Is it Obligatory to Read "Shnayim Mikra V'echad Targum"?

The Talmud in Tractate Berachot (8a) states: "A person should always complete his Torah portions with the congregation, twice in the original and once in translation, for whoever completes his portions with the congregation will have his days and years extended." The meaning of "twice in the original and once in translation" is that one should read the weekly portion twice in Hebrew, and once with Onkelos's Aramaic translation, as printed in the Chumashim (Torah books). Rabbi Yehoshua ben Levi also instructed his sons to complete their portions with the congregation, twice in the original and once in translation. The Jerusalem Talmud records that Rabbi Yehudah HaNasi also commanded his sons to read the weekly portion, twice in the original and once in translation.

The phrase "a person should always complete" does not mean this is merely good advice without actual obligation. In truth, one is legally required to read the portion twice in the original and once in translation, as ruled by Maimonides (Laws of Prayer, Chapter 13) who wrote: "Even though a person hears all the Torah portions read each year by the prayer leader every Shabbat, he is obligated to read for himself each week the portion of that Shabbat, twice in the original and once in translation." The Shulchan Aruch (Code of Jewish Law, Section 285:1) similarly rules this as an obligation.

Ideally, one should read each verse twice, followed by its translation. Nevertheless, if one read the entire portion, then read it again, and afterward read the entire translation, one has fulfilled the obligation.During Torah Reading

During the Torah reading in synagogue, it is forbidden to speak about any matter. Nevertheless, it is legally permissible to read the portion twice in the original and once in translation during the Torah reading in synagogue. Even though one might not be reading the same verses as the prayer leader at that moment (since one might be at the beginning or end of the portion while the cantor is reading different verses), since one is engaged in the same general matter as the prayer leader, it is permitted. This was the practice of Rabbi Yehudah HaChasid, who would read the entire portion, twice in the original and once in translation, during the Torah reading every Shabbat. This is also the ruling of the Shulchan Aruch (Section 285).

Nevertheless, Maran (Rabbi Yosef Karo) wrote in his Beit Yosef (Section 146) that ideally, for one who is meticulous in his ways, it is better not to read the portion twice with translation during the Torah reading. It is preferable to read the portion either before or after, and during the Torah reading to listen attentively to the reading by the prayer leader.

The Hagahot Maimoniyot notes that Maharam (Rabbi Meir of Rothenburg) would read the portion twice in the original during the pauses when the prayer leader was silent, meaning between the aliyot (Torah portions), "but during the actual reading he would remain silent." The authorities further write that in any case, one may read the portion once in the original while the prayer leader reads from the Torah scroll, reading word by word along with the prayer leader throughout the entire portion, and afterward go back and read it again once in the original and once in translation. Many follow this practice.

Rulings of Rabbi Ovadia Yosef, courtesy of "Halacha Yomit" website

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