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  |      Rashi is Simple Version 2.0                         |
  |      (C) Dr Hendel, Summer 2000                          |
  |       http://www.RashiYomi.Com                           |
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VERSE: Ex32-13a

After the Jews made the Golden Calf Moses prayed to God to
forgive them their sin for the sakes of the Patriarchs


The verses are completely clear. Rashi is not explaining
anything troublesome in them. But rather Rashi is trying
to enhance our APPRECIATION of these verses.

Rashi cites the 2 opening paragraphs of a whole chapter
in Midrash Rabbah which explains why Moses mentioned
the merit of the Patriarchs.

EXAMPLES
--------
(1) God promised them a big nation so even if the Jews
deserve destruction they should be spared


(2) The patriarchs went thru Death (Isaac), Fire(Abraham)
and expulsion (Jacob)---therefore if the Jews deserve
punishment they should be spared for the sake of the
sufferings of the patriarchs


(3) Moses pointed out that good deeds last a 1000 generations
(Ex20-07) and therefore God still "owes" Abrahams descendants
rewards for his Good deeds.


NOTES
-----
*1 In the main posting it is argued that Rashi deliberately
only cited the 1st two paragraphs of the Midrash Rabbah to
stimulate further insights into these issues.

In other words, Rashi did not cite these 2 opening paragraphs
because he preferred their interpretation but rather Rashi cited
these 2 opening paragraphs to indicate the whole chapter of Midrash
Rabbah(In the main posting we further defend this thesis)`
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Volume 1 Number 17


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