SUCCINT SUMMARY:
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One of Rashis 10 main goals is the explanation of grammar
similar to the explanations we find in modern textbooks. We
call this the Rashi rule of GRAMMAR.
In todays posting we deal with the grammatical rules
governing DEVELOPMENT in paragraphs and chapters: Given
a paragraph or chapter THEME, what types of sentences can
exist in that paragraph or chapter and what are their
relations to the central theme? We call this the rashi
subrule of CONSECUTIVE PARAGRAPHS.
Rashi knew 4 means of relating consecutive sentences or
consecutive paragraphs in a paragraph or chapter:
- CAUSE
- CONTRAST
- ENABLEMENT
- UNIFYING THEME.
Today we study the CONTRAST and UNIFYING THEME submethods.
EXAMPLE Lv19-30a
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The Biblical text states
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- Observe my Sabbaths
- [even when you] revere [building of] the Temple
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Rashis comments are bracketed above
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The verse clauses are contrastive:
- EVEN though you revere the temple and want to build it
- NEVERTHELESS you must ALWAYS observe the Sabbath
Hence the law: The building of the temple does not
override the observance of the Sabbath.
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LIST061b below presents several Rashis exhibiting contrast
between verses.
Example Lv19-23:32
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A powerful paragraph method is to have ONE THEME unifying
many disparate examples. In such a case the UNIFYING
THEME sheds light and justifies reinterpretation or
modification of the examples. Such an approach is in fact
one of the Rabbi Ishmael rules: INFERRENCE FROM CONTEXT.
We illustrate this method with the paragraph Lv19-23:32.
The unifying theme is the folowing
--------------------- THEME --------------------------
ABSTENTION can paradoxically INCREASE YIELD/PRODUCTIVITY
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Let us examine the 7 examples illustrating this Theme
-------------------- EXAMPLES ----------------------------
-1- Abstain 4 years from new fruit--increase fruit yield
-2- Abstain from blood=life source--increase nutrition
-3- Abstain from divining -- increase prediction
-4- Separate animal/human -- increase animality/human
-5- Abstain from early sex-- increase sexual awarenss
-6- Abstain from Sabbath work -- incresae productivity
-7- Abstain from seancing -- Increase knowledge
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Hence the Rashis:
Lv19-26a The verse DONT EAT ON THE BLOOD means DONT EAT
while the animal is not completely dead (its BloOd flows)
Lv19-25a (Rashi) read the Biblical text with the following
bulleted structure
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-the first 3 years fruit [of new trees] is prohibited
-On the 4th year the fruit is Holy,dedicated to God
-On the fifth year you may eat the fruit
---[The above law is] in order to increase fruit yield
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Again the theme: Abstention increases productivity
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