Subscribe to Print Edition | Fri., September 12, 2008 Elul 12, 5768 | | Israel Time: 12:37 (EST+7) web haaretz.com   Back to Homepage Haaretz Toolbar Diplomacy Defense Jewish World Opinion National Print Edition Car Rental Books Haaretz Magazine Business Real Estate Easy Start Travel Week's End Anglo File

Last update - 21:50 10/09/2008 Don't worry about the Bible, it can take care of itself By Michael Handelzalts Tags: Bible, Education Ministry In Israel - which was established 60 years ago as the national home of the Jewish people, which "gave the world the eternal Book of Books" (according to the Declaration of Independence), and whose official languages, alongside Arabic, include that same Hebrew in which the Book of Books is written - a move is afoot to publish the Bible in contemporary Hebrew. In other words, to translate the Bible into Hebrew. To rewrite it, in the same language, using different words. This is a private commercial endeavor launched by a veteran teacher of the Bible, Avraham Ahuvia, and publisher Rafi Mozes of Reches Educational Projects. The entire text is vocalized, and each verse appears in the original form alongside the translated version. The Education Ministry cried foul upon hearing of the idea and hastily issued a directive banning use of the new translation in schools. The danger has thus been averted: Even if they wanted to, Israeli teachers and students, at least officially, may not sample this work. Advertisement In 1964, Robert Graves was asked by the British National Theatre to translate Shakespeare's "Much Ado About Nothing" into English, to make it easier for British audiences to understand a play that was written in the English language of 400 years ago. He commented at the time: "A remarkable thing about Shakespeare is that he is really very good, in spite of all the people who say he is very good." The new translation proves that the same also applies to the Bible. It suffices to compare the original first verse of the Book of Genesis with its translation. The difference between the original - "In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth" - and the translation - "At the start of creation, when God created the world" - may as well be the difference between the heavens and the earth. Like any great work of literature, the Bible worded differently in the same language is a different book altogether. Those who conceived of the translation project are quick to point out that their intentions were good. "The language of the Bible is a 'foreign language' for Israeli students, and there is a need to interpose easier language, so that teachers can have free time to delve deeper [into the material]," said Rafi Mozes (who decided to etch his name on the project for posterity and thus titled the book the Ram Bible, where "Ram" represents his initials in Hebrew). Avraham Ahuvia, who translated the work, added: "I was convinced [to put out the book] because we teachers translate the Bible orally in lessons for the students, who have a difficult time understanding the grand language." It is worth noting that Western culture, which encompasses many languages, evolved over 2,000 years. During that time, it has been enriched by translations of the Bible from Hebrew to Aramaic (and vice versa), Greek, Latin and English. Hebrew itself was developed over many generations by sages who translated the Bible into their contemporary languages, and that produced the language of the Talmud. And there is indeed a difference between biblical Hebrew and contemporary Hebrew, even though it is the same language. More importantly, there is a huge difference between Hebrew speakers of 60 years ago and those who speak the language today, even though it is the same language. Back in 1919, my grandfather, Yisrael Eliyahu Handelzalts, a Hebrew teacher and translator in Poland who knew a thing or two about translations of the Bible and its similarity to spoken Hebrew, accurately diagnosed the problem. He translated the Book of Esther from Aramaic to Hebrew, as well as the Aramaic sections of the Book of Daniel. In an article he penned for Hamadrich, a professional journal for teachers published in Lodz, Poland, he wrote: "In the past ... knowledge of the Hebrew language was gained by knowledge of the holy texts and the Talmud, knowledge of grammar was gained by interpreting Rashi, the style of the Mishna and its offshoots, the language of the rabbis ... Back then, ignorance was impossible. A 'knower of Hebrew' and an ignoramus were two opposites back then. Now, things have changed. Any average knower of Hebrew does not need the Bible at all, and if he learned it, he did so intermittently and in fits and starts. Now it is possible to know the Hebrew language, and to nonetheless be a boor and an ignoramus..." I cannot ask my grandfather for his reaction to the new translation. He was killed by the Nazis in the Rusissian town of Novgrodok in 1941. From his writing, however, it is clear that he is speaking of the same problem that motivated the new translators to act. Turning the language of the Bible into our everyday tongue entailed a price: Generations of people speak the language of the Bible without being aware that they are doing so. When they say a simple word like shamaim (sky), they do not know they are quoting the Book of Genesis - much like Monsieur Jourdain in "Le Bourgeois Gentilhomme" spoke in prose his entire life without knowing it was prose. Motivated Bible teachers today need not make it easier for native Hebrew speakers to understand the language of the Bible, the same language in which they speak. They must not make the Bible easier for them, which essentially means killing the Bible softly. Rather, they should demonstrate that a small amount of thought and effort is all that is required to understand the Bible as it was written. I am not concerned about the Bible and its language, nor am I worried by contemporary Hebrew. They have enough admirers (Meir Shalev, for example, who authored "Bible Now" and whose latest work is a study of biblical text titled "Reishit, Pa'amim Rishonot B'mikra"). Hebrew knows how to take care of itself. The Bible is eternal, due to its own merits. The only thing they have to fear is teachers with good intentions. Bookmark to del.icio.us   'I didn't kill Rose' Rose's mother, grandfather request court delay autopsy of body found in Yarkon River. Israeli requests Israel asks U.S. for arms and permission to use an air corridor to attack Iran.   1.   ISRAELIS NEED TO RAISE THEIR GAME 20:29  |  Steven Cohen 10/09/08   2.   Israel Should Stop Claiming that the 00:00  |  ARTH 11/09/08   3.   The Bible Can Definitely Take Care of Itself 00:35  |  Gary 11/09/08   4.   Capturing the spirit 00:38  |  Joseph 11/09/08   5.   Some day the English will "translate " Shakespeare 00:49  |  Zev Davis 11/09/08   6.   Biblical text can be relevant 07:18  |  R., retired educator 11/09/08   7.   some day is now 10:28  |  alain 12/09/08

Read & React Palin: U.S. shouldn't 'second guess' Israeli defensive measures Responses: 3 The bogus concept known as Jewish 'self-hatred' Send response For the sake of peace, Israel and Syria must keep talking Send response Preemptive strike capabilities help Israel face national tests Send response More Headlines 07:24 Abbas to Haaretz: Peace deal unlikely this year 11:49 Palin: U.S. shouldn't 'second guess' defensive military steps taken by Israel 10:26 Father,infant son, hurt in second suspected Netanya mob hit this week 11:28 Police: Likelihood that this is Rose's body is very high 05:27 Who are the 100 most influential people in Israel? 07:41 Canada PM's holiday cards raise concern over religious profiling 09:08 Austrian court unfreezes $10m of Palestinian terror group Abu Nidal's funds 05:03 Pollsters use new gadget to gauge Mofaz, Livni credibility 04:26 PM vows to resign as soon as new Kadima leader chosen 11:52 Eskimos at the Kinneret? No, you aren't hallucinating 04:45 Reports of child abuse nearly doubled in past decade Previous Editions Select Day 11 sep 10 sep 09 sep 08 sep 07 sep 05 sep 04 sep 03 sep 02 sep 01 sep 31 aug 29 aug

Special Offers Advertisement Fattal Hotel Chain Perfectly located hotels on best resorts of Israel. Eldan Rent a Car Israel's leading car rental company offers you a 20% discount on all online reservations Jewish Singles Personal Ads Find the love of your life on JDate.com Israel's Premier Real Estate Website www. israel-property.com Hebrew Summer courses From $39.95 ISRAEL BONDS Build Israel Israel bonds - a multi-purpose way to celebrate Israel's 60th Junkyard Junk a car - get free towing nationwide and a tax-deductible receipt

Home | TV | Print Edition | Diplomacy | Opinion | Arts & Leisure | Sports | Jewish World | Underground | Site rules |

Real Estate in Israel | Travel to Israel with Haaretz | Hotels Israel | Restaurants Israel | Tourist attractions Israel | Shops Israel

birthright Israel | Search engine marketing

Haaretz.com, the online edition of Haaretz Newspaper in Israel, offers real-time breaking news, opinions and analysis from Israel and the Middle East. Haaretz.com provides extensive and in-depth coverage of Israel, the Jewish World and the Middle East, including defense, diplomacy, the Arab-Israeli conflict, the peace process, Israeli politics, Jerusalem affairs, international relations, Iran, Iraq, Syria, Lebanon, the Palestinian Authority, the West Bank and the Gaza Strip, the Israeli business world and Jewish life in Israel and the Diaspora.

© Copyright  Haaretz. All rights reserved