Meturgeman: An Alternative Torah Reading
SWUSY Presents: Spring Kallah 2012
Created by: Jonas Actor, SWUSY REC VP 2011-2012
GOALS
 Teach USYers about the Parasha
 Help teens to understand and connect to the Torah
MATERIALS
 Anything required for a normal Torah reading, such as siddurim, tallitot, yad, etc.
 English translation for guidance
METHODS
In Jewish communities after the destruction of the 2nd Beit HaMikdash, synagogues would employ a
translator, called a meturgeman, to translate the torah reading line-by-line into the lingua franca of the
country. Some isolates Sephardic communities maintain the custom of a meturgeman even today. The
purpose of the meturgeman was to help the common person in synagogue- normally a farmer who did
not own a chumash- to understand and connect with the torah reading.
This alternative torah reading is based off the idea of an English meturgeman. The torah reading, instead
of being chanted traditionally in Hebrew out of a scroll and coupled with trope, is done in English with
the same trope. The English torah reading would have to be prepared ahead of time so that the trope is
available with the text.
Some tips:
 Use a Chumash with an English translation for guidance, but use the Hebrew text to create a better
translation that fits with the trope. Being stuck with the translation a Chumash provides may
cause more difficulties than it is worth.
 To write the trope in line with the English, have a typed copy of the English translation and then
make the page 3x spaced. Then, go through and write the trope above/below the lines.
 Considering trope is normally read right to left like Hebrew, conversion of trope for English
proves to be trickier than expected. Give yourself time to work out the trope. When inscribing the
trope on the English text, work with a “mirror image” trope that looks the same (albeit somewhat
flipped) so that it reads left to right instead of right to left. The trope’s shapes were designed with
certain patterns of notes in mind, so reversing the trope’s direction will help with the overall
reading.
 Have as many people involved as possible- keep a normal set of aliot, gabbaim, etc. Even bring out
a real Torah, and then have someone hold it for the reading! Hagbah and Gelilah should be done at
the leader’s discretion.
 Do not make the English translation longer than the actual torah reading! You will start to lose
people’s attention.
An example of an English torah reading is attached. This specific reading is the weekday aliot for Parashat
Mishpatim, done for the Shabbat Mincha service at SWUSY Spring Kallah 2012.
Exodus 21:01-06
Altar and take