#*#*#*#*# (C) 2001, RashiYomi Inc. Dr Hendel President #*#*#*#*#
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VERSE: Dt06-05a
RASHIS COVERED: Dt06-05a Dt06-05b Dt06-05c Dt06-05d
========================== Dt06-05a ======================
SUCCINCT SUMMARY
----------------
One of Rashis 5 main goals is to describe STYLE. We have
introduced the idea that The GENERAL-DETAIL style is a
PARAGRAPH style; the GENERAL THEME is stated at the
beginning and then it is DEVELOPED with DETAILS. According
to the Rabbi Ishmael STYLE rules, the GENERAL THEME
meaning is EXHAUSTED and COMPLETELY EXPLAINED by the
DETAILS presented.
EXAMPLE Dt06-05
---------------
GENERAL THEME: LOVE GOD
--
DETAIL #1: Love God with your EMOTIONS
DETAIL #2: Love God even if you endure DISCOMFORT
DETAIL #3: Love God even with all things VERY IMPORTANT
to you.
This development shows a standard progression in
religion. Religion starts with service of God thru
EMOTIONAL DISCIPLINE. At the next higher level one
must learn to endure DISCOMFORT to serve God. Finally
one must be prepare to lose things VERY IMPORTANT to
you to serve God.
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ITEM DETAIL
======================== ==================================
RASHI RULE CLASS: STYLE
RASHI SUBRULE CLASS RESTRICTIVE
RASHI WORKBOOK PRINCIPLE #24
SEE BELOW LIST490f
GENERAL-DETAIL form of Dt06-05(Love God:with passions..)
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======================= LIST490f ============================
GENERAL-DETAIL form of Dt06-05(Love God:with passions..)
=============================================================
GENERAL-DETAIL TEXT OF VERSE RELIGION THEMES
============== ================== ===========================
GENERAL LOVE GOD Love God*1
--------- ---------------- -----------------------
DETAILS With your PASSIONS Serve God EMOTIONALLY*2
DETAILS With your COMFORTS Serve even if DISCOMFORT*3
DETAILS With your VERYs Serve even if LOSS*4
NOTES
-----
*1 Rashi gives general comments that service from LOVE is
different/superior than service from FEAR or REVERENCE
This general idea of LOVING GOD is now developed thru
standard religious doctrines
-- all religions demand EMOTIONAL discipline
-- a 2nd stage is serving God even in DISCOMFORT
-- a 3rd stage is serving God even if one loses things
VERY IMPORTANT to one.
*2 Rashi: Love God with both your passions (Physical/social)
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Simply: Both the PHYSICAL as well the SOCIAL passions
should be used to serve God.
e.g. The SOCIAL HONORS one seeks should be religious
(like charity honors). Simarly the PHYSICAL pleasures
one seeks should be religious (eg KOSHER FOOD)
*3 Rashi: Love God even if God takes your LIFE
-------------------------------------------
Such an interpretation is anti-climactic. I would prefer
------------------------------------------------
Rashi: Love God even if he takes your COMFORTS
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This is consistent with the Biblical translation of
N-F-Sh as SPACIOUSNESS/COMFORT
*4 I would suggest that Rashi coins an IDIOM. The
Hebrew MEOD means VERY. Thus we can speak about
the VERYs of life---that is, the things that are
VERY IMPORTANT to one. See footnote *11 for
a more complete discussion.
--------------------- LONGER FOOTNOTES ------------------
*10 It appears to me that Rashi here is making TWO
comments on TWO aspects of the verse
- How do you love God with your PASSIONS
- What does the word ALL mean in Love God with
ALL your passions
We have already discussed the five meanings of ALL
in the ALL series located either at
http://www.Rashiyomi.com/all-18.htm or
http://www.Rashiyomi.com/words.htm
When we revisit this again we will include this
Rashi. The basic idea is that ALL can mean NO
EXCEPTIONS. Hence the Rashi comment
--------------------------------------------------
Rashi: No aspect of your heart should cast doubt
on Gods Divine Providence
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*11 A literal translation of Rashi is as follows
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Rashi: Love God with your money; because there are
people who prefer to Forgo money over their life
A second interpretation is love God in all things
visited on you
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I would suggest as follows. The first clause in
Rashi is interpreted
---------------------------------------------
Love God with your money; because there are
people who prefer to Forgo MONEY rather than
their COMFORTS
---------------------------------------------
Such an interpretation is consistent with the
Hebrew and principles of climax and the verse
- Love God EMOTIONALLY
- Love God even if you have DISCOMFORT
- Love God even if you LOSE MONEY
Notice how this FEELS SUPERIOR to a translation
of LOVE GOD EVEN IF HE TAKES YOUR LIFE. My suggested
translation is not a contradiction on Rashi but rather
a contradiction on how Rashi is translated (NFSh means
COMFORT rather than LIFE)
There is a deeper problem with this Rashi. The
word MEOD means VERY--it does not mean MONEY.
Hence I would assume that Rashi coined an idiom:
The VERYs of a person are those things that are
VERY IMPORTANT to him (e.g. MONEY is a VERY; but
happy/tragic occasions can also be VERYs (eg a
new job; loss of friend etc). The point here is
that one should love God with things that are
VERY important to you (whether you gain them
or lose them).
Taken as a whole the verse then has a natural
climax
- Love God with your passions (Standard religion)
- Love God even if it causes discomfort
- Love God even if you lose/Gain a VERY of yours
Such a translation is consistent with Rashi the
Hebrew and the principle of climax
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Volume 22 Number 21
#*#*#*#*# (C) 2001, RashiYomi Inc. Dr Hendel President #*#*#*#*#
Volume 22 Number 21