Only 5 MTZVTH mention FEAR GOD:#2 of 3 ########################################################### # 10 YEAR Ayelet DAILY-RASHI-YOMI CYCLE # # Dec 13, 2000 # # Rashis 453-454 Of 7800 (5.8%) # # # # # # http://www.RashiYomi.Com/ # # # # # # Reprinted with permission from Rashi-is-Simple, # # (c) 1999-Present, Dr. Hendel # #Permission to reprint with this header but not for profit# # # # # # # # VISIT THE RASHI YOMI ARCHIVES # # http://www.RashiYomi.Com/calendar.htm # # # # # # WARNING: READ with COURIER 10 (Fixed width) FONTS # # # ########################################################### OVERVIEW ======== In this unit we investigate those commandments where it says >Observe the commandment ....FEAR GOD<. Most people are surprised to learn that there are only 5 commandments where it links performance of the commandment to >FEARING GOD< Here is the rule for why the phrase >FEAR GOD< is added to only 5 commandments RULE: ==== The phrase >do such & such ...FEAR YOUR GOD< occurs by 5 commandments. The phrase is placed in those commandments where it is easy to get out of them WITHOUT BEING CAUGHT. Hence we are warned to FEAR GOD when there is no FEAR OF PEOPLE- ie there is no fear of getting caught. REFERENCES ========== Material for this module comes from http://www.RashiYomi.Com/h2n5.htm #*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*# (C) Dr Hendel, 2000 *#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#* EXAMPLE 4: Lv19-32b =================== Lv19-32b Get up for the elderly and show them honor RASHI: You wouldn't get caught (You could say 'I didn't see him') Therefore it says FEAR GOD EXAMPLE 5: Lv25-36b =================== Lv25-36b Don't take interest RASHI: You wouldn't get caught--eg you could loan to a non-jew who would then loan to a Jew on interest Therefore it says FEAR GOD.*1 ----------------------FOOTNOTES------------------------------ *1 In the main posting we show Rashis genious at pedagogy. Rashi used spiral curriculum methods and showed emphathy with initial incorret generalizations of beginning students. On all five verses Rashi says that the reason it says >FEAR GOD< is because you could violate the commandment and sin WITHOUT getting caught. Therefore it says >FEAR GOD< to emphasize that you should >FEAR GOD< and worry about God catching you (and therefore avoid the sin). Seeing this explanation on all five verses gives credibility to the unifying explanation. But suppose you didnt see >ALL< five verses? Suppose you just saw one verse? For example, suppose you just saw the prohibition of loaning on interest which concludes >FEAR GOD If this is all you saw you would rightfully suggest that >It says FEAR GOD by the prohibition of interest because people have a great lust for money and they think that since they loan money they have a RIGHT to the interest. Therefore it says FEAR GOD to fight this natural lust for money< This in fact is Rashis first explanation. It is the explanation that a beginning student would spontaneously suggest if he only saw one example of a commandment with the phrase >FEAR GOD<. It is Rashis pedagogic genious to give BOTH the explanations: --that people lust for money and therefore it says >FEAR GOD< --that >FEAR GOD< is said by commandments where you wouldnt get caught. By stating both explanations Rashi simultaneously ---talks to the beginning student who has only seen one example ---talks to the mature student who has seen all five examples. #*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*# (C) Dr Hendel, 2000 *#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*