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      5. RASHI METHOD: CONTRADICTION
      BRIEF EXPLANATION:Rashi resolves contradictory verses using 3 methods.
      • (5a) Resolution using two aspects of the same event
      • (5b) Resolution using two stages of the same process
      • (5c) Resolution using broad-literal interpretation.
      This examples applies to Rashis Ex28-38c
      URL Reference: (c) http://www.Rashiyomi.com/rule1404.htm
      Brief Summary: a) The Metal plate with HOLY TO GOD shall PHYSICALLY be on his forehead b) The HOLINESS TO GOD shall MENTALLY BE ON HIS MIND. His thinking of holiness will efectuate atonement on ritual impurity.

The table below presents two contradictory verses/verselets. Both verses/verselets speak about the Tzitz, the metal plate with holy to God on it. The underlined words highlight the contradiction. One verse/verselet says It shall be on his forehead while the other verse/verselet says It shall always be on his forehead. We see the contradiction: Which is it? Was the Tzitz always worn or was it just worn when serving in the Temple (This is also a contradiction between the verse and logic since physically the priest could not wear this continually, as e.g. he sometimes had to go to the bathroom.) Rashi simply resolves this using the broad-literal method: a) It shall physically be on his foreheadduring the Temple service and atone on ritual impurity which contanimated the sacrifices; b) It shall mentally be on his mind at all times. By having God's holiness on his mind he effects atonement for offerings offered in ritual impurity.

Summary Verse / Source Text of verse / Source
Have the Tzizt, metal plate with "Holy to God" written on it, on his forehead Ex28-38c And it shall be upon Aaron’s forehead, that Aaron may bear any guilt incurred in the holy offering, which the people of Israel hallow in all their holy gifts; and it shall be always upon his forehead, that they may be accepted befo
Have the Tzizt continually on his forehead. Ex28-38c #####
Resolution: 2 Aspects a) It shall physically be on his foreheadduring the Temple service and atone on ritual impurity which contanimated the sacrifices; b) It shall mentally be on his mind at all times. By having God's holiness on his mind he effects atonement for offerings offered in ritual impurity.

Advanced Rashi: We approach this Rashi in rule #6 below from the point of view of the style rule. We note here that Rashi cites a controversy in Yuma 7a on whether the physical presence of the Tzizt on his forehead is necessary to achieve atonement. However a careful reading of the Talmud shows that having the Tzitz on his mind is a requirement according to both sides of the controversy. This makes sense: Ritual impurity attacks holiness; by continually thinking of the phrase, Holy to God, written on the Tzitz, the Priest counteracts the effects of the ritual impurity and achieves atonement.

Note how we resolved the contradiction: We used the principle that a repeated word can acquire a non-standard meaning. So the first statement it will be on his forehead is literal while the second statement it will be on his forehead continually is metaphoric - it will be on his mind at all times. Since we used a metaphoric interpretation to resolve the contradiction we classify this as a broad-literal method.


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re the Lord.