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#*#*# (C) RashiYomi Inc. 2007, Dr. Hendel, President #*#*#
    7. RASHI METHOD: FORMATTING
    BRIEF EXPLANATION:Inferences from Biblical formatting: --bold,italics, and paragraph structure.
    • Use of repetition to indicate formatting effects: bold,italics,...;
    • use of repeated keywords to indicate a bullet effect;
    • rules governing use and interpretation of climactic sequence;
    • rules governing paragraph development and discourse
    This examples applies to Rashis Dt06-13a
    URL Reference: (c) http://www.Rashiyomi.com/example9.htm
    Brief Summary: a) FEAR God, b) WORSHIP God. And then c) Your SWEARING will be by God's name.

Many Biblical passages repeat a theme several times in what appears to be almost similar phraseology. The Climax principle requires that such passages be re-interpreted to reflect a climactic sequence. This re-interpretation should take place even if the language and grammar do not require it. Rather the existence of several almost identical passages, by itself, is the driving force requiring re-interpretation. Today's example illustrates this.

    Biblical verse Dt06-13a discussing the requirement to serve God not idols states
  • Thou shalt fear HaShem thy G-d;
  • and Him shalt thou serve,
  • and by His name shalt thou swear.

Rashi re-interprets the three listed requirements, Fear, service, swearing as listed in a Climactic fashion. To clarify the Rashi comment, presented immediately below, think whether a person could instantly become religious by starting to swear in God's name. Obviously not. People in bars swear all the time. However their swearing is physical. By contrast a person who is really afraid of God and serves him would not lightly swear at every frustration the way people in bars do. Rather the religious person's oath are recognizable and distinct from the oaths of the people in bars. Religious people only swear on serious occasions and only to affirm matters in doubt.

Hence the Rashi comment: If you really fear God and serve him then you will be careful in your oaths and only swear by God's name and at appropriate times. As can be seen the focus of the Rashi comment is on the climactic nature of the phrases which are reinterpreted to indicate the stages required to being recognized as religious.

Sermonic points: Rashis using the climax rule are always sermonic. In this case the Rashi illustrates the ladder to being recognized as religious. First you have to be afraid of God. For example, instead of saying 'What will people say' you should ask 'What will God say if I do such and such.' At a second stage you should be involved in serving God and doing his commandments. Finally using the first two stages as a basis, a person should curb his speech patterns at times of frustration - oaths should not be taken lightly but only to reflect serious affirmations in the name of God. These three stages define the prerequisites for being known as religious. 


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