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               Written by Dr Russell Jay Hendel

                     Volume 10 Number 4
                    Produced May 10, 2001

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VERSE: Dt18-10b


RASHIS COVERED: Dt18-10b Dt18-10c Dt18-10d Dt18-11a
                Dt18-11b Dt18-11c Dt18-11d

Dt18-10:11 prohibit 8 cultic practices involving hypnotic
trance induction to enter a disassociative state where one
can utter future events.

The half a dozen examples in Dt18-10:11 occur in Rambam
Laws of Idolatry Chapter 11. This gives an exciting
opportunity to see how these two titans of Jewish law,
Rashi on Dt18-10:11 and Rambam Idolatry Chapter 11,
treat the same subject.

And indeed we will see that sometimes Rambam gives more
detail, sometimes Rashi gives more detail, sometimes they
say the same thing and sometimes they complement each other

The list below gives 6 examples. For each example we list
* the MODERN translation of this phenomena
* the Rambams interpretation
* Rashis interpretation
* Where the Rambam says this in Idolatry Chapter 11
* Where Rashis says this in Dt18-10:11
* The relationship of the meaning of the ROOT of the Biblical
term to the actual prohibition.

The footnotes gives more details including a discussion
of the Rashi Rambam differences.

From a technical point of view these are all examples
of WORD MEANINGS. There are half a dozen terms ALL REFERRING
TO HYPNOTICALLY INDUCED DISASSOCIATION.

Notice how this posting fits into our Rashi-Rambam Golden
series -- However we are changing the format -- instead
of doing a whole chapter of Rambam we are focusing on
a specific topic which covers most but not all of a chapter

*1 The Rambam and Rashi both give the same examples here. They
   are in fact the examples derived from the Sifray
   * A BLACK CAT CROSSED MY PATH: HENCE I WONT GO TO WORK
   * I DROPPED MY BRIEF CASE: HENCE I WILL LOSE MY LAW SUIT

   This corresponds to the modern concept of psychosis:
   Psychosis refers to a person who views causality by
   SYMBOLIC means (e.g. black cat) not by ACTUAL means.

   The Rambam gives more detail than Rashi in that he
   mentions in 11:05 that one can make symbolic
   comments on the PAST e.g.: I WON THE LAWSUIT BECAUSE
   I BROUGHT IT ON PURIM WHICH IS A TIME FOR JEWISH
   VICTORY. Thus it is only prohibited to base future
   actions because of SYMBOLIC/PSYCHOTIC interpretation

   The root NACASH means SNAKE -- an animal which does not
   see reality but rather uses heat sensation to view
   reality (similar to the psychotic person who views
   reality not actually but thru symbolic lenses)

*2 The Rambam gives more detail than Rashi here.

   Rashi only gives the example of INDUCING A TRANCE
   BY TAPPING A STICK and in fact Rashi only mentions
   TAPPING THE STICK TO INFER INFORMATION.

   Rambam however EXPLICITLY besides giving, not one,
   but many examples, also generalizes; he describes
   KOSAYM as inducing a trance state. The Rambam
   states HE LOOKS AT MIRRORS, TAPS STICKS etc.
   UNTIL HIS MIND IS BLANK AND HE DISASSOCIATES AND
   SAYS FUTURE EVENTS.

   It should be emphasized that the Rambam mentions
   3 classical methods of inducing a hypnotic trance
   * Mirror Gazing
   * Rhythmic tapping
   * Reduction of blood pressure (Bending backwards)
   Thus it is clear that KOSAYM is identical with
   induction of a hypnotic state where the person
   can disassociate and say future items.

   The root KOSAYM seems to come from KOSAYTH which
   occurs only once in the Bible (Ez17-09). It seems
   to refer not to a complete cutting of a tree but
   rather to a CONSTRICTION and SLASHING of plants
   that leads to DRYING and DEATH.

   In fact a classical(dangerous) method of hypnosis
   induction is CONSTRICTING the neck arteries till
   the hypnotic state is achieved.

*3 Rashi gives more detail than Rambam here.

   Both Rashi and Rambam mention the two possible
   derivations of the word ONAYN:
   * From AYN=EYE -- this would prohibit magic.
     cf The English SLEIGHT OF HAND.
     Performing magic is prohibited because you
     deceive the viewer into seeing things not there

   * FROM ONAH=TIME -- this would prohibit Astrology.
     That is, it would prohibit basing future actions
     on WHEN they were done (e.g. saying Friday the 13th is
     a bad day to perform certain actions).

   However Rashi identifies these two meanings as
   coming from two different authorities(Rabbi Akiva
   and the Sages) while Rambam simply lists the two
   prohibitions without stating the original controversy
   Thus Rashi presents more detail than Rambam.

*4 Rambam gives more detail than Rashi here. Rashi simply
   cites the Sifrah that a CHOVER IS SOMEONE WHO BRINGS
   ANIMALS TO ONE PLACE.

   Rambam gives more detail. The focal point is not
   WHAT the person does but HOW he does it. The Rambam
   explains that a CHOVER is a person who utters VERBAL
   SPELLS on animals to e.g. stop them from hurting
   people

   The root CHOVER means to SEW/WEAVE. Hence CHOVER
   would be a WEAVER OF SPELLS.

   Note that unlike the other crimes which involve
   induction of some type of trance the CHOVER
   simply utters spells without going into a
   trance.

   The Rambam also gives deails on the permissability
   of saying things for a person bitten by an animal.

*5 Rashi and Rambam are the same here--I however would
   like to generalize what they say!

   OV means a BOTTLES. Furthermore the language in Lv20-27 is
   WHEN A PERSON HAS IN THEM AN OV.

   The phrase IN THEM and the root meaning BOTTLE,suggesting
   a HOLLOW,fits in nicely with the Standard explanation
   that the OV and YIDONI place BONES in their ARMPITS/MOUTHS
   so as to induce a hypnotic trance allowing ventriloquil
   statements about the future.

   Notice how the OV-YIDONI seems to be similar to the KOSAYM
   who also induces a HYPNOTIC TRANCE. I would suggest that
   the common denominator to the OV/YIDONI is that they IMPLANT
   something in their body (While the KOSAYM induces a trance
   only verbally or thru actions). According to this reasoning
   * Inducing a trance for disassociation is a PROHIBITION
   * Inducing a trance WITH AN IMPLANT is a CAPITAL OFFENSE

   The technical method of inference is the Rabbi Ishmael
   rule of Generalizing from 2 verses
   (As indicated this is a new idea since most commentators
   see the OV as a specific crime without generalization--but
   as the Rambam clearly generalizes EVERY other prohibition
   mentioned in Dt18-10:11 it would seem reasonable to
   generalize this also)

*6 Here Rambam and Rashi complement each other.

   Rambam as usual generalizes: He states that the
   prohibition of asking the dead applies to ANY
   MANNER OF ASKING THE DEAD

   Rambam gives the example of
   * Fasting in a cemetery till the dead come to you in dreams

   Rashi gives the examples of
   * Seances with skulls
   * (Sexually) Fantasizing till communion with dead is achieved

   At any rate this too is a disassociative trance-like-state
   whose goal is to enter the personality of a dead person

RASHI RULE USED: WORD MEANINGS


#*#*#*# (C) RashiYomi Inc. 2001, Dr. Hendel, President #*#*#*#*#




          THE 6 RASHI RULE CLASSES(Version 3.2 Dec 15 2001)
                http://www.Rashiyomi.com/rules-01.htm
          Copyright Dec 2001, RashiYomi Inc. Dr Hendel President

========================================================
THE DICTIONARY RULE: Rashi can function as a dictionary.
                     He presents 2-6 meanings of words
         REFERENCE: http://www.RashiYomi.Com/words.htm
========================================================
* EXAMPLE 1: AL means ON. AL can also mean
      - WITH (Eat Passover WITH matzoh Ex12-09e)
      - IN   (Place the Matzoh IN the basket Ex29-03)
      - TO   (The boards shall be even from bottom TO top Ex26-24c)
      - NEAR (His borders will be NEAR Tzison Gn49-13b)
      - AFTER(Offer Peace offerings AFTER the daily Lv03-05a)

* EXAMPLE 2: KI means IF,PERHAPS,RATHER,BECAUSE,WHEN,THAT
   Gn18-15a Gn24-33a

* EXAMPLE 3: YDA means FAMILIAR, not KNOW (eg Dt34-10a)
	   eg Gn04-01 Adam was FAMILIAR with his wife

* EXAMPLE 4: ON THE FACE OF means DURING THE LIFETIME
            Nu03-04a Gn11-28a Ex20-03c Dt05-07a

===========================================================
THE GRAMMAR RULE: Rashi comments on RARE or SIMILAR usages
        REFERENCE:http://www.RashiYomi.Com/grammar.htm
===========================================================

* EXAMPLE 1: BA-ah means CAME;ba-AH means COMING(Gn46-26a)


* EXAMPLE 2:THE SENTENCE: 0.2% of Biblical sentences are 2verses
 -(Dt11-07:08) It was not your fathers who saw this;rather you

* EXAMPLE 3: Hitpael has different rules if 1st root letter is
   Tzade (USE: Ni-Tz-Ta-Dack not Ni-Th-Tza-Dack--Gn44-16a)

================================================================
THE CITATION RULE: Rashi enriches meaning by citing OTHER verses
         REFERENCE:http://www.RashiYomi.Com/other-20.htm
================================================================
* EXAMPLE 1: Dt26-05d We went down to Egypt with A FEW PEOPLE
	    ENRICHED by Gn46-27: We went down with 70 people

* EXAMPLE 2: Lv01-05a Non-priests may SLAUGHTER offerings
	    This law DERIVED from explicit statement in 2Chr30-17

* EXAMPLE 3:Why does Rashi say that Chur is Miriams son(Ex17-10b)
	    DERIVED from possible interpretation of 1-Chr18-19

* EXAMPLE 4: Gn35-22a Reuven Slept with Bilhah(Fathers concubine)
	    Gn49-04  Reuven PLAYED with fathers BEDS
        CONCLUSION: Reuven inteferred with fathers personal
	life(ruffled bedspreads); Bible condemns Reuven by
	exaggeration; he is accused of incest which he didnt do

=================================================================
THE 3 RABBI ISHMAEL RULES: They govern style(broad vs literal)
REFERENCE:http://www.RashiYomi.com/example1.htm thru example9.htm
=================================================================

* EXAMPLE 1: Simple sentences are always GENERALIZED
            ---------------------------------------
	    Dt25-04a Dont MUZZLE an OX while it is THRESHING
	    Rabbi Ishmael: Dont STOP any ANIMAL from eating
			   while DOING ITS WORK
					
* EXAMPLE 2: GENERAL-EXAMPLE style always interpreted LITERALLY
            --------------------------------------------------
 Nu05-12d (GENERAL) If a women DESECRATES her marriage
	   (EXAMPLE) and commits ADULTERY
	   Rabbi Ishmael: Nu05 only applies to ADULTERY.
	   It does not apply to other marriage DESECRATIONS
			
* EXAMPLE 3: GENERAL-EXAMPLE-GENERAL style intepreted SIMILARLY
            --------------------------------------------------
 Lv05-21b (GENERAL) If a man DENIES under oath
	  (EXAMPLE) ..denies a deposit,loan,theft,wages,lost item
	  (GENERAL) or ANY DENIAL which he denies
 RABBI ISHMAEL: These laws apply to any SIMILAR Example
 * The law applies to partnerships, movables and monetary objects
 * The law does not apply to real-estate or slander

=================================================================
THE CLIMAX RULE: The Bible should be interpreted in such a manner
                that it reflects CLIMACTIC development to a goal
             REFERENCE: http://www.RashiYomi.Com/example9.htm
=================================================================
 EXAMPLE 1: Dt19-11a If a man HATES, SPIES, CONFRONTS & KILLS
 RASHI: Bible identifies 4 stages to murder(Capped)

==============================================================
THE FORMATTING PRINCIPLE: Bible had its own method to mimic
                          bold, bullets, footnotes, paragraphs
==============================================================

* BOLD: Bible REPEATS words to obtain BOLD emphasis effect
          http://www.RashiYomi.Com/doubl-14.htm
  --------------------------------------------------------------
  EXAMPLE 1:(Ex12-09c) COOK COOK it in water (So COOKED is bold)
  INFERENCE: Prefered to COOK it in water;
         But COOK It at all costs(Even if you dont have water)

* BULLETS: Bible indicates bullets by REPEATING KEYWORDS
  --------------------------------------------------------
 Who am I
 - THAT I should go to Pharaoh
 - THAT I should take the Jews out of Egypt (Ex03-11a)
 --------------------------------------------------------
 RASHI: Repeated word THAT creates BULLET effect
 - Pharoh was a difficult king (Bullet one)
 - Jews were not yet ready for freedom (Bullet two)

* FOOTNOTES: The Bible indicates FOOTNOTES by ALMOST DUPLICATING
	     verses but making small minor changes
                http://www.RashiYomi.Com/align-58.htm
  ---------------------------------------------------------------
  EXAMPLE: Ex20-03a
  VERSE        PHRASE #1       PHRASE #2       PHRASE #3
  -------      ---------       ---------       ------------------
  Ex20-03      Dont            POSSESS  the gods of others
  Ex20-04      Dont            MAKE     idols

  RASHI: So both POSSESSion & MAKING of idols are prohibited
  ---------------------------------------------------------------

                           End of Rashi is Simple Digest

#*#*#*#*# (C) RashiYomi, 2001 Inc. Dr. Hendel President #*#*#*#*#