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  |      Rashi is Simple Version 2.0                         |
  |      (C) Dr Hendel, Summer 2000                          |
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VERSE: Dt17-20b


RASHIS COVERED: Dt17-20b Ex16-20b Ex20-12a Dt22-07a
                Dt12-25b Dt24-19d Dt11-21a

RULE:
----
The Torah, in 7 commandments, explicitly states that
we should do commandments "IN ORDER THAT IT BE GOOD
WITH YOU AND YOU WILL GET GOOD QUALITY OF LIFE".
These 7 commandments span the spectrum of all commandments
Hence we infer that doing ANY commandment leads to getting
GOOD and HAVING GOOD QUALITY OF LIFE.


EXAMPLES:
--------
{LIST} {The 7 commandments where it says "Do this
        commandment IN ORDER to live long and be well"}

                                   LANGUAGE   What is special
COMMANDMENT              VERSE     OF REWARD  about this Mtzvah
-----------------------  --------  ---------  -------------------
Learn the Torah          Dt11-21a  MANY DAYS  It is only mental*1
Leave forgotten sheaves  Dt24-19d  BLESS      No intention to do*2
Dont eat blood           Dt12-25b  GOOD       Blood is loathesome
Let mother bird go       Dt22-07a  GOOD-LONG  Easy to perform*2
Honor parents            Ex20-12a  LONG DAYS  Expect reward anyway
Have good justice        Ex16-20b  LIVE       Communal*3
Learn Torah King         Dt17-20b  LONG REIGN Communal*3

NOTES
-----
*1 Here is the logic: The Torah says you get reward EVEN
   in these 7 commandments

   So...we CONCLUDE that if you do ANY commandment you get
   reward since this is true EVEN for commandments
   -that are only mental  (like learning)
   -that are not intended (like leaving forgotten items)
   -that would be difficult to violate (eg eating blood)
   -that are easy to perform (like letter mother bird go)
   -that you do for altruistic reasons (like honoring your
    parents since you expect them to reciprocate)

   The technical rule used here is the Rabbi Ishmael rule of
   Generalization from several sources (Since by examining the
   7 verses we see that all commandments are like them)

*2 The actual Rashis are as follows

Dt24-19d You never intended to forget sheaves and you are
         blessed. How much more so if you intend to do a
         commandment

Dt12-25b If not eating Blood which is loathesome gives
         reward how much more so doing other commandments

Dt22-07a If a simple act like letting a mother bird go
         gives reward how much more so if you do a
         strenuous act

Ex16-20b It is sufficient to have a good judicial system
         in order to get life and inheritance


In the other 3 Rashis, Rashi says "If you do the
commandment you get long life while if you don't do the
commandment you get short life--because you may infer
converses from implications in Biblical style"


We have generalized Rashis approach which emphasizes
that EVEN in these commandments you get reward.
eg EVEN if you abstain from eating blood you get long life

So too we interpret HONORING ONES FATHER & GET REWARD
as EVEN IF YOU HONOR YOUR PARENTS (which normally you
do for altruistic reasons since they help you get
started in life) nevertheless you will still get
rewarded by God.


As for Rashis statement that "If you DO The commandments
you get rewarded; if you DO NOT do the commandments you
do NOT get rewarded"---This is part of the Rabbi Ishmael
rule of Generalization. For the phrase IN ORDER THAT
YOU LIVE LONG AND IT BE WELL WITH YOU only occurs as a
reward FOR COMMANDMENTS. Hence we infer that if you do
not do the commandments you will not get rewarded (since
the generalization would not extend to non-commandments!)



*3 The other 5 Rashis deal with commandments that EACH individual
   has to do. These 2 Rashis deal with COMMUNAL commandments like
   appointing Judges or the obligations of Kings to learn and
   be humble.

   Again the emphasis is that the Torah spanned the whole
   spectrum of commandments.


RULE USED: DOUBLE PARSHAS
---------------------------------------------------
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Volume 7 Number 11


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