its entirety on Friday after the morning prayers while wearing Tefillin
    Tefillin
    Tefillin also called phylacteries are a set of small black leather boxes containing scrolls of parchment inscribed with verses from the Torah, which are worn by observant Jews during weekday morning prayers. Although "tefillin" is technically the plural form , it is loosely used as a singular as...

     and Tallit
    Tallit
    A tallit pl. tallitot is a Jewish prayer shawl. The tallit is worn over the outer clothes during the morning prayers on weekdays, Shabbat and holidays...

    . If one was not able to read the portion on Friday morning then he should do so on the Sabbath after the morning prayer and before the meal. Whoever cannot read the weekly portion on Friday due to obligations such as work, and finds doing so difficult on the Sabbath, should divide the portion during the preceding week. Thus on Sunday, one should read until the end of the second Aliyah, on Monday till the end of the third Aliyah, etc., so that come Friday, he will have completed his weekly obligation.

  • The Hebrew text should be recited with cantillation
    Cantillation
    Cantillation is the ritual chanting of readings from the Hebrew Bible in synagogue services. The chants are written and notated in accordance with the special signs or marks printed in the Masoretic text of the Hebrew Bible to complement the letters and vowel points...

     and with proper pronunciation. The Targum, however, should not be recited with cantillation.

  • One must be diligent to read the portion with no interruptions. If one is very thirsty, he may stop and drink (with before and after blessings).

  • After completing the weekly portion, the last verse should be read in Hebrew again so as not to complete the portion in the Targum translation. According to the HIDA (Rabbi Chaim Joseph David Azulai
    Chaim Joseph David Azulai
    Chaim Joseph David Azulai ben Isaac Zerachia , commonly known as the Chida , was a Jerusalem born rabbinical scholar, a noted bibliophile, and a pioneer in the publication of Jewish religious writings.- Biography :Azulai was born in Jerusalem, where he received his education...

    ), the last verse should be read twice.

  • When a Yom Tov falls on a Friday, the weekly portion should be read on the Sabbath before the lunch meal. Some hold that Shnayim mikra ve-echad targum may be read on Yom Tov itself.

  • On the day of Hoshana Rabba (any part of the daytime), Shnayim mikra ve-echad targum should be read for the V'Zot HaBerachah
    V'Zot HaBerachah
    V'Zot HaBerachah, VeZot Haberakha, or Zos Habrocho is the 54th and last weekly Torah portion in the annual Jewish cycle of Torah reading and the 11th and last in the book of Deuteronomy. It constitutes Jews generally read it in September or October on the Simchat Torah festival...

     portion.

Books

Although one may read Shnayim mikra ve-echad targum from any book, special books have been published which print the Hebrew text twice consecutively followed by the Aramaic Targum so as to assure that the reader will recite the requisite repetitions of each verse. Other books like Chok l'Yisrael
Chok l'Yisrael
Chok l'Yisrael is a compendium of Jewish texts designed for daily or weekly study.-Structure:The work is usually published in book form in five volumes, corresponding to the five books of the Torah...

, containing the Torah with other study texts divided by the weeks of the year, print the Hebrew text once, so the reader must remember to repeat the Hebrew text before going on to the Targum. As well, these books tend to divide the weekly portion by day so that busy people can read it in manageable amounts. Some books divide each day by Aliyah (Sunday: first Aliyah, Monday: Second Aliyah), while others divide it slightly differently.
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