[Avodah] 1960 de Sola Pool Edition of the RCA Shabbat and Yom Tov Siddur

[Joseph Kaplan]

Areyeh Frimer asks: “Is there someone on this list who has access to the de Sola Pool Edition of the RCA Shabbat and Yom Tov Siddur. I am interested in verifying whether R. De Sola Pool indeed translated  "Bar E-lohin" in Berikh Shmei as "Angel" or "Son of God".   I vaguely remember he did the latter, and Rav Yosef Dov Soloveitchik was extremely upset. [ In this regard, See the Mesorat HaRav Rosh Hashana Machzor p. 395 note 1, and Introductory material,  Hanhagot haRav, no. 57. p. Lv ]”

In the original version, which lists on the cover page “Authorized by the Rabbinical Council of America, J.B. Soloveitchik, Chairman, Halakha Committee, C.B. Chavel, Chairman, Siddur Commuttee,” it’s translated as “son of God” (p  242). In a later edition, which lists on its cover page “Under the direction of the Siddur Committee of the Rabbinical council of America” with no additional names, its’s translated as “a created being” (p. 242). Both editions have a 1960 copyright date. (I have both editions in my home library.) 

The second one has the original “Introduction” by the editor and translator David de Sola Pool as well as an “Introduction: Revised Edition” by members of the Siddur Committee (R. Chavel is no longer listed as Chairman). While the second introduction has a discussion of issues regarding translation, the translation and retranslation of bar E-lohin is not mentioned.  It notes at the end that the Siddur Committee “hopes, in the near future, to prepare a companion to the Siddur that will provide an explanation to all these [translation] fine points.” 

Those are the facts. Now to my recollection. (a) No such companion regarding translation was ever issued. (b) When the original came out there was a major brouhaha over the translation of bar E-lohin. The Rav was very angry, and the word from those who knew was that he insisted an a revised edition without his name. (c) I also think, but am less sure about this, that he did not know that his name was going to be included as it was in the original edition. 

Joseph
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