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               Written by Dr Russell Jay Hendel

                     Volume 12 Number 18
         FOR THE COLORFUL, WORD QUALITY, HTML VERSION, VISIT:
               http://www.RashiYomi.com/h12n18.htm
                 Produced January 3rd, 2002

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

`          Whats new and hot in this issue?

*1 Here is the story.
   I was sending HTML from my personal JUNO html
   Several dozen of you liked it.
   So I configured the group for MIME and sent out v12n17
   Unfortunately not all of you received it in HTML form
   This is because SHAMASH our host, converts it to text first
   So...
   I am going to do the following:
   -- NO MORE EXPERIMENTATION
   -- FROM NOW ON I AM SENDING OUT TEXT DIGESTS
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   -- RIGHT NOW SEVERAL DOZEN REQUESTEES WILL GET THE HTML
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   --
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   ANYONE WHO WANTS TO CAN CLICK ON THEIR BROWSER & READ IT
   --
   In summary
   -- if you want TEXT you will get it
   -- if you want HTML ask for it and you will get it privately
   -- if you want HTML you can click on the hyperlink at top
   -- NO MORE EXPERIMENTS.
   Thanks for all who advised. v12n17 will be resent Saturday
   or Sunday night.

#*#*#*# (C) RashiYomi Inc., 2002, Dr. Hendel, President #*#*#*#*#

VERSE: Ex02-24a

BACKGROUND:
-----------
One of the 6 major Rashi functions is to translate words the
same way a dictionary does. This posting affords us a rare
glimpse at the complexity and richness of this difficult task.
This is a real peach of a Rashi on translation.

THE ROOT
--------
We deal with the Hebrew root Nun-Aleph-Kuph. Shockingly this
verse only occurs 5 times in the Bible. How can we determine
the meaning of a word that occurs so rarely

THE TEXT - A Sample text is Ex02-23:24
--------------------------------------
The Jews were ANGUISHED from the hard work
and they PRAYED;
their PRAYERS elevated to the Lord from their work
and God heard their NA-AK
(This verse will be retranslated below)

THE RASHI
---------
Rashi holds that NA-AK means SCREAM. This fits the verse nicely

THE RADACK
----------
The RADACK, Ez30-24 explains with more specificity
-----------------------------------------------------
NA-AK are the final gasps/cries at the moment of death
-----------------------------------------------------
Based on this Radack we will translate NA-AK as DEATH-GASP

THE CLIMAX APPROACH
-------------------
Armed with this specific translation of RADACK we can give
a richer translation to Ex02-24. This translation reflects
a growing CLIMAX of anguish.
---------------------------------
..The Jews SIGHED form the hard word
..They SCREAMED (in prayer)
..Their PLEAING went upward to heaven
..God heard their DEATH-GASPS
---------------------------------
Note the richness of nuance that comes from a PRECISE
translation. This illustrates what a good translation can do

REFERENCES
----------
For references on Rashis on words vist
http://www.RashiYomi.com/words.htm

For references on development by CLIMAX visit
http://www.Rashiyomi.com/example9.htm

THE LISTS
---------
We present the climactic development of Ex02-24 below
in the first list. Comparison with other existing
English translations will help appreciate the precision
and richness of nuance that we achieve.

The 2nd list presents the 5 verses containing Nun-Aleph-Kuk

Here are the 5 verses with NA-AK. Note how the translation
DEATH-GASPS vs SCREAMS gives a slightly different tone color
to the verse*10

*10 One modern person, who has specifically sought the NUANCES
    (vs the meaning) of the text, is Dr Aviva Zornberg. She
    currently has 2 books out on Genesis & Exodus -- for those
    interested in this approach I would highly recommend her.

RASHI RULE USED: WORD MEANINGS

#*#*#*# (C) RashiYomi Inc., 2002, Dr. Hendel, President #*#*#*#*#

VERSE: Ex05-04a

RASHIS COVERED: Ex05-04a Ex32-25a Dt32-42a Gn41-45b Lv10-06a
                Lv13-45b Lv21-10a Nu05-18b Nu06-05b

BACKGROUND
----------
One of Rashis functions is to explain the meaning of words,
the same way a dictionary explains words.

THE ROOT
--------
We deal with the root Pay-Resh-Ayin

THE RADACK
----------
The RADACK in his book ROOTS lists 5-6 meanings
-- to GROW HAIR (eg Lv10-06)
-- to EXPOSE (Nu05-18)
-- VENGANCE (Dt32-42)
-- to be VULNERABLE (EXPOSE) (Ex32-25)
-- to ANNUL/DESPISE/INTEFER/HARASS/RETRACT (Ex05-04, Ez24-15)

UNIFYING THEMES IN RASHI
------------------------
* On Dt32-42a Rashi explains that PRA means
EXPOSURE OF FORTIFICATION (BREAKINS) not VENGANCE
Note the more focused speficity in Rashis explanation

* Rashi explains Ex32-25 twice
-It can mean the people were EXPOSED/VULNERABLE(Ex32-25)
-It can mean the people were DISGUSTING (Ex05-04)

Thus Rashi seems to suggest a unified meaning of EXPOSED

THE LISTS
---------
Following Rashi LIST 1 shows that all 5-6 meanings of PRA
has the fundamental idea of EXPOSED. In LIST 1 we list the
basic meanings. In LIST2 we list the various Rashis and
verses and show how their interpretation follows EXPOSURE.

*1 Hair growth (PRA) refers to at least 30 days of uncut hair

*2 The traditional translation is VENGANCE. A more precise
   translation is given by Rashi: BREAKINS OF FORTIFICATIONS.
   The breakin EXPOSES(literally) the enemy.Thus this meaning
   is consistent with the idea of EXPOSURE.

*3 Rashi suggests various translations like HARASS, INTEFER,
   ANNUL, MAKE INACCESSIBLE. But Rashi explicitly explains this
   --------------------------------------
   Why EXPOSE them to ideas of rest which
   will intefer with their work?
   --------------------------------------
   Thus we think the best translation is EXPOSE or LAY BARE,
   which usually results in INTEFERRENCE & HARASSMENT.

   The particular verses involved will be examined in LIST 2
   so the reader can judge for him/herself

*4 Other translations are DISGUSTING or DISTANT from God.
   Note how in ENGLISH, the word VULNERABLE is one of the
   meanings of EXPOSED

In this list, LIST2, we list many verses and show how in
each one a TRANSLATION OF EXPOSE is satisfactory. The
footnotes gives further details. For a list of meanings
of PRA see LIST 1

*1 This was a commandment to the sons of Aaron who were
   mourning the loss of their brother.*10

*2 This verse is said on the Lepor who had to rent his
   garments and let his hair grow long. These procedures
   were designed to humble him in order to get him to
   repent from slander.

*3 This is said about the High Priest who is prohibited from
   mourning (Hence he may not let his hair grow)

*4 Rashi explains that the phrase GROW YOUR HAIR refers
   to a 30 day growth period. All NUMERICAL MEASURES
   come from oral traditions to Moses at Sinai

*5 This is said about the Nazarite who vowed to abstain from
   wine. He must also abstain from haircuts.

*6 We now bring verses where PRA is traditionally translated
   as MAKE INACCESSIBLE/HARASS/ANNUL/INTEFER/RETRACT.
   We argue that the basic idea is EXPOSE. If you EXPOSE an
   idea then you make it VULNERABLE and INTEFER with its
   execution. Please read the verses and see if this
   translations FITS properly.

*10 Recall (Rashi Pesachim 6) that all Biblical verses should
    be subject to Generalization unless OTHERWISE indicated.
    Hence we infer from this verse that ALL MOURNERS should
    let there hair grow. See the following URL for other
    examples of generalization
    http://www.RashiYomi.Com/example3.htm

*11 Here is the Rashi (Recall that Joseph was enslaved in
    Egypt to a master named POTIPAR. His masters wife made
    advances to Joseph which he refused. His master then
    put him in prison. Later Joseph was released and made
    vice-president of Egypt. He married the daughter of POTIPERA)
    ------------------------------------------------------------
    RASHI: POTIPERA and POTIPAR are the same person.
           He is called POTIPERA because he was castrated
           for trying to gay-rape Joseph
    ------------------------------------------------------------

    Really? It seems as if Rashi is saying that POTIPERA
    was gay and wanted to force Joseph to have sex with him.

    This is consistent with an image that in ancient times
    all non-jews were animals, murderers and rapists. This
    view (besides being absurd) is DIRECTLY CONTRADICTED
    by the Rashi on Gn34-07 who explains that Jacobs children
    were upset by the Rape of their sister since
    -----------------------------------------
     NON-JEWS HAD ABSTAINED FROM HERD RAPES
     SINCE THE TIME OF THE FLOOD
    -----------------------------------------

    Rather Rashi is Simple: Rashi is referring to the fact
    that Potipar placed Joseph in Jail. Traditionally prisonmates
    suffer from gay sex and rape. Thus POTIPAR by placing Joseph
    in Jail tried to rape him.

    As a punishment POTIPAR became exposed (perhaps his marriage
    broke up--without going into details his wife was a bit
    of a shrew---Rashi gives explicit statements of what she
    said to him in bed)

    Thus his named was changed from
    -- from PAR (Meaning FRUITFUL)
    --   to PRA (Meaning EXPOSED and VULNERABLE-- a fitting
         name for a divorcee)

    I see no reason to make this personal between Joseph &
    Potipar (After all he was his father-in-law)

RASHI RULE USED: UNIFIED MEANING

#*#*#*# (C) RashiYomi Inc., 2002, 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, 2002 Inc. Dr. Hendel President #*#*#*#*#