In his introduction to Yen HaTov on the Aramaic translations of the Torah, Rabbi Alter Tovia Wein of Rehovot speaks of the importance of studying the Targumim.
He relates that Rabbi Zelmele, the brother of Rabbi Chaim of Volozhin, who was well versed in the Targumim (“they were written on his heart and fluent on his tongue”) regretted deeply the neglect of the study of the Aramaic translations. He believed that Jewish learning suffered greatly as a result thereof.
In his Yen HaTov, Rabbi Wein explains the Targum to the student. Yen HaTov on the Torah deals with Targum Onkelos, the Targum ascribed to R. Yonathan ben Uziel and the Targum Yerushalmi. He presents literal Hebrew translations of the Targumim, wherever they contain additions or do not render, literally, the Hebrew original. The footnotes include explanations, helpful observations and references to the Talmud, Midrashim and commentators.
There are of course extant a number of fine books and studies on the Targumim, but these address themselves chiefly to scholars. Yen HaTov is intended for a wider readership. Its am is to popularize the study of the Aramaic versions.
I first discovered Yen HaTov, some years ago on the bookshelves of a Boro Park synagogue. On the spot I looked through the Hebrew translation of the Targum of the Book of Ruth and was greatly impressed.
During my recent visit to Israel, I decided to call on the author. One evening during Chol HaMoed Sukkos, I traveled to Rehovot. I met the aged, white bearded Rabbi Wein and his son-in-law Rabbi Zalman Kurlandski in their sukkah. It was a small sukkah built on the balcony of the rabbi’s apartment, but it was filled with my hosts’ warmth and friendliness. Hardly had I sat down, when the rebbetzin placed in front of me– despite my protestations — a cup of wine and a plate of pastry.
Rabbi Wein who was born in Poland is the scion of a well known rabbinical family. On his mother’s side he is a descendant of Avraham, the brother of the Gaon of Vilna. His brother David was for more than 30 years, rabbi of Holon. Another brother, R. Aaron Yuda was a rabbi in Poland. R. Chaim Zeev, a third brother served as rabbi in Chicago and lives now with his son, the well known Rabbi Berel Wein in Monsey.
Rabbi Tovia Wein himself studied at the Yeshiva of the Chafetz Chaim in Radin and later in Mir. He came to the land of Israel in the 1930s. Initially he wanted to work on the land. He even thought of enrolling in the agricultural school of Mikveh Israel. however, when things didn’t turn out as he had planned, he decided to devote himself to the teaching of Torah.
He taught in Hadera. Subsequently he moved at the advice of the Hazon Ish to Safed. “You have built Torah in Hadera, now go and build Torah in Safed,” the Hazon Ish told him. Later he taught in other places, including Jerusalem. Finally he served as a teacher in Rechovot.
During the many years he worked as a teacher, he immersed himself in the study of the Targumim. Realizing the truth about Rav Zelemele’s view of the importance of Aramaic versions, he decided one day– it was a Shabbos afternoon between Mincha and Maariv, in the Ari Synagogue of Safed– to compose a work which would popularize the study of the Targumim.
However, many years were go pass until the first volume of his work appeared. Yen HaTov on Bereshit and Shemot — the name of the work alludes to the Torah and the words of the sages, which are compared to good wine, as well as to the name of the author — was printed in 1976 with the financial aid of relatives and friends in Israel and in the U.S. The volume, which carried approbations by well known rabbis, including the late Rabbis Moshe Feinstein and Zalman Sorotzkin, was very well received. The second volume on Torah (Vayikra, BemIdbar and Devarim) was published three years later.
Since then three more volumes have appeared. The Five Scrolls (1981), Pslams (1985) and Isaiah (1989). These feature the entire Targum in Hebrew translation. The notes are printed at the end of each book. Rabbi Wein did not prepare a new Hebrew translation of the Targum Sheni on Esther. There was no need for it. He included in his Five Scrolls the accepted and often printed Patshgen HaKetav. The volume of the Psalms contains an appendix listing 18 fundamental terms of Judaism, such as Torah, Land of Israel, Temple, Gan Eden and Jerusalem, which are not spelled out in the Hebrew text of certain verses of the Psalms, but appear in figurative translations or explanatory additions in the Aramaic version.
I spent much time with Rabbi Wein and his son-in-law, listening with great interest to the rabbi’s stories about his life and work. I would have like to remain much longer in the company of this kind and modest scholar, but I had to catch a bus back to Jerusalem. But then, I didn’t really leave him. The volumes of his Yen HaTov are always with me.
The Jewish Press, Friday, November 16, 1990