#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*# (C) Dr Hendel, 2000 *#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*
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| Rashi is Simple Version 2.0 |
| (C) Dr Hendel, Summer 2000 |
| http://www.RashiYomi.Com |
| PERMISSION to reprint WITH this header if NOT for profit |
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VERSE: Dt06-06a
RASHIS EXPLAINED: Gn02-08a Gn09-11a Nu03-06a Nu05-06a Nu05-12d
Dt02-04a Dt06-06a Dt04-33c Ex01-11b Lv19-35a
Lv03-09a Gn45-23a Gn49-04b Lv01-03a
BACKGROUND
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In the last posting, Dt15-19b, we saw that EVERY Biblical
example is generalized. For example, Dt25-04a says DO NOT
MUZZLE AN **ox** WHILE IT WORKS. The law turns around and
prohibits muzzling any **ANIMAL** while it works.
It follows that IF the Bible wanted to ONLY prohibit muzzling an
OX it cannot just say"Dont muzzle an OX"(For we would generalize)
It follows that we need ANOTHER BIBLICAL STYLE to prohibit
muzzling ONLY oxes.
This other Biblical style would say something like "FROM AMONG
ANIMALS do not muzzle OXEN". Or it might say "Do not muzzle
certai ANIMALs-that is the OXEN".Thus this other Biblical style
indicates both the GENERAL CATEGORY ("animals") and the
PARTICULAR category("OXEN"). In this manner the Bible would
prohibit ONLY OXEN and would prevent unnecessary generalization
This then is the new Biblical style.
This other Biblical style is therefore called GENERAL-PARTICULAR.
We could also call it HEADLINE-DETAILS or HYPERLINK-ARTICLE.The
examples below will amply illustrate this.
RULE:
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A SHORT GENERAL statement--eg 'FROM ANIMALS'---followed by a
DETAILED particular statement--eg 'OXEN & SHEEP'--can be
interpreted by
--adding the word BY(eg Love God **BY** learning Torah)
--adding the phrase THAT IS (eg Offer animals--ie ox, sheep)
--regarding the general statement as a sort of HEADLINE
that hyperlinks to the details.
The GENERAL-PARTICULAR style indicates that ONLY
the particular item is spoken about and that generalization
is unwarranted.
EXAMPLES
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In the following verses Rashi connects the 2 parts of the
sentence by inserting the word "BY" thereby indicating
that ONLY these examples are governed by the law
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(1) Gn09-11a I will fulfill my CONVENANT with Noach (BY)
placing the rainbow in the clouds as a symbol
that I will not destroy the world
RASHI: Thus the only terms of the convenant is that
God will not destroy the world
(2) Nu03-06a & The Levites will SERVE Aaron: (BY)
Watching the Temple
RASHI: Thus the only service that the levites must do
is Watch the temple
(3) Nu05-12d & She DESECRATES her marriage: (BY)
Sleeping with another man
RASHI: In other words it is only for SLEEPING with
another man that we perform the 'suspected-
wife' ceremony mentioned in Nu05 (Eg if she
desecrated her marriage in some other way by
eg insulting her husband we do not perform
the ceremony)
(4) Dt02-04a ..Jews Watch yourself when you come to Esauv:(BY)
Not starting up with them
RASHI: In other words the only thing you have to watch
is not to start up with them.
(5) Dt06-06a You should love your Lord God (BY)
placing the Torah on your heart and making
sharp summaries
RASHI: In other words the only way to love God is by
placing the Torah on your heart and making
sharp summaries *1
NOTES
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*1 This Rashi (and the corresonding Rambam Foundations of
Torah 2:1) are sometimes seen as homiletic and not the
simple meaning of the text. But in reality they are
the simple meaning of the text--for this paragraph has
a GENERAL-PARTICULAR form: Love thy Lord thy God BY learning
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In the following verses Rashi connects the 2 parts of the
sentence by inserting the word "THAT IS" thereby indicating
that ONLY these examples are governed by the law
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(6) Ex01-11b The Egyptians placed TAXES on the Jews...:
(THAT IS) They built cities*2
RASHI: Thus the taxes consisted of labor to build cities
(7) Lv03-09a Offer Its "fat"--THAT IS The tail
(8) Lv01-02c If you offer sacrifices then offer them from
the Animals--THAT IS, from Cattle and sheep
RASHI: Thus the only animals that can be offered for
sacrifices are cattle and sheep
(9) Lv19-35a Don't pervert JUSTICE:
(THAT IS) in measures, in weights,in liquid measures
RASHI: From the context of this chapter we see that they
are talking about the individual (not the courts)
While there are many crimes that an individual
can commit (like stealing) nevertheless the crime
of false weights is the only crime that is punished
like the crime of perverted judges (and leads to
destruction of the land)*3
NOTES
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*2 Rashi also explains the word TAXES (this word is well known)
(by)
*3 The point is that stealing and damages of an individual
can be punished by a court.You can get caught. But
sins of bad weights (like sins of a perverted judge)
lead the individual totally helpless for which God
destroys the country if the people do not stop it.
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In the following verses The Biblical sentence itself connects
the 2 parts of the sentence by using the 2nd part to explain
the first part
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(10) Gn45-23a & He sent as follows to his father: (NAMELY)
10 Mules etc ....*3
(11) Gn49-04b Your impetuousness prevents you from taking the
birthright... BECAUSE you played with your father's beds
(12) Dt04-33c ..Has anything this great happened?--(THAT IS)
Has a nation heard God
NOTES
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*3 Note the complicated explanation brought by
commentaries to this Rashi. Our way of taking it is
simple: Rashi simply explains the verse as indicating
what was sent
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The following verse is an example of a HYPERLINK or
HEADLINE-ARTICLE style. For those readers who think
this comment obvious read the footnotes
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(14) Gn02-08a
Gn01-27 And God created Man
Gn02-07:09 And God created man FROM earth and placed
him in the Garden of Eden and placed their trees
RASHI: It **looks** like there are two stories of creation
The 1st creation in Gn01-27 and the 2nd creation in
Gn02-07:09.
Actually however, following Rabbi Eliezers
(Son of Rabbi Yosi the Galileean) who had 32 styles
by which to interpret the Bible we see Gn01-27 as a
sort of HEADLINE that HYPERLINKS to Gn02-07 which gives
the story in complete detail (How God made him--where
he put him etc
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WARNING: The following additional references may be too wordy
However they frequently contain additional information & lists
The hyperlinks only work on the main website
Volume 7 Number 4
#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*# (C) Dr Hendel, 2000 *#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*
Volume 7 Number 4