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From: Russell Hendel <rhendel@mcs.drexel.edu>
Date: Tue, 8 Jun 1999 22:07:22 -0400 (EDT)
Subject: In defense of Praying in English

The interesting question of the ideal way to pray and enunciate words
was raised by David (v28#64), & Rabbi Wasserman, (v28#65).My bottom line
advice (which I will then defend halachically) is that

* if you know Hebrew you should pray in Hebrew at a talking pace-- about
a minute for ASHRAY, 6 minutes for Shma, 4 minutes for Shmneh Esray

* if you don't know Hebrew fluently it is preferable to pray in English
for BOTH the Shma and Shmoneh Esray.

To defend this note that the Rambam identifies the primary requirement
of Shma as UNDERSTANDING (Rambam, Shma,2:1) and allows it to be said in
any language (Shma 2:10). Clearly note (Shma 2:1) that if you don't
understand what you are saying YOU HAVE NOT FULFILLED YOUR
OBLIGATION. By contrast there is NO statement in Rambam that it is
prefered to say Shma in Hebrew.

I am at a loss why Rabbi Wasserman thinks this is a controversy between
Rambam and Raavad. Rambam Shma 2:8 clearly states that it is PREFERABLE
to observe DIKDUK laws but does NOT invalidate the SHMA if you don't.
In fact with regard to using SIGN LANGUAGE during Shma Rambam says that
a) you shouldn't do it and b) if you did do it it is POOR. By contrast
Rambam does not call a non-Dikduk shma as POOR. At any rate the primary
law is expressed in Shma 2:1---you MUST understand what you are reading
(and if you don't understand the first verse it invalidates your
reading)

Of course any Rabbi may insist that a congregant uses a Good English
translation (e.g. art scroll with modifications). As to the SPEED of
davening many people are suprised to learn that there have been business
studies on the idea rate at which to speak when making a business
presentation. The ideal speed is 2.1 words a second; using the number of
words in Shma you get 6 minutes for Shma the exact speed suggested by
the Rambam in Shma 1:11. Thus the primary part of davening---Shma and
Shmoneh Esray---should ideally take 10 minutes (not a difficult task).

Russell Jay Hendel;Phd ASA
RHendel @ mcs . drexel . edu
Moderator Rashi Is Simple
http://www.shamash.org/rashi