More Discussions for this daf
1. The Chachamim's translation of "Bera'am" 2. Greek Translation 3. Was Talmai Hamelech's 72 Torahs Kosher?
4. Torah in Greek 5. Translating the Torah to Greek 6. The story of the 72 sages who translated the Torah into Greek
7. a Translation or Transliteration? . 8. Kedushas ha'Mikdash 9. שמעתי כשהיו בונים בהיכל עשו קלעים
DAF DISCUSSIONS - MEGILAH 9

alex lebovits asked:

Obviously not with all the changes made! So how does the Gem. bring a proof from this story that writing a Sefer Torah in Greek is permissable. Just like we must say that all the changes they made were allowed, perhaps because of Pikuach Nefesh or some other special reason, that can be the reason for using Yevonis as well. But under normal circumstances Yevonis would not be allowed.

Kol Tuv

alex lebovits, toronto, canada

The Kollel replies:

The Sfas Emes (9a DH Rav Ashi) explains that the prohibition outlawing the writing of Sefarim in other languages must be a Rabinic one, otherwise the Rabanan would not be able to permit it. Since the prohibition is a Rabinic one, the Rabanan can decide to override the prohibition.

The Rambam (Pirush ha'Mishnah Megilah 2:1) says that after the story of Talmai the Greek transalation became prominent and therefore the Rabanim did not want to include it in the prohibition. Alternatively, we could say that since a miracle happened when the Rabanim wrote the Torah in Greek, the Rabanim who prohibited writing Sefarim in other languages decided to exempt Greek (Benayahu).

For further explanations see Teshuvos Avnei Nezer (OC 521:2) and Chazon Ish Yada'im 8:10

Dov Freedman