Praying in a mixture of Hebrew and English: What Should I Do If I Struggle With Hebrew?
Question
May one who has difficulty reading Hebrew pray most of the prayer in English and some of it in Hebrew? I struggle to read Hebrew fluently. The words feel distant, and I fear that if I say them without understanding, my prayer will lack meaning, not to mention that it will take me hours to say the entire prayer in Hebrew. Thus, can I pray most of the Tefila in English—the language I understand—and include some parts in Hebrew? Will my prayer still be valid? Or must I force myself to say everything in Hebrew, even though I do not comprehend the words?
Answer
Yes, it is permitted for you in your situation to Daven in both Hebrew and English. Accordingly, if you understand certain sections in Hebrew, you may say those in Hebrew, and the parts you do not understand and have difficulty reading can be said in English.
Explanation
The Talmud and Shulchan Aruch rules that when Davening with a Minyan, prayer may be recited in any language that the person understands. The Poskim debate whether this applies even when not Davening with a Minyan due to the fact that perhaps angels cannot elevate languages other than Hebrew and practically the Poskim conclude that one who does not understand Lashon Hakodesh is to Daven in whatever language he understands, even when Davening alone. The Alter Rebbe explains that the essence of prayer is the heart’s intention, and therefore it is better to pray in a language you comprehend than to recite words in Hebrew without understanding them, as a prayer without intent is worthless. Accordingly, if you understand certain sections in Hebrew, you may say those in Hebrew, and the parts you do not understand can be said in English. This applies especially to someone who struggles to read Hebrew and cannot learn the meaning of the words. However, the ideal practice (lechatchilah) over time is to pray in Hebrew and to study and learn the meaning of the words over time, as Hebrew is the original language of the prayers and has unique sanctity.
Sources: See Admur 101:5, 62:2, 124:2, 185:2; Michaber 101:4; Mishneh Sotah 32a; Taz 101:6; M”A 101:6; M”A 101:5 in name of Asara Mamaros Mamar Eim Kol Chaiy 1:31 and Sefer Chassidim 588 and 788; Yearos Devash Derush 1; Chayeh Adam 24:19; M”B 122:8; Piskeiy Teshuvos 101:5-7
