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               Written by Dr Russell Jay Hendel

                     Volume 12 Number 19
         FOR THE COLORFUL, WORD QUALITY, HTML VERSION, VISIT:
                http://www.RashiYomi.com/h12n19.htm
                 Produced January 8th, 2002

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

`          Whats new and hot in this issue?

*1 Rabbi Boncheck, on his visit to Shomrey Emunah stated that
   a rule he used, THAT IS UNIVERSALLY ACCEPTED, is that
   every extra word in the Bible has some extra meaning.

   I dont believe that this is the view of Talmudic sources.
   A famous opinion states THE TORAH SPEAKS USING HUMAN
   PHRASEOLOGY. The Rashis in Todays issue from Ex06 show
   massive repetition. But Rashi simply shrugs his shoulder
   and explicitlys states that the repetition is simply a
   matter of style to indicate paragraph cohesiveness. Read
   the posting to fully appreciate this.

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

From: Anonymous
TO:   Rashi is Simple
RE:   Best sources to learn Hebrew
DATE: Jan 5, 2002

Hi

The HTML version is really great.

I am trying to brush up on my Hebrew especially for
Rashi and Tnach. What sources would you recommend.

[ANSWER:
In light of President Bush signing a major education act
into law today---where he dedicates scholarships to weaker
schools, I think it proper to indicate that all Rashis on
Rashi is Simple are free. It is a resource to learn.

This has always been the Jewish approach. 3 other resources
for learning Rashi are presented below (2 of them free)

In the spirit of the Presidents signature today I would
urge other Jewish Leaders to revive the Jewish approach
of FREE education to all, independent of economic status.
YASHER COACH PRESIDENT BUSH.

1. Rabbi Dr Benjamin Sharfmans Linear Translation of
   Rashi (the 5 volume blue set) is an excellent way
   to bolster your Biblical and Rashi Hebrew.

   Rabbi Sharfman was the Rabbi of my shule where I
   grew up. He is a very clear speaker. Many
   people I know have learned Biblical Hebrew/Rashi
   from him.

2. The MAP OF RASHI IS SIMPLE occurs on the bottom
   of every Digest. It contains references to free
   websites where you can read English translations
   of Rashi. Here are 2

   http://www.mnemotrix.com/metsudah/

3.    http://aish.com/literacy/reference/Search_
      the_Chumash_with_Rashi_-_in_English.asp

Best wishes in learning]

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


VERSE: Ex06-13b

RASHIS COVERED: Ex06-13b Ex06-13c Ex06-14a Ex06-26a
                Ex06-27a Ex06-27b Ex06-28a Ex06-29a

BACKGROUND
----------
Ex06 describes a dialogue between God and Moses. God asks Moses
to go to Pharoh to free the Jews. But Moses complains that he
is a stutterer and unfit for the Job. So God asks him to go
with Aaron and a staff of helpers.

THE TEXT
--------
The Biblical text looks disjoint. Many themes are repeated, often
apparently unnecessarily. How then can the text be viewed.

THE RASHI
---------
We have suggested that just as in English, paragraph units are
indicated with SURROUNDING BLANK LINES and INDENTATION, so too
in Biblical Hebrew the PARAGRAPH can be indicated with an ABA
form. The repeated   A   unit creates a paragraph effect. Many
examples can be presented*11

THE LIST
--------
The list below clearly presents this ABA format. Thus Ex06-10:30
simply states that God asked Moses to go to Pharoh, Moses didnt
think he could accomplish the task so God gave him a staff of
people from his tribe to help him. Then God ordered Moses and
Aaron to perform the snake sign to Pharoh.

The ABA form and its repetitions are simply to mark off the
paragraph. It appears peculiar to us because we are use to
SURROUNDING BLANK LINES and INDENTATION. Here is the LIST.
The A-B-A unites are indicated in the first column. The footnotes
clarify further.

*1 In another posting *10 we have shown that COMMAND with
   the prepostion TO, that is COMMAND TO (vs
   COMMAND) denotes a COMMAND USING A STAFF OF MESSENGERS.
   We also provided lists of verses showing this so.

   Thus God commanded Moses/Aaron
   -- To use messengers to Pharoh(ie RESPECT for a king)
   -- To use messengers to Israel(because of crowd ROWDINESS)

*2 In English we indicate PARAGRAPHS using WHITE SPACE and
   indentation. In Biblical Hebrew we indicate PARAGRAPHS
   using an ABA form. The ABA structure defines ONE UNIT.*11

   Notice the ABA form of the chapter:
   -- GOD & MOSES speak; Moses refuses to go by himself to Pharoh
   -- So God gives him staff: REUVEN, SHIMON, LEVI
   -- GOD & MOSES speak: Moses refuses to go by himself
   --
   -- God speaks to Moses and Aaron to do snake miracle

   Thus the simple meaning of the chapter is that Moses
   refused to speak by himself to Pharoh so God gave him
   Aaron and the tribal leaders as helpers.*12 *17

*3 Again: The Biblical method of creating a paragraph is to
   use the ABA form. The sole purpose of repeating the A
   unit is to create a paragraph. There is no significance
   in the repetition. Rashi also seems to say this explicitly*18

*4 Rashi points out that Ex06-28:29 is a multi-verse sentence
   (Two verses forming one sentence). Most Biblical verses are
   complete sentences; about 0.2% of the verses are part of
   multi verse sentences. For Rashis on multi-verse sentences
   see http://www.RashiYomi.Com/dt02-16a.htm

*10 See the following URLs where lists of verses with the word
    COMMAND with the prepositions TO, ON, & OF are presented
    http://www.RashiYomi.Com/h12n15.htm
    http://www.RashiYomi.Com/gn15-16a.htm
    This explains Rashis Ex06-13b and Ex06-13c

*11 For a collection of Rashis using this ABA=PARAGRAPH rule see
    the essay THE 6 RASHI RULE CLASSES which can be found at
    http://www.RashiYomi.Com/rules-01.htm. Equivalantly look up
        http://www.rashiyomi.com/ex02-11a.htm
        http://www.RashiYomi.com/gn12-10a.htm,
        http://www.RashiYomi.com/gn28-10a.htm,
        http://www.RashiYomi.com/gn48-20b.htm,
        http://www.RashiYomi.com/gn17-09a.htm,
        http://www.RashiYomi.com /gn17-07a.htm

*12 In other words we explain the JUXTAPOSITION of the
    genealogies between the commands by God to Moses as
    indicating that the genealogies indicate the STAFF of
    messengers that God gave Moses to help him. This idea
    is explicitly stated by Rabbi Jacob, in Shmoth Rabbah
    Chapter 7:3 (Though Rashi does not mention it explicitly)

    Footnote *13 reviews Rashis language on this. Footnote*15
    reviews major incidents in the wilderness and shows that
    only the tribes mentioned here were invovled. Footnote
    *14 shows how Aaron helped Moses. Finally Footnote *16
    shows how a typical verse Ex08-26 should be translated.

*13 Unfortunately Rashi is not as clear as we would like him
    to be. However the ideas we presented above are not our
    own but come directly from the Exodus Rabbah 7:3 which
    Rashi was using as a source. In the sequel parenthetical
    phrases indicate supplementary material that illumines
    Rashi

    Rashi on Ex06-13c states
    -------------------------------------------------------
    Since the Bible was talking about Moses and Aaron it
    mentioned who their parents and WHAT TRIBE THEY WERE
    CONNECTED TO [thus indicating possible staff support
    from their own tribe]
    -------------------------------------------------------

    Rashi on Ex06-14a states
    -------------------------------------------------------
    The Bible had to mention Moses genealogy
    [thus indicating possible staff support] the Bible
    also mentioned the older tribes of Reuben and Shimon
    [whom however did not support Moses and instead
    led sins and rebellions against him --- see footnote
    *16 below]

    As indicated these Rashis are very weak in stating
    the GENEALOGIES=STAFF SUPPORT IDEA. The major reason
    for bringing this idea comes from the statement of
    Rabbi Jacob in Shmoth Rabbah which Rashi was quoting.
    It is also supported by the ABA=PARAGRAPH idea whose
    support can be found in footnote #11.

*14 eg Rashi on Ex08-02a states
    ----------------------------------------------------------
    So Moses spoke the basic idea once: Aaron developed it in a
    literary style appropriate for negotiations with Pharoh
    ----------------------------------------------------------

*15 We can support our view that the B section is not just
    genealogy but a list of staff for Moses and Aaron by
    reviewing major incidents in the wilderness and who was
    involved
    -------------------------------------------------------
    Incident    Chapters    Who was involved with Moses
    ---------   --------    -------------------------------
    Gold calf   Ex32        Levites helped him
    Moab war    Nu25        Shimon headed the sin
    Korach      Nu16        Reuvenites instigated sin
    Spies       Nu13,14     Tribal leaders instigated sin
    -------------------------------------------------------
    Thus we see the tribes of Reuven, Shimon, Levi who are
    mentioned in Ex06 in unit B. It is conjectured that these
    tribes helped Moses but some of them (Except for the Levites)
    rebelled and sinned. Hence we have Rashis statement Ex06-27b
    ----------------------------------------------------------
    THEY ARE MOSES & AARON: RASHI: From Beginning to end they
    remained faithful and loyal in their task of freeing the Jews
    -----------------------------------------------------------

*16 Thus eg we would translate Ex08-26 as follows with
    the Biblical text indicated with non parenthetical phrases
    The parenthetical phrases indicate how the Biblical
    text should be interpreted
    ------------------------------------------------------
    These are the Reuvenites, Shimonites, Levites....
    Ex08-26 THIS (ie. all the above) IS Moses and Aaron
    (ie They and their staff)
    ------------------------------------------------------

*17 Rashi on Ex06-26a also points out that the Bible alternates
    in the use of order: Sometimes MOSES & AARON and at
    other times AARON & MOSES. Such order reversal is a style
    indicating equal importance. See the following URL for
    lists of pairs that have order reversal
    http://www.RashiYomi.Com/nu27-01b.htm

    [Note that in prophetic orders Moses always precedes Aaron
    indicating that he had a higher degree of prophecy. However
    in their mission to Pharoh they were equally important]

*18 This contradicts the view (eg Held by Rabbi Boncheck) that
    the Torah does not waste words and every repetition has some
    hidden meaning. Rashi EXPLICITLY contradicts this in
    Ex06-29a and Ex06-30a where he states
    ---------------------------------------------------------
    This chapter is analogous to a person making a statement
    and then having a long interlude. He repeats his original
    statement to give cohesiveness and unity
    ---------------------------------------------------------

RASHI RULE USED: OVERALL STRUCTURE

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

#*#*#*# (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, 2001 Inc. Dr. Hendel President #*#*#*#*#