Hebrew Language in Jewish Prayer Term Paper

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Hebrew is the language of Scripture and forever reminds Jews of their covenant with God and holds Judaism together. He points out that they have already eliminated many traditional elements of Judaism in their reform and should not let go of anymore. He fears the whole of Judaism will be lost if any more separate elements are removed.

A second argument Frankel makes is that God gave the Bible to the Jews in trust for safeguarding. God called upon the Jews to carry forth and spread the Word of God as found therein throughout the world. The Bible was written in Hebrew. This is why all Jews have been instructed in Hebrew and why the Jews teach Hebrew to their children -- so they can understand God's word in the Bible, of which they are the caretakers. He concedes it would be acceptable to conduct some of the service in German, but Hebrew is the language of God's revelation to man and must not be abandoned. He argues that if the ancient lawmakers in Biblical times had ever dreamed that Jews would think of giving it up some day, they would have surely passed a law against it. That they didn't shows it is unthinkable.

Frankel's idea is that Hebrew is essential to Jewish identity and that its use in the temple and synagogue provides an "edifying stimulus" that no other language could provide.

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It is God's language revealed to the Jews, and its use should, therefore, continue both in prayer and services. The use of the Hebrew language is part of what makes Jews "Jewish." He appears to endow the Hebrew language with a nearly mystical power to inspire the people and to teach them. German, he feels, should be used only in non-religious parts of the service.

Geiger, on the other hand, points out that the ancients allowed Aramaic, the root language of Hebrew and Arabic, to be used in Biblical times. Furthermore, he does not believe that Jewish identity should rest upon or depend on the use of a particular language. He also does not believe that Jews have a responsibility from God to preserve Hebrew as a language. He believes Judaism is "in the heart," so to speak, something universal, and not associated with a national language or a national identity. Praying in a foreign language that one does not understand in his view is useless; therefore, Jewish services should be conducted in "the mother tongue" of the people, in a language they are currently using everyday, in order to make a living, universal, and heart-felt Judaism more….....

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