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(C) RashiYomi Incorporated, 2001
Written by Dr Russell Jay Hendel
Volume 10 Number 2
Produced May 3, 2001
WARNING: USE FIX WIDTH FONTS (eg COURIER (NEW) 10)
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OVERVIEW OF HILIGHTS IN THIS ISSUE |
` Whats new and hot in this issue or on the web?
|
| ITEM | WHERE TO FIND IT |
| Professional version *1 | http://www.RashiYomi.Com/h10n2.htm |
| Rashis on this weeks Parshah | http://www.RashiYomi.Com/parshah.htm |
| Rabbi Bonchek & Dr Hendel | Lv16-12a and Lv16-03b |
| Rashi & Paragraphing *2 | Lv16-03b.A must for serious students |
| |
| |
| COMMENTS |
*1 Thats right! If your email is LINK-ENABLED then simply click
on http://www.RashiYomi.Com/h10n2.htm and you will see
* A Professional word version on the web
* Outside-inside viewer technology
* Professionally made tables
* Skillful use of fonts bold and color
* Full linkage to the 2 dozen Rashi rules
*2 See how Rashi uses the concept of Overall Paragraph
structure. These Rashis focus on providing cohesive
unity to the chapter, Lv16.
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|
Rashis covered in this issue |
|
| VERSE | RULE | BRIEF DESCRIPTION |
| ======== | =============== | ======================================= |
| Lv16-12a | OTHER VERSES | Gold or Copper altar? See Lv04,Ex30. |
| Lv16-13a | OTHER VERSES | Gold or Copper altar? See Lv04,Ex30. |
| Lv16-25b | OTHER VERSES | Gold or Copper altar? See Lv04,Ex30. |
| Lv16-16c | OTHER VERSES | Gold or Copper altar? See Lv04,Ex30. |
| Lv16-18a | OTHER VERSES | Gold or Copper altar? See Lv04,Ex30. |
| Lv16-03b | OVERALL STRCTR | Lv16 describes Priest/Nation offerings |
| Lv16-06a | OVERALL STRCTR | Lv16 describes Priest/Nation offerings |
| Lv16-24e | OVERALL STRCTR | Lv16 describes Priest/Nation offerings |
| Lv16-24f | OVERALL STRCTR | Lv16 describes Priest/Nation offerings |
| Lv16-25a | OVERALL STRCTR | Lv16 describes Priest/Nation offerings |
| --------- | ---------------- | --------------------------------------- |
#*#*#*# (C) RashiYomi Inc. 2001, Dr. Hendel, President #*#*#*#*#
|
MAP OF RASHI-IS-SIMPLE |
|
| ITEM | DESCRIPTION |
| GOALS: | Defend the 7800 Chumash Rashis |
| METHOD USED: | Emphasis on LISTS -- Database methods |
| INTENDED AUDIENCE: | Laymen, Academicians, Yeshiva world |
| COMMENTS,QUESTIONS: | EMail your questions to address below |
| ANONYMITY: | Granted on request |
| TO (UN)SUBSCRIBE: | Email addresses below with (UN)SUBSCRIBE |
| JOURNAL REFERENCES: | Pshat & Drash,TRADITION, 1980,R Hendel |
| NOTATION: | Gn01-02a refers to Rashi A on Genesis 1:2 |
| SPECIALS: | on Parshah,Rambam,Pedagogy,Symbolism,Rmbn |
| RASHI-IS-SIMPLE RULES | Complete set of rules on bottom |
| EMAIL: | RJHendel@Juno.Com, |
| EMAIL: | rashi-is-simple@shamash.org |
| WEB: | http://www.RashiYomi.Com/ |
#*#*#*# (C) RashiYomi Inc. 2001, Dr. Hendel, President #*#*#*#*#
VERSE: Lv16-12a
RASHIS COVERED: Lv16-12a Lv16-13a Lv16-25b Lv16-16c Lv16-18a
|
Dr Hendel meets Rabbi Boncheck |
While Rabbi Dr. Boncheck was in the states I had a discussion
with him about his approach of starting the learning of Rashi
with the question WHAT IS BOTHERING RASHI. Rabbi Boncheck
of course follows in the footsteps of Dr Leibowitz who
started the learning of Rashi by seeking WHAT WAS RASHIS
QUESTION.
However the point of view on this email list is that many
Rashis can be better understood using the concept of STYLE
and OVERALL STRUCTURE
Here is an analogy. Suppose I am describing a trip from
Baltimore to Florida. I say
-------------------------------------------------
I went from BALTIMORE to the CAPITOL to the WOODS
to the COAST down to FLORIDA
-------------------------------------------------
A Rashi on my description might identify items on my
trip (e.g. CAPITOL=D.C.). These Rashis are presented
in the table below. As the footnotes show a productive approach
is that Rashi is simply describing the trip as one
continuous journey; that is Rashi is providing a cohesive
unity to the trip description.
Rabbi Boncheck said he doesnt disagree with such an approach
In a similar manner the Rashis on Lv16 are not bothered
by anything. Rather Rashi is simply giving a cohesive
unity to the trip of the Priest from the outside altar
to the inside altar during the procedures on the day
of atonement. These Rashis will be presented in the
table following this one.
Now let us examine the Rashis on my trip from Baltimore
to Florida
|
| TRIP ITEM | RASHIS EXPLANATION OF THIS TRIP ITEM |
| Baltimore | Because Russell is now living in Baltimore*1 |
| Capitol | D.C. (Capitol of country not capitol of MD)*2 |
| WOOD | Virginia (Known for its scenic beauty)*3 |
| COAST | The Carolinas, known for their Beeches*3 |
| Florida | Where I wanted to go to*4 |
| |
| COMMENTS |
*1 Nothing is bothering Rashi. Rather Rashi is giving a
cohesive unity to the trip---it started in Baltimore
because Russell lives there
*2 Nothing is bothering Rashi--Rashi doesnt really think
that Capitol could refer to Albany (Capitol of NY) or
any other capitol. Rashi simply gives a cohesive
unity to the trip: If you start from Baltimore and
go to Florida then D.C. is the first place hit and
D.C. is the capitol (Of the U.S.)
*3 Nothing is bothering Rashi. Rashi is simply identifying
the worth of certain spots on a trip from Baltimore
to Florida: The Carolinas are noted for their Beeches
while Virginia is noted for its scenic beauty.
*4 Rashi again gives cohesive unity. Rashi is not bothered
that the trip stops there. He rather simply explains
that the goal of the trip was to end in Florida.
|
|
THE ALTAR SERVICES OF YOM KIPPUR |
`A diagram and time line might help.
`
`Here is a blueprint of the Temple layout. The capital
`letters indicate the SEQUENCE of Yom Kippur events mentioned in
`the verses. This will be further explained in the
`LIST below. The Priests trip starts at point A at the bottom
`of the diagram.
`
` WEST
` -------------------------
` B: Lv16-12 | ARK | HOLY OF HOLIES
` ---------- | | Called HOLIES(Lv16-20)
` Brings inside | |
` | |
` C: Lv16-13 | |
` ---------- | |
`Incense to fire| |
` | |
` D:Lv16-14 | |
` ---------- | |
`Sprinkle blood | |
`on Paroceth | |
` | |
`E:Lv16-15 | |
`---------- | |
`Sprinkle blood | |
`of he-goat | |
`on Paroceth | Paroceth Cover |
` -------------------------
`F:Lv16-16 | |
`--------- | |
`Sprinkle blood | |
`from outside | |
`to Paroceth |CANDELABRA TABLE | NORTH
` | |
` | |
` | |
` | | HOLIES
` | | Called TENT OF MEETING
`G:Lv16-17 | GOLD ALTAR | (Lv16-17, Lv16-20)
`--------- | |
`GO OUT to | |
`Gold altar | |
`Place blood | |
`on Altar horns | |
` | |
` | |
` | TEMPLE COVER(Door) |
` -------------------------
`
`
` A: Lv16-12
` ----------
` Takes altar coals COPPER ALTAR THE ALTAR
` Takes incense
`
`
`H:Lv16-25
`---------
`Offer sin offering fat on altar
`
` EAST |
| # | Vs | TEXT OF VERSE | WHICH ONE | WHY NOT ALTERNATIVE |
| A | 12 | Take ALTAR coals | COPPER ALTAR | No sacrifices on Gold *1 |
| B | 12 | BRING them inside | To Holy of Holy | *2 |
| C | 13 | Incense on fire | fire=burnt wood | No fire on Gold *1 |
| D | 14 | Sprinkle Parocet | West to East | He is INSIDE HolyHolies*3 |
| E | 15 | Sprinkle Parocet | West to East | He is INSIDE HolyHolies*3 |
| F | 16 | Sprinkle Parocet | West to East | DO SIMILARLY TO TENT *3 |
| G | 17 | Blood on ALTAR | =Gold Altar | Analogy with Lv04 *4 |
| H | 25 | Offer Fat on Altr | =Copper Altar | No sacrifices on Gold *1 |
| | | | |
| | | | |
| COMMENTS |
*1 Ex30-01:09 deals with the construction of the GOLDEN altar.
At the end of this chapter, Ex30-09, it says DO NOT OFFER
ON IT (i.e. ON THE GOLD ALTAR) STRANGE INCENSE, ELEVATION
OFFERINGS, OR MINCHAH OFFERINGS. From this verse we infer
that animal/minchah offerings were only offered on the
fires of the COPPER ALTAR.
From this fact Rashi learns 3 things
* The fat of the sin offering was offered on the COPPER ALTAR
since no offerings were made on the Gold altar(Lv16-25b)
* The BURNING COALS mentioned in Lv16-12 referred to the
burning wood on the copper altar since that is the only
altar which had fires and offerings (Lv16-12a)
* the phrase PLACE INCENSE ON THE FIRE (IN THE HOLY OF
HOLIES) must mean PLACE INCENSE ON THE FIRE-COALS (ie
burning coals); it could not mean PLACE INCENSE ON THE
ALTAR FIRE since the Gold altar had no fire(Lv16-13a)
*2 As is clear from the diagram, BOTH the copper and gold altar
were OUTSIDE the Paroceth. Hence the phrase BRING INSIDE
could equally mean BRING INSIDE FROM THE GOLD ALTAR or
BRING INSIDE FROM THE COPPER ALTAR. Hence one cannot use
the phrase BRING OUTSIDE to prove which altar the Priest
brought from. (The proof that this is from the Gold altar
comes from an other verse--see footnote #1)
*3 There are 3 sprinklings on the PAROCETH. Sprinklings D & E
were sprinkled FROM west TO east since the Priest was
INSIDE the holy of holies and hence he sprinkled to the
western side of the Paroceth.
By contrast, sprinkling F took place FROM East TO West
since the Priest was OUTSIDE the Paroceth and hence he
sprinkled to the east side.
Rashi (Lv16-16c) learns this from the Biblical phrase
AND HE SHALL DO SIMILARLY TO THE TENT OF MEETING.
In other words just as he sprinkled in the holy of holies
so too he must now sprinkle in the TENT OF MEETING(which
is a name for the holies).
Rashi also observes that by use of GENERALIZATION,
one of the principles of Rabbi Ishmael, we infer that
both the TENT MEETING and HOLY-OF-HOLY sprinklings were
similar (One sprinkle above and 7 below). This is
explicitly indicated in the verse, Lv16-16 AND YOU
SHALL DO SIMILARLY.
*4 This is a rather deep Rashi, based on Yuma 58a. The verse
says (Lv16-18a) HE SHALL GO OUT TO THE ALTAR AND PLACE
BLOOD.
But the phrase GO OUT could equally refer to the GOLD
or COPPER ALTAR. Thus we cannot use the phrase GO OUT
to infer WHICH altar they went out to.
Similarly we cant use the contrast of phrases of
ALTAR BEFORE GOD (Lv16-18) vs ALTAR FROM BEFORE GOD(Lv16-12)
to infer which altar (since these phrases are used
interchangeably).
How then does Rashi know that Lv16-18 refers to the Gold
altar?
The answer, as I said, is deep. Not all Rashis come from
QUESTIONS, ANSWERS, and LOGIC. Some Rashis come from STYLE
and ANALOGY. The Tractate Yuma simply observes that
we have a SIMILAR procedure mentioned in Lv04-06:07.
This similar procedure also has sprinklings on the PAROCET.
And it explicitly says in Lv04-07 that the altar is the
ALTAR OF THE INCENSE which is the Golden Altar (Ex30-07).
Thus this Rashi is done by ANALOGY and GENERALIZATION which
is one of the principles of Rabbi Ishmael.
The Tractate Yuma makes other inferences by analogy:
For example the remainder of the blood in Lv16 is poured
out on the Copper Altar (Just like in Lv04)
(Finally Rashi and the Gmarrah mention one difference
between Lv16 and Lv04---the sprinklings from East to
West to the Paroceth in Lv04 were done from BEHIND the
Gold altar while the sprinklings from East to West to
the Paroceth in Lv16 were done from BETWEEN the Gold
altar and Paroceth. This is inferred from the
phrase GO OUT: AND THE PRIEST SHALL GO OUT TO THE ALTAR
which implies he was between the altar and Paroceth)
|
RASHI RULE USED: OVERALL STRUCTURE
#*#*#*# (C) RashiYomi Inc. 2001, Dr. Hendel, President #*#*#*#*#
VERSE: Lv16-03b
RASHIS COVERED: Lv16-03b Lv16-06a Lv16-24e Lv16-24f Lv16-25a
|
THE RASHI PRINCIPLE OF OVERALL STRUCTURE |
While Rabbi Dr. Boncheck was in the states I had a discussion
with him about his approach of starting the learning of Rashi
with the question WHAT IS BOTHERING RASHI. Rabbi Boncheck
of course follows in the footsteps of Dr Leibowitz who
started the learning of Rashi by seeking WHAT WAS RASHIS
QUESTION.
However the point of view on this email list is that many
Rashis can be better understood using the concept of STYLE
and OVERALL STRUCTURE
Here is an analogy. Suppose I am writing a book on Holidays.
CHAPTER 1 might deal with Shabbath. Chapter 2 might deal
with Passover. Chapter 3 might deal with Shavuoth.
Now Chapter 7 might deal with the prohibition of doing
work. Chapter 7 might mention what is prohibited on Shabbath
and what is prohibited on other holidays.
A Rashi-type commentator on my Chapter 7 might rashi my
chapter by cross referencing the earlier chapters that
dealt with these holidays. For example when I say in
Chapter 7 that you can cook on the holidays but not on
Shabbath I would be rashied with a cross reference to
the place in Chapter 1 where the prohibition of cooking
on Shabbath is mentioned and I would be similarly rashied
to the place in earlier chapters where the permissability
of cooking on the holidays is mentioned.
It would not be productive to ask WHAT IS BOTHERING
RASHI? WHAT IS RASHIS QUESTION?
Rather a more productive approach is that Rashi is
dealing with the overall structure of the book. Rashi,
by providing cross references, enables the reader
to see the book as a cohesive whole rather than a collection
of chapters.
Similarly in Lv16 Rashi provides numerous cross references
of procedures. Rashi is simply enabling a cohesive viewpoint
of the entire chapter. Rashi in effect is asking the student
to paragraph the chapter and see where everything belongs.
Rabbi Boncheck responded to me that he did not see my
emphasis on style as disagreeing with his approach.
We now present the Rashis showing the cohesive unity
of Lv16. The chapter deals with the sin and burnt
offerings of the priest and nation. As a footnote #1
shows, already Lv16-03b requests the reader to consider
this chapter as a whole.*1
|
| ITEM | VERSE(S) | SIN OFFERINGS | BURNT OFFERINGS |
| Priest | Lv16-03*2 | SIN OFFERING=Ox | BURNT OFFERING=Ram |
| Nation | Lv16-05 | SIN OFFERING=2 goats | BURNT OFFERING=Ram |
| Sin procedure | Lv16-06:11 | | |
| Burnt procedur | Lv16-24*3 | | Rams |
| Fat of Sin | Lv16-25*4 | Ox & Goats | |
| | | |
| | | |
| COMMENTS |
*1 Lv16-01:03 states AARON CAN NOT COME INTO THE HOLY OF
HOLIES EXCEPT WHEN HE BRINGS AN OX AND RAM
Rashi brilliantly points out that Lv16-03 has 2
interpretations: The verse could refer ONLY to that
verse or else it could refer to the whole chapter.
INTERPRETATION 1: Thus Lv16-03 could mean that AARON
CAN COME INTO THE HOLY OF HOLIES WHENEVER HE WANTED TO
BY BRINGING AN OX SIN OFFERING AND RAM BURNT OFFERING
INTERPRETATION 2: Or Lv16-03 could mean that
AARON CAN ONLY COME INTO THE HOLY OF HOLIES WHEN HE
BRINGS THE PARTICULAR OX-SIN-OFFERING and RAM-BURNT-
OFFERING DESCRIBED IN THIS CHAPTER which deals
with the Yom Kippur procedures.
Interpretation 1 would allow Aaron to visit the holy
of holies many times a year besides Yom Kippur. By
contrast, interpretation 2, would only allow Aaron
to visit the holy of holies on Yom Kippur.
The issue is whether the Ox and Ram offerings mentioned
in Lv16-03 refers to the whole chapter or whether it
refers just to that verse.
Rashi explains Lv16-03 as referring to the entire
chapter--it is only on Yom Kippur when Aaron brings
the Ox and Ram offerings that he visits the holy of
holies.
In modern notation we would regard Lv16-03 as a
SECTION HEADING. E.g. We might print it in bold
and a bigger font. Lv16-03 INTRODUCES the chapter,
it is not a sentence by itself.
Rashi knew to interpret Lv16-03b as referring to
the entire chapter because Lv16-34 explicitly
says that THIS PROCEDURE (Lv16) OF ATONEMENT
ONLY OCCURS ONCE A YEAR.
*2 The priest offerings are mentioned in both Lv16-03
and Lv16-06. Rashi cross references Lv16-06a to Lv16-03.
Rashi explains that
* The ANIMALS used by the priest are indicated in Lv16-03
* THe SOURCE OF PAYMENT for priest offerings is in Lv16-06
The priest offerings come from Priest funds while the
nations offerings come from national funds.
*3 Rashi cross references Lv16-24 to Lv16-03 and Lv16-06.
* Lv16-03: The ANIMAL used by the PRIEST for burnt offering
* Lv16-05: The ANIMAL used by the NATION for burnt offering
* Lv16-24e:The ACTUAL OFFERING of the PRIEST burnt offering
* Lv16-24f:The ACTUAL OFFERING of the NATION burnt offering
*4 Rashi cross references Lv16-25 to Lv16-03 and Lv16-06
* Lv16-03: Identifies the PRIEST sin-offering from OXEN
* Lv16-06: Identifies the NATION sin-offering from GOATS
Hence when Lv16-25a speaks about the FAT OF THE SIN OFFERING
Rashi explains that this refers to the FAT of the OXEN &GOATS
|
RASHI RULE USED: OVERALL STRUCTURE
#*#*#*# (C) RashiYomi Inc. 2001, Dr. Hendel, President #*#*#*#*#
#*#*#*#*# (C) RashiYomi, 2001 Inc. Dr. Hendel President #*#*#*#*#