"סליחה, אתה צריך הזמנה מיוחדת?"

Translation: Excuse me, do you need a special invitation?

[shirki]

Such an Israeli thing to say! Only the ironic tone is missing.

[MitchellDe201488]

The voice captured the irony for me!

[weitzhandler]

In Hebrew, הזמנה means both invitation and reservation. So it could also mean: "sir, which invitation/reservation would you like to book, a regular one or a special one?". See my comment below, that's probably what they meant, and messed up with the English translation.
Besides, perhaps it's part of the authors' way to express the crispiness of the country...

[weitzhandler]

I think the context is a bit unclear. It could be in a hotel looking up a reservation, which in case Excuse me, do need a specific reservation? should be accepted.

[Mazzorano]

Agree x2 - fixed.

[weitzhandler]

You should change reservation to the default answer. Invitation in this context sounds sarcastic. See first comment in this discussion.

[Mazzorano]

It accepts both.

[weitzhandler]

I know, but it should be the default, so newcomers and learners should know.

[Mazzorano]

Well, I beg to differ, I think the original meaning of this sentence (if I recall correctly) was indeed to be sarcastic.

[xerostomus]

פַּעַם אַחַת אֲנִי הָלַךְ לְבַיִת הַכְּנֶסֶת בַּשַּׁבָּת (בִּפְרַאג). אֲנִי עָמַד בַּכְּנִיסָה וְהֵם אָמַר לִי לְלֹא כָּל אִירוֹנְיָה אוֹ סַרְקַזְם: "אַתֶּם צָרִיךְ הַזְמָנָה מְיוּחֶדֶת..." אָז אֲנִי הָלַךְ הַבַּיְתָה. כֵּן, קְצָת כָּעַסְתִּי, כַּמּוּבָן.

[JoshuaPaulKrug]

I think I understood this in part but would you (or someone) mind providing the translation, please?

[KMG1234567890]

Once I went (should be הלכתי) to the synagogue on Shabbat (in Prague). I stood at the entrance and they said (written אמר should be אמרו) to me without any irony or sarcasm: "You (plural) need (written in the singular) need a special invitation" so I went (should be הלכתי) home. Yes I was a little annoyed of course.

[JoshuaPaulKrug]

Thank you.

[Beoski]

I have two questions I'd be grateful if someone could answer.

1. Can this mean "does one need a special invitation" ?

In other words, can "you" mean an indeterminate "you" like in English?

If so, then another question:

1. Would this make sense if the speakers are female? Would they still say "אתה" to mean "one"?

[Afor4]

Pardon?? :))

[MjlbwpYl]

yes pardon me should also be accepted

[MitchellDe201488]

"Pardon me" seems okay as long as "סלח לי" is accepted in Hebrew.

[Janis559500]

I don't think so. When I walk up to someone and I'm interrupting them, I say "excuse me," "pardon," "pardon me," or "I beg your pardon," "sorry to interrupt," "forgive my intrusion," "forgive the interruption".... they're all the same thing.

[MitchellDe201488]

And סלח לי isn't the same thing?