02-01-2013, 05:31 PM
Though I am far from a scholar in languages, I will share some of my observations on his logic and choice of support material. Please critique.
One I can type up at the moment is that his citation of a rabbinic recommendation against praying in Aramaic seems an ironic inclusion, since the problem being addressed (in what language ought we to pray) actually suggests that a significant portion of the people spoke Aramaic natively. If the logic is hard for any to follow, ask yourself this: "Why would the Rabbis bother to denigrate praying in Lishana Aramaya if the masses are as fluent in Lashon Hakodesh as Mr.Minge asserts?"
As an aside... Whatever Rabbi took that position ("Angels do not understand Aramaic"???) must have felt really sorry for any poor angels they imagined can't read the portions of the Tanakh where it's used.
One I can type up at the moment is that his citation of a rabbinic recommendation against praying in Aramaic seems an ironic inclusion, since the problem being addressed (in what language ought we to pray) actually suggests that a significant portion of the people spoke Aramaic natively. If the logic is hard for any to follow, ask yourself this: "Why would the Rabbis bother to denigrate praying in Lishana Aramaya if the masses are as fluent in Lashon Hakodesh as Mr.Minge asserts?"
As an aside... Whatever Rabbi took that position ("Angels do not understand Aramaic"???) must have felt really sorry for any poor angels they imagined can't read the portions of the Tanakh where it's used.