#######################################################
#       12 YEAR Ayelet DAILY-RASHI-YOMI CYCLE         #
#                    Aug 29, 2007                     #
#                    YEAR 8 of 12                     #
#                                                     #
#           VISIT THE RASHI YOMI ARCHIVES             #
#           -----------------------------             #
#         HOME   http://www.RashiYomi.Com             #
# WEEKLY RASHI   http://www.RashiYomi.Com/rule.htm    #
#  DAILY RASHI   http://www.RashiYomi.Com/calendar.htm#
#                                                     #
#  Reprinted with permission from WEEKLY RASHI,       #
#  (c) 1999-2007, RashiYomi Inc., Dr Hendel President #
#   Permission to reprint with this header PROVIDED   #
#          it is not printed for profit               #
#                                                     #
#######################################################
#*#*# (C) RashiYomi Inc. 2007, Dr. Hendel, President #*#*#
      4. RASHI METHOD: ALIGNMENT
      BRIEF EXPLANATION: Aligning two almost identically worded verselets can suggest
      • (4a) 2 cases of the same incident or law
      • (4b) emphasis on the nuances of a case
      • (4c) use of broad vs literal usage of words
      This examples applies to Rashis Nu28-19a
      URL Reference: (c) http://www.Rashiyomi.com/nu28-19z.htm
      Brief Summary: Passover: Jews are OX (Plough God's world); RAM - leaders; SHEEP = Followers

    The table below presents an aligned extract of verses in Nu28 and Nu29. The alignment justifies the Rashi assertion that Passover had aspects of all three patriarchs.
  • Jews became Abrahimitic Oxen helping to plough God's world and rid it of slavery;
  • All Jews in Egypt became Isaacian Rams, leaders helping and guiding their fellow Jews
  • All Jews in Egypt became Jacobian sheepish masses, loyal followers of God and their leaders

Verse Holiday Holiday Symbolizes Oxen sacrifices Ram sacrifice Sheep sacrifices Rashi comment
Nu28-11 New Month Atones for Golden Calf sin Bring 2 oxen and 1 Ram 7 Sheep
  • Gods co-workers(Ox = Moses) and the
  • Jewish leadership (Ram = Levi) were united (and)
  • while the Jewish masses(Sheep) were separate
Nu28-19 Passover Liberation from slavery Bring 2 Oxen and 1 Ram and 7 Sheep
    Passover unites (and) all symbolisms: all Jews are
  • Ox, ploughing God's fields of the world from slavery,
  • Ram, leading each other to freedom and
  • sheepishly masses following God's call to freedom.
Nu28-27, 29-02,08,13 Shavuoth, New Year, Yom Kippur, Succoth Various: Receipt of Torah, God's sovereignty, God's Providence 2 oxen 1 Ram 7 Sheep
  • Some Jews are oxen (lead nations like Joseph);
  • Some but not all Jews are Rams, leading the sheepish masses;
  • Some Jews are sheepish followers.

    Advanced Rashi: This Rashi combines the symbolism and alignment method. As can be seen from the alignment the 7 verses differ in their use of the connective and. Some verses have none, some have one, and some have two and. We have used the symbolism method:
    • Ox symbolize God's co-workers, ploughing God's field of the world; Hence Ox are closest to the Patriarch Abraham who helped plough God's world;
    • Rams symbolize leaders; Hence Rams are closest to the Patriarch Isaac who created a world dominated by super-powers, Jacob and Esauv.
    • Sheep symbolize followers; Hence Sheep are closest to the Patriarch Jacob who create the twelve tribes of Jewish masses.
    When the connective word and occurs it symbolizes that certain forces are united. When the connective word and is absent it symbolizes that certain forces are separate. Hence on the New Moon, when the masses sinned with idols while the leaders (Levi) did not, we have no and between the Rams and sheep. On Passover all Jews participated in all roles. All Jews lead the whole world in the conception of freedom. Similarly since the Passover meal was eaten in groups, all Jews simultaneously became leaders and followers of each other strengthening resolve and enabling them to leave. By contrast, on say Shavuoth not all Jews are leaders - only the Rabbis and scholars are leaders while the others are followers.

    This Rashi, using two major Rashi methods and being built on inclusion or exclusion of the word and is indeed subtle and deep. I therefore focus the reader on things we can all agree on without controversy.
    1. The alignment does exist!
    2. Clearly the 7 verses have all words in common except the mysterious word and.
    3. Less obvious and perhaps controversial is the symbolism of the Ox, Ram and Sheep. Rashi uses patriarchal symbolism while I have used the Leader-follower symbolism of Rav Hirsch.
    4. The basic idea that and means connective seems reasonable.
    Using these four basic facts each person can arrive at an individually fashioned Rashi-like comment built on these principles.

Just as it is rewarding to see punchy clinchy Rashis so too is it rewarding to see complex and subjective Rashis. The study of each has its place.

By using the aligned structure we are able to participate and empathize with Rashi in construction of the Rashi comment.


#*#*#*# (C) RashiYomi Inc., 2007, Dr. Hendel, President #*#*#*#*#