- Torah and Jewish Thought
- General Questions
Why is Talmud in Aramaic
Question
Why was part of the Gemara put down in Aramaic? Why were rabbis in Babylon and Israel speaking in languages other than Hebrew? There is plenty of evidence that Hebrew was still prevalent and known in Gemara times (and, of course, Rabbis would understand it). Why was Aramaic picked over Hebrew? Was it an attempt to stop people from speaking in Lashon Hakodesh?
Answer
Of course it wasn't to stop people from speaking Lashon HaKodesh – for to the contrary, our sages precisely encouraged us to speak Hebrew even for our secular speech, saying it brings long life, a share in the world to come, and hastens the redemption (see "The Mitzva of Speaking Hebrew" at https://www.tora.co.il/shiurim/shvat.htm ). The opposition (!) to speaking Lashon HaKodesh which you mentioned, is just a recent anti-Zionist "invention" of the Satmar rebbe, based upon his difficult understanding of a Rambam, which incidentally contradicts the Rambam himself in 3 other places (see there, pp. 15-17).
In addition, Aramaic is a step-sister of Hebrew/Lashon HaKodesh. For example, there's a law in divorce, that says that the gett must be written in 1 language, but the classic wording always used, is a combination of Hebrew and Aramaic, proving that they're really considered one and the same. Aramaic, although clearly less "pure" than Hebrew as the Holy Language, was simply the dialect of Hebrew which was used at the time, apparently influenced from the surrounding nations.

would i get more commentaries if i learned hebrew
Rabbi David Sperling | Adar II 22, 5782

missing out living in UK
Rabbi Ari Shvat | Tishrei 22, 5782

tosafos
Rabbi Ari Shvat | Tammuz 19, 5777
1st century Jewish Education
Rabbi Moshe Leib Halberstadt | Tevet 28, 5770

Rabbi Ari Shvat
Lectures at various yeshivot, michlalot and midrashot. Has published many books & Torani articles and is in charge of Rav Kook’s archives.

Yericho conquest by Yehoshua
Tevet 28, 5771

A Day is a thousand years
Adar I 23, 5771

baruch hamavdil
Adar I 23, 5771

How to manage to not listen Loshon Hara?
Adar I 23, 5771

Mezzuzah for Non Jew
Rabbi David Sperling | Iyyar 18, 5773

Mezzuzah for Non Jew
Rabbi David Sperling | Iyyar 18, 5773

Mezuzah for a Catholic Family?
Rabbi David Sperling | Nisan 15, 5779

No-wedding days
Rabbi David Sperling | Sivan 20, 5772

Using Father's or Mother's Name in Judaism
Rabbi Ari Shvat | Shevat 4, 5783

Torah vs. Tanak additions
Rabbi Ari Shvat | Shevat 4, 5783
CAN A CHALAL MARRY A DIVORCED WOMAN ?
Rabbi Gideon Weitzman | Tevet 23, 5783
