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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
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Holiday
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Holiday Symbolizes
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Oxen sacrifices
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Ram sacrifice
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Sheep sacrifices
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Rashi comment
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Nu28-11
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New Month
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Atones for Golden Calf sin
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Bring 2 oxen and
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1 Ram
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7 Sheep
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- Gods co-workers(Ox = Moses) and the
- Jewish leadership
(Ram = Levi) were united (and)
- while the Jewish masses(Sheep)
were separate
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Nu28-19
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Passover
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Liberation from slavery
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Bring 2 Oxen and
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1 Ram and
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7 Sheep
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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.
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Nu28-27, 29-02,08,13
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Shavuoth, New Year, Yom Kippur, Succoth
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Various: Receipt of Torah, God's sovereignty, God's Providence
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2 oxen
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1 Ram
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7 Sheep
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- Some Jews are oxen (lead nations like Joseph);
- Some but not all Jews are Rams, leading the sheepish masses;
- Some Jews are sheepish followers.
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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.
- The alignment does exist!
- Clearly the
7 verses have all words in common except the mysterious word and.
- 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.
- 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.
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#*#*#*# (C) RashiYomi Inc., 2007, Dr. Hendel, President #*#*#*#*#
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