Torah Translations
Torah translation involves two key factors:
1 - Translation performed by a frum Yid
2- Translation by someone who is familiar with not only spoken English, but also what Torah concepts most American Yidden are familiar with- and what concepts are unfamiliar, even theough to Israelis they are common knowledge; which Torah expressions are commonly used, and which ones- nope, not in English.
Translation by a frum Yid:
Of course, a frum Jew is required, in order to properly understand the concepts.
Translation by a native American who knows how American Yidden talk:
"Example: For a Dati/modern orthodox target audience, we want to use the word "Israel". But for a more shtark audience, we'll use "Eretz Yisroel".We'll use the expresion "Of blessed memory" for secular, and "Zatzal" for religious. But we won't put in "Ziya'a" for anyone, even though in Hebrew this is a common acronym for "Zichro yagen aleinu amen" (May his memory guard us).
Example: "Lifnim Mishuras Hadin" is an accepted common expression in Israel: Even if someone doesn't really desrve something, to act toward them forgivingly or benevolently. In English, "Lifnim mishuras hadin" would have to be written and then breifly explained, or just written another way in English.
"We requested, and recieved, translation that fully fits the target audience. We came out satisfied."
Distributors of Derech Teshuva booklet