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  |      Rashi is Simple Version 2.0                         |
  |      (C) Dr Hendel, Summer 2000                          |
  |       http://www.RashiYomi.Com                           |
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VERSE: Gn40-23a


RASHIS COVERED: Gn40-23a Gn40-23b



COMMENT
=======
The following is an important posting (# 3) explaining
the difference between Dr Hendel's vs Dr Leibowitz's
methodology.



BACKGROUND
==========
Joseph was in prison. He did the Chief Wine Pourer a favor by
interpreting his dream favorably and comforting him. Joseph
asked for a reciprocal favor that he should remember to mention
Joseph and free him from prison.



THE VERSE
=========
Gn40-23a >But the Chief Wine Pourer did not remember Joseph and
          forgot him<


THE RASHI
=========
The phrase >He did NOT REMEMBER him< means that he forgot
him on the day that he was released from prison. By contrast,
the phrase >He forgot him< means during the next few years
whenever Joseph came to his mind he consciously put him out
of it.


THE TRADITIONAL APPROACH TO RASHI
=================================
The traditional approach to Rashi is based on DISTINCTIONS
and QUESTIONS--one popular phrase is >WHAT IS BOTHERING
RASHI<.  In this verse the >QUESTION< would be that
it says BOTH >he did NOT REMEMBER< and >he FORGOT<. To
resolve this question we are told that Rashi introduces
two dimensions of >TIME<---he forgot him on the day he
left prison and he also forgot him during the coming year.


THE PROBLEM WITH THE TRADITIONAL APPROACH
=========================================
The problem with the traditional approach is that it appears
picky and ad-hoc.  After all it is normal to use repetitive
phrases. And yes, even in the Bible it is normal to use
repetititve phrases--not all repetitions are subject to
Biblical exegesis. For example on the verse >Jacob Jacob<
Rashi simply says that >repetition is a sign of endearment<
(Gn46-02a).  Rashi does not for example say >JACOB JACOB:
One call for the physical Jacob and one for the spiritual
Jacob<. So indeed, repetition is normal and Rashi should
not be making comments on repeated phrases.



THE DATABASE APPROACH OF THIS EMAIL LIST
========================================
In this email list all Talmudic and Rashiian statements are
based on database queries. In other words it may be valid
to be picky on the repeated phrase >Didnt remember, forgot<
but only if a LIST of comparable phrases justifies this
perception of the repetition as an oddity.

{LIST}
As the LIST below shows the phrase >REMEMBER DONT FORGET<
only occurs about half a dozen times in the Bible. Furthermore
it only occurs by important events. For example Amalek had
attacked us right after we left Egypt while we were weak
and helpless. God therefore ordered the extermination of
Amalek--God said >REMEMBER WHAT THEY DID--DONT FORGET<.
This type of emphasis is easily appreciated for such a
horrible event. We now present the list
===============================================================
VERSE   REMEMBER DONT FORGET  WHY THE EMPHASIS
======= ====================  =================================
Dt09-07 Angering God          Important not to rebel
Dt25-19 Amalek                They attacked helpless people
1S1-11  Chanas childlessness  She was horribly teasted
Ps9-13  Avenge Murder         We were holocosted
Gn40-23 Remember Joseph       He placed the Jew out of his mind
{END OF LIST}


SUMMARY
=======
The position of this email list as well as
the traditional approach on Rashi is that
* The phrase >REMEMBER DONT FORGET< indicates emphasis
* Therefore we conclude that the Chief of Wine both forgot
  Joseph as well as put him out of his mind

But we differ from the traditional approach as follows:
--The reason that the phrase >REMEMBER DONT FORGET<
  indicates emphasis is NOT because it is a REPEATED
  phrase
--rather the reason that the phrase >REMEMBER DONT FORGET<
  indicates emphasis is because a database query shows
  that ALL OTHER occurences of this phrase indicates
  emphasis.

In other words we differ from the traditional approach
in HOW we prove Rashis point. We do not prove Rashis
point by picky distinctions--rather we prove Rashis
point by LISTS of comparable examples. And even though
the traditional approach welcomes lists and queries it
nevertheless does not BASE its derivations on them--
it rather bases its derivations on distinctions and
welcomes a LIST as supportive evidence; by contrast we
in this email list do base our derivations on LISTS
and welcome distinctions as supportive evidence.

RASHI RULE USED: DOUBLE PARSHAS
---------------------------------------------------
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 8 Number 15


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