Many readers are familiar with the 13 exegetical principles of Rabbi Ishmael which occur in the daily prayer books in the morning prayer. In this email newsletter I have called these rules the style rules. It is important to clarify what the Rabbi Ishmael rules focus on. After all they are distinct from rules of meaning grammar and alignment. What are they?

We have explained in our article Biblical Formatting located on the world wide web at http://www.Rashiyomi.com/biblicalformatting.pdf that the Rabbi Ishmael style rules are rules governing the interpretation of examples. In other words if the Biblical text gives a specific example, as a law or narrative, does the Author intend that the law or narrative exhaust its meaning in that particular example, or, does the Author intend the example as a mere example which should be understood by the reader as a paradigmatic example which should be generalized.

Here is a good example. Dt25-04 states don't mu13le an ox while threshing. The Rabbi Ishmael generalization rule requires that we do not see this example as exhaustive of the law but rather as requiring generalization. Hence Jewish law interprets this to mean Don't mu13le any animal while it is doing its typical work. Actually the law prohibits not only mu13ling but any type of inteference with the animal eating.

In this particular case we used the generalization style. Sometimes however we use the restrictive style and interpret the example as exhaustive of the law-- the example is all the law says.

Most of the Rabbi Ishmael style rules are known: They include: Generalization, Theme-Detail, Detail-Theme, and Theme-Detail-Theme. Today however we encounter a rare form, not listed any place: The Theme-Detail-Theme-Detail-Theme-Detail-Theme-Detail-Theme-Detail style. Let us see how Rashi interprets it.

Verse Lv25-10:13 discussing the Jubilee states
• General: Sanctify the 50th year
• Detail: proclaim freedom throughout the land
• ------------------------------------------------------------------------
• General: It is the Jubilee
• Detail: People return to their a) home and b) to their land
• ------------------------------------------------------------------------
• General: It is Jubilee, the 50th year
• Detail: Don't sow, don't reap....
• ------------------------------------------------------------------------
• General: For it is the Jubilee...
• Detail: Eat from the fields
• ------------------------------------------------------------------------
• General: In this Jubilee ....
• Detail: every person returns to his land
• ------------------------------------------------------------------------
Rashi comments: The continual alternation between General and detail clauses requires a broad generalization of the detail clause. This motif of generalization is similar to the treatment of the general-detail-general style. Consequently the Torah requests freeing slaves in all situations. This includes a) slaves who refused to leave upon completion of their term of service as well as b) slaves who didn't yet complete their term of service.

Advanced Rashi: Similar Rashi comments apply to freeing land (in many circumstances). I should note that an alternative treatment of the Rashi would focus on repetition instead of on style. That is certain Rashi expositors would count the number of times freedom of slaves is mentioned. Since freedom of slaves is mentioned twice they would argue that two slave situations - those who have not yet completed their term of service as well as those who have so completed - are indicated. This counting approach to Rashi is quite popular. Personally I believe it is a better approach to explain Rashi on the basis of style. Since a General-detail-General... style is used the text requires a broad generalization. The fact that two types of slaves must be freed (and that two repetitions are mentioned) is a coincidence. The real driving force of the exegesis is the style.