#1 in a series of 5

SUCCINCT SUMMARY
----------------
As we approach a new year I will attempt to deal
with those Rashis whose explanations may be lengthier
The procedure will be to give a succinct summary in the
Rashi digest but to refer the interested reader to essays
which can be found at www.RashiYomi.com.

REFERENCE
Today we continue the symbolic analysis of Gen 1. For full
details see http://www.Rashiyomi.com/gen-1.htm, for my
paper published in BOR HATORAH, Vol 13e, GENESIS 1
DESCRIBES THE CREATION OF THE WORLD NOT THE CREATION
OF PROPHECY.

The symbolic interpretation of a Biblical chapter requires
3 distinct stages. First we prove that the chapter MUST be
interpreted symbolically. This is done using the following

CRITERIA
The chapter has
- a theme sentence (eg God created heaven and earth)
- which is inconsistent with the rest of the chapter
- But the rest of the chapter uses terms with
clear known Biblical symbolic meaning
- And these symbols are consistent with the theme.

We then identify the
- general theme
- the symbolic terms used

Finally we interpret the chapter symbolically using
the symbolic terms in the chapter

EXAMPLE 1 Ecclesiastes 12
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Ecclesiastes 12 has a theme REJOICE IN YOUR YOUTH BUT
YOU WONT GET AWAY WITH IT IN OLD AGE (Ecc11-09). But
Eccl 12 does NOT speak about old age--it speaks about
shaking beams, broken windows etc. However the symbolic
meaning of these items (BROKEN WINDOWS=Poor eyesight,
SHAKING BEAMS=bad bones etc) is consistent with the
main theme of old age.  Hence we are REQUIRED to
interpret Ecc 12 as symbolically referring to old
age. THIS INTERPRETATION IS FULLY ACCEPTED BY EVERY
MAJOR RELIGIOUS (AND NON-RELIGIOUS) COMMENTARY.

EXAMPLE 2 Gen 1
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Genesis 1 has a main theme of creation of the world. But
the chapter is inconsistent with this theme. First of all
numerous references are made to the people that ALREADY
existed (Eg Kain built a city; The SNAKE people spoke Eve
into sinning, Gn01-02 speaks about the world as it HAD
BEEN before (Formless and void)). Furthermore Gn01-02
speaks about PROPHECY (See the list below--the phrase
WIND OF GOD always refers to prophecy in the Bible--never
to strong winds).

So it seems reasonable to interpret Gen-1 as describing
the creation of prophecy(not the creation of the world)
The early days in Gn01 describe HOW TO BE A
FIND PERSON (a prerequisite for prophecy) These verses
follow known symbolsm. They in fact can be equated with
the 6 stages of psychologically curing a person overinvolved
with physical pleasure and straightening him out. These
6 stages are as follows:

- Gn01-02 emotional world in turmoil (Formless/void)
- Gn01-03 Man aware of inner world (LIGHT of dreams)
- Gn01-06 Man develops BOTH physical and spiritual life
- Gn01-06 Man capable of ENJOYING spiritual interests
- Gn01-07 Spiritual life fully integrated into lifestyle
- Gn01-09 Physical life fully separated to fixed times/places
- Gn01-10 Individuality of physical life preserved

So our hypothetical person who was overly indulged in
physical life has learned to integrate both the physical
and spiritual into his lifestyle with distinct times and
individuality for both. See below for more details