The Laws of Shnayim Mikra Ve-Echad Targum
In Parashat Shemot it says, “ואלה שמות בני ישראל” — “And these are the names of the children of Israel.” The Baal HaTurim writes: “The initial letters allude to: ואדם אשר לומד הסדר שנים מקרא ואחד תרגום בקול נעים ישיר, יחיה שנים רבות ארוכים לעולם” — “A person who studies the order of ‘two times the Scripture and one time the translation’ and sings in a pleasant voice will live many long years forever.”
[Based on the words of the Gemara (Berachot 8a): “Anyone who completes his weekly portions together with the community, two times the Scripture and one time the translation, will have his days and years lengthened.”]
The Reading
The manner of reading:
In any manner and order in which one reads shnayim mikra ve-echad targum, one fulfills the obligation, but there are two ways of reading Shnayim Mikra Ve-Echad Targum that are more preferable:
A — to read each verse twice and then the translation of that verse.
B — to read each open or closed parashah twice and then read the translation.
Practical halachah — one who follows either view has acted properly [and one may sometimes follow one practice and sometimes the other].
Some have the practice, ideally, to read one reading together with the baal koreh [besides an additional reading of the Scripture and the reading of the translation, which are read separately], and they have upon whom to rely. Likewise, those who read Scripture, then translation, and then Scripture again have upon whom to rely (Minhagim of Mahara Tirna, Mekor Chaim by the author of Chavot Yair; see Levush and Da’at Torah; and so it is reported in the name of the Chazon Ish. The author of Tosafot Yom Tov wrote in his work Tov Ta’am on Rabbeinu Bachya (Parashat Matot) to read in this manner; however, in his work Divrei Chamudot on the Rosh (Berachot, ch. 1, subsection 41), it is clear that this is only after the fact; see Sha’ar HaTziyun, subsection 10).
[According to the second opinion above, it should be emphasized that specifically an open or closed parashah is considered a section break, whereas the breaks between aliyot are not considered section breaks. Those who have the practice of reading part of the parashah each day should therefore make sure to finish on Sunday at the open or closed parashah before or after the second aliyah, and likewise on the other days. However, if the aliyah break is at the end of a subject, one may finish there (based on the view of the Vilna Gaon, according to whom the reading may be divided at each completion of a subject, and not specifically at an open or closed parashah)].
Reading with the cantillation notes
Strictly speaking, there is no obligation to read Shnayim Mikra Ve-Echad Targum with the cantillation notes, but there is an advantage to reading it with the notes, particularly according to Kabbalah.
Concluding Shnayim Mikra Ve-Echad Targum with Scripture
Some maintain that one must conclude the reading with Scripture [that is, after one has finished reading the final verse twice as Scripture and once as translation, one should go back and read the verse a third time as Scripture, in order to conclude with Scripture].
Accordingly, one who divides the reading into several sessions and does not read the entire parashah at once should go back and conclude with a verse from Scripture each time he stops.
Does one who reads the translation without understanding what he is saying fulfill his obligation?
It appears that one should understand the translation, but even if he did not understand it, he has fulfilled his obligation.
Reading the haftarah and the festival readings
There is no obligation to read the haftarah [though some have this practice], and likewise there is no obligation to read the festival reading [whether that of Yom Tov or that of Shabbat Chol HaMoed].
Interrupting in the middle of the reading
Ideally, one should not interrupt with speech in the middle of reading Shnayim Mikra Ve-Echad Targum. However, for answering Amen and Kedushah, as well as for blessings that may be missed [such as the blessing over lightning and thunder], or for the sake of a mitzvah, one interrupts.
If one is thirsty in the middle of Shnayim Mikra Ve-Echad Targum and wishes to drink, he may interrupt, recite a blessing, and drink.
Reading Shnayim Mikra Ve-Echad Targum out of order
Ideally, one must read Shnayim Mikra Ve-Echad Targum in order. However, if one read it out of order [for example, he began reading with the baal koreh from the second aliyah and afterward completed from the beginning of the parashah], he has fulfilled his obligation.
Shnayim Mikra Ve-Echad Targum with Rashi’s Commentary
Is there an obligation to read Rashi in addition to the translation, and does one who reads the Scripture twice with Rashi’s commentary [instead of the translation] fulfill his obligation?
According to the basic law, if one read the Scripture twice and the translation once, or read the Scripture twice with Rashi’s commentary [instead of the translation], he has fulfilled his obligation. However, a God-fearing person should read both the translation and Rashi’s commentary.
If one is able to read either the translation or Rashi, which of the two is preferable?
The poskim disagree about this matter, and one who follows either view has acted properly.
May one read the translation for some verses and Rashi’s commentary for other verses?
It appears that one may [though a God-fearing person should read both the translation and Rashi’s commentary for the entire parashah, as stated above].
Must one read Rashi’s commentary aloud?
If one reads only Rashi’s commentary and does not read the translation [in accordance with the basic law], he must articulate the words with his mouth. But if he reads Rashi’s commentary in addition to the translation [as God-fearing people do], it is sufficient to read Rashi’s commentary mentally.
One who reads the Scripture twice with Rashi’s commentary instead of the translation [in accordance with the basic law] — how should he proceed with a verse on which Rashi has no commentary [or where Rashi explained only part of the verse]?
If Rashi did not explain the verse at all, he must read the Scripture three times, or read the Scripture twice and the translation once. It appears that the second option is preferable.
But if Rashi explained part of the verse, it appears that he has fulfilled his obligation for the part that Rashi explained.
The Time for Reading
The ideal time for reading Shnayim Mikra Ve-Echad Targum
Some wrote that the choicest fulfillment of the mitzvah is to read Shnayim Mikra Ve-Echad Targum on Friday, but reading a little of the parashah each day of the week is also included in the choicest fulfillment of the mitzvah.
The beginning of the time for reading Shnayim Mikra Ve-Echad Targum
From Minchah of Shabbat, one may read the portion of the coming Shabbat.
It appears that this means from the time one has personally prayed Minchah; but if he has not yet prayed Minchah, even if the congregation with which he usually prays has already prayed, and even if the time of minchah ketanah has passed, he may not read as long as he has not prayed himself.
The end of the time for reading Shnayim Mikra Ve-Echad Targum for that Shabbat
If one did not complete Shnayim Mikra Ve-Echad Targum before the meal on Shabbat morning, he must complete it by Minchah. It appears that this means he should complete it before he himself prays Minchah.
Making up a parashah on the following Shabbat
One who was prevented by circumstances beyond his control and did not read Shnayim Mikra Ve-Echad Targum until after Shabbat must read it by the end of Tuesday. If he did not read it by Tuesday, he must read it later in the year, until Simchat Torah.
One who makes up the previous parashah during the following week should ideally first say the parashah he missed and afterward the parashah of the current week, but this is not indispensable.
However, if he knows that he will in no way manage to read both parashiyot that Shabbat, he should give precedence to the parashah of the current week and complete the missing parashah afterward, since according to most Rishonim, after Minchah of Shabbat the time for reading that parashah has already passed.
The final time for making up the parashah
The final time for reading Shnayim Mikra Ve-Echad Targum is on Simchat Torah, until they finish reading in the Torah the parashah of Vezot HaBerachah.
Those Obligated in the Reading
Reading Shnayim Mikra Ve-Echad Targum — obligation or mitzvah?
Reading Shnayim Mikra Ve-Echad Targum is an absolute obligation, even for Torah scholars whose Torah study is their occupation. One who does not read Shnayim Mikra Ve-Echad Targum is called a transgressor.
Educating minors in Shnayim Mikra
One should educate a child from the age at which he has the ability to read and understand on his own what he is reading, which is later than the usual age of chinuch [and often close to the age of bar mitzvah].
A bar mitzvah boy
A child who began reading Shnayim Mikra Ve-Echad Targum while still a minor, and in the middle of the week became bar mitzvah, does not need to read it again.
A mourner during shivah, may the Merciful One spare us
A mourner is forbidden to read Shnayim Mikra Ve-Echad Targum during the days of shivah, but on Shabbat he is obligated to read it [though he should not read Rashi’s commentary in addition to the translation; one who is lenient in this has upon whom to rely]. It appears that even if the mourning will end by Tuesday, nevertheless he should read on Shabbat.
Additional Issues
Shnayim Mikra Ve-Echad Targum at night
Ideally, if one can read Shnayim Mikra Ve-Echad Targum during the day, he should read during the day. But if he has no other time to read Shnayim Mikra Ve-Echad Targum, he may read even at night. On Thursday night and Friday night, it is permitted to read at night even ideally.
Eating before completing the recitation of Shnayim Mikra Ve-Echad Targum
One should complete the recitation of Shnayim Mikra Ve-Echad Targum before the bread meal on Shabbat morning. However, as a matter of halachah, it is permitted to eat at a kiddush made over cakes before completing Shnayim Mikra Ve-Echad Targum.
Reading Shnayim Mikra Ve-Echad Targum during Pesukei DeZimra
After reciting Baruch She’amar, it is forbidden to read Shnayim Mikra Ve-Echad Targum, and even between Yishtabach and Yotzer Or it is forbidden.
Reading Shnayim Mikra Ve-Echad Targum before the repetition of the Amidah by the shaliach tzibbur
On days when Tachanun is recited, it is forbidden, because it is forbidden to speak before Tachanun. On days when Tachanun is not recited, it is permitted [though according to Kabbalah, it is forbidden to speak at all].
A resident of Eretz Yisrael who travels abroad and hears the parashah again
In years when there is a difference in the parashiyot between Eretz Yisrael and the Diaspora, if a resident of Eretz Yisrael flies abroad and hears there the parashah again, he does not need to read Shnayim Mikra Ve-Echad Targum again, since he already read that parashah the previous week. However, he must make up the parashah that is being read in Eretz Yisrael.
