#*#*#*#*#  (C) 2001, RashiYomi Inc. Dr Hendel President #*#*#*#*#
  -----------------------------------------------------------
  |      Rashi is Simple Version 2.0                         |
  |      (C) RashiYomi Inc., Dr Hendel President             |
  |       http://www.RashiYomi.Com                           |
  | PERMISSION to reprint WITH this header if NOT for profit |
  ------------------------------------------------------------


VERSE: Dt10-17a

RASHIS COVERED: Dt10-17a Dt10-17b Dt10-17c Dt10-18a Dt10-18b

========================== GODS GREATNESS =======================

VERY BRIEF SUMMARY:
-------------------
Moses in Dt10-17:18 outlines 5 levels of Gods greatness
More specifically Moses describes Gods POLITICAL GREATNESS
that is, His Greatness in knowing People & having connections
-- God is the LORD of Lords--God has multi-party connections
-- God is ALMIGHTY (God has both PHYSICAL & POLITICAL power)
-- God does not show favoritism (He doesnt NEED to do favors)
-- God does not take Bribes (he doesnt need peoples help)
-- God uses his power on party weaklings (like widows...)
-- God uses his power on non-citizens like aliens
Thus Gods political greatness climaxes in those he helps

----------------------------------------
TODAYS RASHI RULE:       CLIMAX
TODAYS RASHI SUBRULE:    CLIMAX
----------------------------------------

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF RULE
-------------------------
Briefly speaking the CLIMAX rule applies when
the Bible repeats an idea in similar language
3 or more times. The CLIMAX rule views these
repeating phrases as forming a Biblical PARAGRAPH.

The CLIMAX rule first identifies the UNIFYING TOPIC
idea of this paragraph.

The CLIMAX rule then shows how this basic TOPIC idea
is DEVELOPED over a series of STAGES.

The CLIMAX rule justifies its assertions, not by
grammar or meaning, but rather by the EXPECTATION
THAT A PARAGRAPH OF REPEATING PHRASES MUST BE SHOWING
DEVELOPMENT. The grammar and meaning are at most
supportive - they are never proofs. The standard example
illustrates this.


STANDARD EXAMPLE
----------------
The clearest example of a CLIMAX RASHI is Dt19-11
---------------------------------------
When a person HATES his friend
and he AMBUSHES him
and CONFRONTS him
and he LETHALLY HITS HIM and he dies
...then the murderer will be tried and dies
---------------------------------------


STUDENT EXERCISES
-----------------
- Find the TOPIC IDEA (or the UNIFYING idea) in
  the above 4 phrases

- Show how the list of CAPPED verbs describes
  HOW IT HAPPENS--that is it shows a progression
  of STAGES that naturally leads to murder.

- In describing this succession of stages you
  may have to stretch the meaning of some words.
  Justify this using CLIMAX

RASHIS SOLUTION
---------------
ANSWERS TO THE ABOVE QUESTIONS:
- The TOPIC IDEA is MURDER. The above paragraph
  is describing a MURDER

- The 3 stages that naturally lead to murder are
-- HATRED
-- PARANOIA-noticing every action of the hated person
-- CONFRONTATION-disagreeing with actions of the hated

When you have such a setup: Continual confrontation
coupled with a lack of privacy rooted in hatred--there
eventually erupts a fight which can lead to death.

COMMENTS: Note how we re-translate the word AMBUSH
to refer to a general atmosphere of SPYING AND NOTICING
the hated person. But AMBUSH does NOT mean SPYING and
NOTICING. That is Rashi has used POETIC LICENSE--he
has STRETCHED the meaning of the word AMBUSH to include
all spying and noticing.


The justification for this stretch of meaning is the
CLIMAX prinicple which allows and even requires us to
stretch some meanings in repeated Biblical
phrases in order that the paragraph conform to a succession
of stages. In other words, CLIMAX takes precedence over
dictionary meaning and even grammar---the need to see the
paragraph unified and developed justifies these
reinterpretations.

The understanding of this principle--that CLIMAX, not
the dictionary, justifies poetic license will help
clarify the simplicity in many Rashis.

STANDARD REFERENCES FOR THIS RULE
---------------------------------
A standard reference for Rashis using climax may
be found at http://www.RashiYomi.com/example9.htm

Also visit the Rashi calendar at
http://www.RashiYomi.com/calendar1.htm
The CLIMAX series was presented from Mid August 2000
to Mid September (Xampl-1 thru Xampl-22 on the
calendar).(Or directly go to
http://www.RashiYomi.com/xampl-1.htm
http://www.RashiYomi.com/xampl-2.htm....

It is summarized at Xampl-36.
http://www.Rashiyomi.com/xampl-36.htm

(NOTE: We there regard CLIMAX as an example of the
Rabbi Ishmael DETAIL-GENERAL principle. The Topic
sentence becomes the GENERAL STATEMENT (MURDER).
The phrases preceding this general statement are seen
as the DETAILS of murder (HATE, AMBUSH, CONFRONTATION).

The Rabbi Ishmael style rules require us to GENERALIZE
these details. Hence the word AMBUSH which has a
specific meaning is generalized by Rashi to refer to
any SPYING and persistent noticing. Thus Rabbi Ishmael
justifies the POETIC LICENSE used by Rashi. These are
two different perspectives describing the same thing.)

HOW TO USE THESE LISTS FOR SCHOOL PROJECTS
------------------------------------------
You can use the LISTS referenced above for
school projects. Here is how. If you are a
teacher then you can use the above resources
to display verses with repeating phrases.

You can then have the students do the 3 exercises
listed above:
(a) Find the Topic sentence
(b) Describe the Development in stages
(c) List deviations from standard meanings.

The students can then compare their analysis with that
of Rashis. This leads to greater appreciation of Rashi.

TODAYS EXAMPLE
--------------
Here is the list of phrases in Dt10-17:18 and their
relationship to Political Party power. Footnotes amplify
further
=================================================================
VERSE    TEXT          RELATIONSHIP TO POLITICAL PARTY POWER
======== ============= ==========================================
Dt10-17a Lord of Lords God has Multi-party connections
Dt10-17  Allmighty     Besides KNOWING people God is strong
Dt10-17b No favoritism and God has no weaknesses (doing favors)
Dt10-17c No bribes     You cant even bribe God*1
Dy10-18a Gives widows  God uses powers to help politically weak*2
Dt10-18b Gives aliens  God uses powers to help non-party people*3

NOTES
-----
*1 Ramban explains that you cant bribe God e.g. with good deeds
   and charity. If you look at these two clauses we are told
   -- God doesn-t do favors for nothing
   -- God doesn-t do favors for payment

*2 Rashi slightly echoes this point in his commentary
   ---------------------------------------------------
   After stating Gods Almightyness the Torah states
   His Humility (That he helps Widows)
   ---------------------------------------------------

   Thus Rashi emphasizes the CONTRAST between STRENGTH
   and helping widows.

   I in turn have emphasized the CONTINUITY of using
   ones STRENGTH to help weak party members.

   Throughout the Torah there is a request to use power
   to help the widow, orphan and non-citizen

*3 Rav Hirsch emphasizes the climax here
   ----------------------------------------------------------
   Every culture protects its own. But the real measure of a
   cultures strength is that it helps non-citizens. The Torah
   stands up high to this measure---Gods care for the alien
   and non-citizen is mentioned several dozen times in the
   Torah
   -----------------------------------------------------------
=================================================================

RASHI RULE COVERED: CLIMAX
---------------------------------------------------
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 14 Number 21


#*#*#*#*#  (C) 2001, RashiYomi Inc. Dr Hendel President #*#*#*#*#