Seforim in English?

Igros Moshe (YD IV #38.3) Question  Is it permitted translating Seforim such as the Bible and Mishna since Moshe translated the Torah in 70 languages? Answer It is not relevant to learn from Moshe since he didn’t write the translation but said it. 

Igros Moshe (YD IV #38.4) Question Translating the Hebrew Bible which is the Written Torah? Answer  We see in fact that the Bible has many translations such as Targum Onkelos and Targum Yonason.  Tosfos (Moed Koton 3b) also indicates that there is actually preference to Targum because of the principle that Written material is not to be said orally  Writing and printing is clearly permitted because of the needs of the time (ais l’asos).  

Igros Moshe (YD IV #38.5) Question Should the translation of Mishnayos and halachic rulings be avoided because of concerns for of the accuracy of the translation? Answer  There is no prohibition of translating mishnayos and halachic rulings. However the main concern is that the translator understands the importance of correctly translating. Even a small error in translating can lead to major consequences. Study the introduction to the translation from Arabic to Hebrew to the Rambam’s commentary to the Mishna. These concerns are even greater for an English translation  Therefore it is best to avoid translations. However if a person knows that he is capable of proper translation in English and he is regarded as such by others as well as being a talmid chachom who is very knowledgable in Mishna and he desires to ranslate it is not prohibited. In spite of all this, I would advise not to be involved with translations. It is always better to first learn Hebrew or Aramaic first and study ther original text.  None the less there is no prohibition in translating. 

Igros Moshe (YD IV #38.6) Question Publishing translation of halacha seforim with the reasoning behind the rulings or just the final conclusions? Answer  According to what I have written, works such as Rambam and Shulchan Aruch which are the final halacha – there is no problem to translate them. But it is important that all that they wrote should be fully translated without deviation from what they wrote. If the translator wishes to add an explanation, it should be added as a footnote to the main text and noted whether it is his explanation or that of someone else. 

Igros Moshe (YD IV #38.7) Question: Translating halachic rulings which everyone needs to know and it is impossible to ask a Rav when an actual question arises? Answer As regarding the translating of halachic rulings for those matters needed by everyone and a Rav can not be asked when the question arises such as the laws of shema and prayer, these should be translated so that those who don’t know Hebrew can learn them. However it is sufficient to write  withyout a full explanation of the reasoning and sources. Because the reasoning might interfere with the knowledge of the halacha and he might end up ignoring the halacha. This is true even for a very intelligent person who is very learned in secular ideas.  Eventually he will start learning in a yeshiva where his rabbi will decide what is appropriate for him to learn.  Concerning matters which seem strange to him, they should not be presented. Thus it is best that beginners should only be exposed to material that their rabbi think they can properly understand well. In these matters it is best to not produce books in English but rather he should receive a personal explanation from his Rabbi. However it could be that the benefits of such books is greater than their loss and therefore their publication should not be protested. It is best if the writersof such books should first consult with his rabbi or with a Gadol  before publishing them. 

Igros Moshe (YD IV #38.8) Question Is it permitted to produce an English sefer about kashrus for those just beginning religious observance without explaining the reasoning or books of ethical behavior and theology Answer Writing about topics such as the laws of washing hands (netilas yadayim), grace after meals. blessing of ahl hamichya, blessings on pleasure, salting meat and other laws of kashrus, such a book should be produced in English so that the basic laws of eating should be known.  This is important especially since the beginner is spending extra money to keep kosher. Howver only the summary of the halacha should be written and to first explain the seriousness of eating or drinking prohibited things. The reasoning behind the halacha should be left out. And it should simply stated that this is what is said in the Torah which was given through Moshe at Sinai. Writing such a sefer is definitely a good idea. Even in mentioning halacha, only the minimal amount that is needed by the beginners that they must observe now should be written, while the finer details can wait to be studied later. This applies also if the sefer is in Yiddish  There are other topics that need to be in English. That is because most women only know English and most did not acquire sufficient knowledge from their parent’s home for example the laws of Nidah and even prohibited food as well as muktzeh on Shabbos and Yom Tov or eating and drinking on Yom Kippur.  All these need to be printed in English to prevent errors. It is also appropriate to produce books of ethics and theology which are also Torah and thus are not prohibited. All things that can influence greater religious observance are obligatory even if it requires citing  verses and statements of Chazal.