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               (C) RashiYomi Incorporated, 2001
               Written by Dr Russell Jay Hendel

                     Volume 11 Number 22
                 Produced October 23rd, 2001

       WARNING: USE FIX WIDTH FONTS (eg COURIER (NEW) 10)

`          SUMMARY OF THIS ISSUE: Whats new and hot?

Dr John Loike wrote me recently. We have had a lull in questions.

SO I AM ASKING READERS FROM QUESTIONS ON RASHI, METHODOLOGY OR
ANYTHING.

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

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

VERSE: Ex12-15e

RASHIS COVERED: Ex12-15e Lv20-20a Lv23-30a Gn17-14c
                Lv17-09a Lv22-03c Ex12-15e

BACKGROUND
----------
There are about 36 punishments in the Torah for which the
Bible lists a punishment of KARETH, being cut off.

REFERENCES
----------
http://www.RashiYomi.Com/lv23-30a.htm
http://www.RashiYomi.Com/h2n3.htm

THE RASHI
---------
Rashi deals with the problem of what is KARETH? The Hebrew
root KARETH means CUT OFF. But CUT OFF from
WHAT? Rashi identifies KARETH with HELL & offers 3 reasons

SUPPORT
-------
#1: Two verses ALIGN KARETH & AVADON (Hell)(Lv23-29:30)
#2: The person is cut off both from his NATION & all NATIONS
#3: The person is cut off both from ISRAEL & FROM BEFORE GOD

The gist of the above supports is that person is totally
cut off--HELL

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
---------------
Harry Rashbaum of my Shomrey Emunah Rashi class pointed out
support #2. There is alot more to discuss on this topic but
the list below will suffice for now

THE LIST
--------
We present the sins whose punishment is CUT OFF, the VERSE
involved, the SIN TOPIC, what RASHI identifies with KARETH
and the PROOF (or SUPPORT) in Rashi. Other possible defintions
of Kareth are dealt with in the footnotes *11.

*1 Rashis proof is based upon the technique of ALIGNMENT
   It is based on the ALIGNMENT of these 2 verses
   -----------------------------------------------------
   Lv23-29 whoso descecrates Yom Kippur will be CUT OFF
   Lv23-30 whoso descecrates Yom Kippur will be IN HELL

   -----------------------------------------------------
   NOTE: The Hebrew root Aleph-Beth-Dalet can mean LOSE
   (lv05-22),DESTROY(Lamentation02-09), or HELL (Prv27-20)

*2 Throughout this list I only indicate SIN TOPICS but not
   the specific sin. So Lv20-20 discusses incest with an
   aunt but I simply list the topic of INCEST. Similarly
   Lv17-09 and Lv22-03 discuss specific sins involving
   sacrifices which can be found by looking up the verses
   involved.

*3 If you look at the 3 verses cited you see that
   -------------------------------------------------
   Lv18-29 provides a sin of KARETH for incests
   Lv20-17 repeats the sin of KARETH for incests
   Lv20-20 mentions a sin of CHILDLESSNESS
   -------------------------------------------------
   Hence the ALIGNMENT of the verses teaches us that
   KARETH = CHILDLESSNESS


*4 This is a 3rd proof. Recall that KARETH simply means
   cut off. ALIGNING the several dozen verses which
   mention KARETH we find two supports

   - The sinner is cut off both from his NATION as well
     as from his NATIONS, indicating that the punishment
     is not EXILE but rather the punishment is total
     banishment from the planet

   - The sinner is cut off both from ISRAEL as well
     as from BEFORE THE FACE OF GOD indicating that
     the punishment is not EXILE but rather HELL, the
     banishment from before God.

     See footnote *10 for a list of verses

*10 These are the supporting verses for the comments mentioned
    in footnote #4
  -------------------------------------------------------------
  Lv17-04 Sacrifice      cut off from NATION
  Lv17-10 Blood          cut off from NATION
  Lv18-29 Adultery       cut off from NATION
  Ex30-33 Sacrilege      cut off from NATIONS
  Gn17-14 Circumcision   cut off from NATIONS
  Lv07-20 Sacrifice      cut off from NATIONS
  Ex31-14 Sabbath        cut off from MIDST OF NATIONS
  Ex12-15 Passover       cut off from ISRAEL
  Ex12-19 Passover       cut off from CONGREGATION OF ISRAEL
  Lv20-03 Sacrifices     cut off from BEFORE MY FACE
  --------------------------------------------------------------

*11 As show in the list above there are several verses (&
    3 Rashis) which identify KARETH with CHILDLESSNESS vs
    HELL. Rashi does not resolve the contradiction in the
    verses.

    I suggest the following explanation: Recall that under
    Jewish law a Kareth punishment can be annulled thru
    lashes. Thus it would appear that SUFFERING can annull
    the KARETH punishment also.

    Hence: If a person sins and loses his children or his
    ability to obtain children and repents he need not go
    to hell. If he does not repent and does not undergo
    severe punishment then he goes to hell.

    The above seems to be the simple resolution of the
    two Biblical explanations of Hell

RASHI RULE USED: DOUBLE PARSHAS

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

VERSE: Gn13-10a

RASHIS COVERED: Gn13-10a Gn13-10c Gn13-10d Gn13-11a

BACKGROUND
----------
We have frequently explained that the Rules of Rabbi Ishmael
indicate whether a verse should be interpreted restrictively or
broady.

Thus the GENERAL-DETAIL-GENERAL rule is really a paragraph form.
It indicates that the DETAILS ILLUSTRATE the GENERAL paragraph
theme.

Similarly certain Biblical Paragraphs/Verses show the
DEVELOPMENT OF A THEME over time.

REFERENCES
----------
See URL http://www.RashiYomi.Com/example1.htm for an introduction

THE TEXT
--------
Gn13-10 indicates 4 stages of a FERTILE FIELD. They are:
IRRIGATED  GARDEN-TREES  FIELD-PRODUCE   FERTILE FIELD

THE RASHI
---------
Rashi simply identifies the components of the verses with
the 4 stages of field development. Rashi does not derive
these identifications from Dictionary definitions; he doesnt
derive them from grammar; he doesnt even derive them from
supporting verses; rather he derives it from the principle
of CLIMAX which asserts that verses with 3 or 4 components
should be interpreted this way.

THE LIST
--------
We present the verses with their GENERAL-DETAIL-GENERAL form
We also show the climactic development.

*1 Note that both Egypt and Eden were known for their
   irrigation. Thus Egypt was known for the Nile and Eden
   was also known for its irrigation (Gn02-11:14).

*2 Eden is praised for its trees (Gn02-09). Again Rashi
   does not associate EDEN with TREES simply because
   of the verse Gn02-09; rather Rashi picks this POSSIBLE
   association because it is consistent with the CLIMACTIC
   development

*3 Egypt was known for its field produce (eg cf Ex09-32:33
   with Ex10-33; the Egyptian produce was its pride and
   this in turn came from its irrigation system)

*4 We should explain why we need trees in this cycle.
   The trees provide some fruit (from fruit trees). The
   trees also provide a permanant ecological cycle which
   in turn supports the produce. (Without the trees, the
   harvesting of produce would deplete the field of minerals)

RASHI RULE USED: Example9

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

VERSE: Gn13-10b

BACKGROUND
----------
Not every Rashi is explaining a new grammatical rule or an
unknown word or even answering some piercing anomaly. Some
Rashis simply facilitate or smooth out sentence flow.

THE TEXT
--------
Gn13-10 Lot saw the Jordan valley that it was well irrigated
BEFORE GOD DESTROYED SEDOM [that it was] Like the
Garden of Eden Like Egypt

THE RASHI
---------
Rashi is Simple. The CAPPED phrase BEFORE GOD DESTROYED SEDOM
is in the wrong place in the sentence. The sentence would
read much better if it read as follows:
-------------------------------------------------------------
Lot saw the Jordan valley, BEFORE GOD DESTROYED SEDOM, that
-- it was irrigated
-- it was like the Garden of Eden
-- it was like Egypt
-------------------------------------------------------------
Technically we may call this a case of a DANGLING MODIFIER

THE LIST
--------
The verse is analyzed syntactically below. The grammatical
function and purpose of each word in the verse is indicated.
As can be seen the phrase BEFORE SEDOMS DESTRUCTION is an
adjectival phrase telling us WHEN an activity happened.
Hence it belongs at the beginning of the sentence.

*1 Again Rashis point is that this phrase which indicates
   when Lot looked over the Plain, reads more naturally
   when placed before all 3 adjectival phrases (Rather than
   in the middle of them).

*2 More technically the word THAT is an ABSTRACT PREPOSITION
   that introduces a SUBORDINATE CLAUSE. Alot of fancy
   language that simply means that the word THAT connects
   the first part of the sentence (That Lot looked over
   the Jordan valley) with the 3 attributes of this valley
   that follow it in the latter part of the sentence.

RASHI RULE USED: THE SENTENCE

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


VERSE: v9-10-3a

From: "John D. Loike" 
To: The logical derivation of Rashis on Chumash
    
Subject: Re: RASHI-IS-SIMPLE digest 270


Hi Russel,

I hope all is well. Here are some recent thoughts that I have had.

1. Noah begins with Rashi trying to explain the 3 possible meanings of the
word Mabul. One explan. is to confuse. Now notice the attempt of Rashi to
bring the parsha of Noah in full circle by explaning that in Dor Haflaga,
Hashem also bilbel (confused) the generation. This is one of several places
where Rashi tells us some deep insights into comparing the first part of a
parsha with its end. Can you find other places? One other place is Parsha
of Sh'lach which begins with the the spies "Latur" the land and Rashi at
the end highlights the term Velo Taturru to draw the reader to the symmetry
of the Parsha.

2. The midrash states that the curse of Eve was hArba hArbe Itzvonech (=
pain of raising children) Veheyrunech (pain of pregnancy) beEtzev Teldi
Banim (pain of delivery). Note that the sequence appears out of order.
Answer- it is in perfect order because Cain and Hevel were already born so
that the curse begins with the pain of raising them -then future
pregnancies and finally future deliveries.

3. Question. If Cain and Hevel were born before the sin- how did they
acquire the moral intelligence resulting from eating from the Etz HaDat?
Maybe when the pasuk states Vatiten Gam by Eve, the Gam does not refer to
the animals as the midrash claims but refers to the kids.

4. Why does the torah use the plural form of leminehu for birds and
crawling things and the singular form of Lemina for animals?

5. Note how similar the exit of Noah from the ark parallels the creation of
Adam. There is in fact two stories by Noah and a Noah 1 and Noah 2 similar
to the theory of the RAv regarding Adam 1 and Adam 2

6. Note how Rashi draws your attention to the similarity of the term Gofer
vs Gavrit Bamelech

etc.  All of these thoughts really are highlighted when one carefully
compares the targum with Rashi.

Shabbat Shalom.
John

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

VERSE: v9-10-3b

FROM: Harry Rashbaum, Shomrey Emunah Rashi Class
TO:   Dr Hendel; Rashi-Is-Simple
RE:   The meaning of KARETH
DATE: Oct 17, 2001


Dr Hendel

The verses on the punishment of extinction display 2
contradictory phrases

SOME SAY: He will be cut off from his NATION
SOME SAY: He will be cut off from his NATIONS

The Standard English translations (As you have always taught us)
completely ignore this anomaly.

No one seems to say anything about it.


How do you deal with this.

Harry Rashbaum;

ANSWER:

Harrys question is answered (or discussed) in Ex12-15e in
Volume 11 Number 22 this issue.
#*#*#*# (C) RashiYomi Inc., 2001, Dr. Hendel, President #*#*#*#*#

VERSE: v9-10-3c

FROM: Many people
RE:   My opinion of Dr Leibowitz and Dr Boncheck


Dr Hendel
Isnt it productive to see all Rashis as answering some
question or problem. Why do you oppose this

/s/ Many people

ANSWER
------
You can always play Rashi-Jeopardy and make all Rashis answers
to questions. However this does not ALWAYS help us understand
Rashi.

As the posting Gn13-10b in this weeks issue (volume 11 number 22)
shows, Rashi is sometimes just FACILITATING or SMOOTHING OUT
reading.

Although Rashi is answering the question of why the verse has
such poor style nevertheless this does not help understand
Rashi.  THE VERSE WOULD HAVE BEEN UNDERSTOOD FINE WITHOUT
RASHI. Rashi was simply filling in and SMOOTHING OUT the
reading.

My real point is that we shouldnt make a problem OUT OF
EVERY RASHI. Only those that really have problems should
be labeled by us as such

Russell Hendel; http://www.RashiYomi.Com

#*#*#*# (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 #*#*#*#*#