Can You Pray in English? Plus a Powerful Lesson on Regret

Two daily halachot from the book Halacha Lemaaseh by Rabbi Yaron Ashkenazi, shlita, based on the rulings of Maran Rabbi Ovadia Yosef z”l.

If Someone Does Not Understand Hebrew, What Language Should They Pray In?

Ideally, the Amidah should be recited in Hebrew, the Holy Tongue. For this reason, in communities where Hebrew is not commonly understood, it is preferable for prayer books to be printed in Hebrew with explanations and translations alongside the text, allowing worshippers to understand the meaning of the prayers.

When it comes to personal supplications after the Amidah, someone who is not fluent in Hebrew may make personal requests in a language they understand while praying with a congregation, provided the prayers come sincerely from the heart.

If praying alone, personal requests should preferably be made in Hebrew. However, if a person does not understand Hebrew at all, there is room to be lenient in pressing circumstances and allow personal prayers in another language even when praying alone.

May a Sephardi Jew Change to a Different Prayer Rite?

A Sephardi Jew who inherited the Edot HaMizrach prayer rite from his ancestors should continue praying according to that tradition and should not switch to another rite. The same principle applies in reverse for those who follow other established prayer traditions.

Today's Quote

“A person may do something and later regret it. When it comes to repentance, this is a very upright path, because one who sins and regrets it is considered as though he did not sin.

It is impossible to achieve true repentance without regret, for sins cannot be fully atoned for if a person does not sincerely regret them.

However, one who performs a good deed and later regrets it possesses a negative trait. Therefore, be careful never to regret your good deeds, lest you lose your reward.

If you gave charity to a poor person and later he angered you, be careful not to regret the kindness you showed him. Since your intention at the time was for the sake of Heaven, your reward remains preserved.”

(Orchot Tzaddikim, Gate of Regret)

What This Quote Means

The Orchot Tzaddikim teaches that not all regret is the same. Some regret helps a person grow, while other forms of regret can be spiritually damaging.

Positive Regret: Regretting Wrong Actions

When a person recognizes a mistake, reflects on it, and genuinely regrets it, that regret becomes a powerful part of the teshuvah process. True remorse opens the door to forgiveness and spiritual repair.

The Orchot Tzaddikim teaches that repentance cannot be complete without regret. A person who sincerely regrets a sin demonstrates a desire to change and move closer to Hashem.

Negative Regret: Regretting Good Deeds

The opposite is true when someone regrets a mitzvah or act of kindness.

For example, a person may give tzedakah generously and later feel resentful if the recipient disappoints them or behaves poorly. The Orchot Tzaddikim warns against this mindset. A good deed remains valuable because of the pure intention behind it when it was performed.

Rather than regretting acts of kindness, we should be grateful for the opportunity to do good and trust that Hashem preserves the reward for every sincere mitzvah.