Aug 30, 2011 By: jtaubes
A Biblical Translation in the Making : the Evolution and Impact of Saadia Gaon鈥檚 Tafsir, by Richard C. Steiner. Harvard University Center for Jewish Studies, 2010.
R. Saadia Gaon (882-942), one of the greatest Jewish sages of the Middle Ages, composed a translation of the Torah into Arabic, which forms the subject of Prof. Steiner鈥檚 new book. Prof. Steiner notes in his introduction that, in addition to providing a translation much needed by the Jewish public, R. Saadia specifically aimed it 鈥渢o defend Rabbinic Judaism against two young, aggressive rivals: Islam and Karaism. A translation 鈥榯hat would not be refuted by speculative knowledge鈥 would undermine the claim of Muslim polemicists that the Jews were anthropomorphist falsifiers of Scripture. A translation 鈥榯hat would not鈥 be rebutted by tradition鈥 would be useful in inoculating children against the claims of Karaite polemicists.鈥 Among the important questions Prof. Steiner seeks to answer are: 1. Where and when did R. Saadia Gaon work on his translation? and 2. What are the distinctive new features of his translation? In answering the first question, Prof. Steiner shows that R. Saadia had already prepared an annotated translation while he was a student in Tiberias, that he later expanded it into a commentary, and that, finally, for the public鈥檚 convenience, he reissued the translation on its own. In answering the second question, Prof. Steiner points out that R. Saadia鈥檚 work filled the need for a translation which would adhere to the tenets of both traditional Judaism and contemporary philosophy, while at the same time would follow the rules and niceties of Arabic grammar and style. Thus, R. Saadia Gaon鈥檚 translation successfully met the objections raised by Muslim and Karaite polemics against previous Jewish translations of the Torah into Arabic.
Posted by Zvi Erenyi. Courtesy of YU Library Blog
R. Saadia Gaon (882-942), one of the greatest Jewish sages of the Middle Ages, composed a translation of the Torah into Arabic, which forms the subject of Prof. Steiner鈥檚 new book. Prof. Steiner notes in his introduction that, in addition to providing a translation much needed by the Jewish public, R. Saadia specifically aimed it 鈥渢o defend Rabbinic Judaism against two young, aggressive rivals: Islam and Karaism. A translation 鈥榯hat would not be refuted by speculative knowledge鈥 would undermine the claim of Muslim polemicists that the Jews were anthropomorphist falsifiers of Scripture. A translation 鈥榯hat would not鈥 be rebutted by tradition鈥 would be useful in inoculating children against the claims of Karaite polemicists.鈥 Among the important questions Prof. Steiner seeks to answer are: 1. Where and when did R. Saadia Gaon work on his translation? and 2. What are the distinctive new features of his translation? In answering the first question, Prof. Steiner shows that R. Saadia had already prepared an annotated translation while he was a student in Tiberias, that he later expanded it into a commentary, and that, finally, for the public鈥檚 convenience, he reissued the translation on its own. In answering the second question, Prof. Steiner points out that R. Saadia鈥檚 work filled the need for a translation which would adhere to the tenets of both traditional Judaism and contemporary philosophy, while at the same time would follow the rules and niceties of Arabic grammar and style. Thus, R. Saadia Gaon鈥檚 translation successfully met the objections raised by Muslim and Karaite polemics against previous Jewish translations of the Torah into Arabic.
Posted by Zvi Erenyi. Courtesy of YU Library Blog
