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               (C) RashiYomi Incorporated, 2002
               Written by Dr Russell Jay Hendel

                     Volume 12 Number 22
         FOR THE COLORFUL, WORD QUALITY, HTML VERSION, VISIT:
                http://www.RashiYomi.com/h12n22.htm
                 Produced January 17th, 2002

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

`          Whats new and hot in this issue?

*1 I promised to send HTML versions to several dozen of you
   I first have to make an email list. I will also unsubscribe
   you from Rashi is Simple so you get one email digest. This
   will be done THIS Sunday. In the meantime you can read the
   HTML version on the web: http://www.Rashiyomi.Com/h12n22.htm

*2 Cute but true. A nifty Rashi shows that the Jews took 3
   grocery cartons of food/bread for a month

*3 We all know that the great no-nos -- Kosher, Shabbath, Niddah
   -- all come to teach us to control our physical desires. Here
   is an obscure Rashi that finds this lesson in the Manna
   experience.

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

VERSE: Ex16-05a

RASHIS COVERED: Gn43-12a Ex16-05a Dt15-18a Dt17-18b

OVERVIEW
--------
This is a simple Rashi. Rashi explains that the Hebrew word
MISHNEH means DOUBLE. So we simply spot check a few verses
and Rashis where the Hebrew word MISHNEH occurs and indeed does
mean double.

In a future issue we will discuss another meaning of
MISHNEH; it can also mean SOMETHING PRECIOUS. But in this issue
we concentrate on the obvious which will then form a background
for future discussion and other meanings.

Here is the LIST

*1 Recall that by accident Jacobs children had their payment
   for food returned in their food sacks. So their father
   suggested they carry a double payment for their next purchase
   and return the original payment

*2 2 portions of Manna came down on Friday and no portions came
   down on Shabbath. Hence the extra Friday portion was for
   the Shabbath.

*3 A Master could force a slave serving a prison sentence for
   theft to live with a non-jewish female slave; the offspring
   of that marriage had slave status and were owned by the
   original owner. Thus the slave worked by DAY (when he did
   work) and ALSO by NIGHT (When he lived with a non jewish
   slave and produced children). Under Jewish law Jewish
   WORKERS were protected from 2 shift jobs

*4 Every Jew must write a Sefer Torah. But the King had to
   write 2 sefers--one for his house; the other was carried
   on him so that he could always read it.

*5 I completed this list with a verse from Isiah with the
   word DOUBLE (MISHNEH) repeated TWICE (Forgive the pun!)

RASHI RULE USED: Word Meanings

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

VERSE: Ex13-20a

RASHIS COVERED: Ex13-20a Ex16-01a Ex16-02a Ex16-04b

BACKGROUND
----------
Recall that the Jews left Egypt, travelled for 40 years in
the desert and then came to Israel

THE TEXT
--------
There are 2 different accounts of these Journeys. One account
is given in Nu33 and one account is scattered thru Exodus.

THE ALIGNMENT
-------------
The alignment of these two versions is interesting.
-- only 3 of the several dozen Journeys are time-stamped. Why?
-- several journeys are missing from the Exodus version. Why?

THE RASHI
---------
It is easy to explain why several journeys are missing from
the Exodus version. The PURPOSE of Exodus is to tell the STORY
of the Exodus. Hence it skips over journeys without STORIES.
By contrast the PURPOSE of Numbers is to tell the HISTORY
of the journeys. Hence ALL Journeys are mentioned in Numbers.

As for the dates, Rashi gathers several obscure verses and
paints a beautiful picture of the Manna commandment.

-- Rashi shows that the typical Jew took out 3 cartons of
bread when they left Egypt and this food lasted a month.
-- Rashi also shows how this prepared them for the Manna
experience of an Omer of food per day.
-- Finally Rashi beautifully shows a fundamental principle
of Jewish philosophy in this Manna commandment:
A major Goal of Judaism is to teach DELAYED
GRATIFICATION.

Here is the list. The footnotes present the beautiful ideas
just mentioned.

*1 Note that although the Raamsayth Succoth journey is not
   mentioned in Ex13-20 it is mentioned in Ex12-37. Also
   note that although Rashi only comments on the missing
   RAAMSAYTH-SUCCOTH journey nevertheless there are other
   missing journeys as noted in the list above(Ex13-20a)
   Thus this Rashi should be taken, not as focusing on
   one journey but rather as indicating a general rule
   for any missing Journey in Exodus.

*2 Only 3 places in the journey are time stamped.
   Rashi explains that since the Bible relates that
   - the Jews complained about lack of food here
   - the Jews had travelled one month
   it seems reasonable to assume that they took one months
   supply bread with them. (This would be the volume of 3
   Grocery cartons per person *10) Hence they complained
   when they ran out of food(Ex16-01a,Ex16-02a)

*10 The computations are simple
    -- A person eats One OMER of food in a day (Ex16-18)
    -- An OMER is the volume of 43.2 eggs (Ex16-34)
    -- An egg has a volume of 3-5 fluid onzes
    -- A fluid onze fills 2-3 cubic inches
    -- Hence 30 days food equals
    ---- 30 days x
    ---- 43.2 eggs per day (One omer) x
    ---- 3-5 fluid onzes of volume per egg x
    ---- 2-3 cubic inches per onze  [Divided by]
    ---- 1728 cubic inches per cubic foot [Divided by]
    ---- 2.5 cubic feet per Grocery carton
         (A grocery carton = 24 in x 16 in x 12 inches)
    The above comes out to 3-4 cartons per person

    Such an analysis gives credibility and richness to
    the Egyptian exodus. It also shows that God prepared
    them for the Manna experience by putting them in a
    situation where they, ALREADY FOR A WHOLE MONTH, had
    to eat only an OMER of food per day.

    Thus it would seem that the Manna experience embodied
    the fundamental Biblical theme of DELAYED GRATIFICATION
    IN COMMANDMENTS INVOLVING PLEASURE *11

*11 Rashi (Ex16-04b) explains the Biblical sentence
    ---------------------------------
    I give them the Manna to test if
    they will walk in my Torah or not
    ---------------------------------

    Rashi explains
    ----------------------------------------------------
    The manna tested whether the Jews watched such
    commandments as
    -- not leaving over Manna from day to day (Ex16-19)
    -- Not gathering Manna on Shabbath (Ex16-26)
    ----------------------------------------------------

    This Rashi APPEARS to interpret the Biblical text
    narrowly. It appears to suggest that the Manna tested
    whether Jews could observe Gods MANNA laws.

    But I would go a step further. I would suggest that
    the Manna commandments were archetypical of Biblical
    commandments. Many Jewish Philosophers have argued
    that the purpose of Biblical commandments is not to
    destroy mans pursuit of pleasure but rather to destroy
    the desire for INSTANT GRATIFICATION.

    In other words mans pursuit of pleasure should be
    controllable (but still enjoyable). Here are some
    major commandment classes that encourage DELAYED
    GRATIFICATION
    --------------------------------------------------------
    COMMANDMENT   GOAL
    ------------- ------------------------------------------
    Kosher        Dont eat EVERYthing you see
    Family purity Dont sleep with your wife EVERY DAY
    Shabbath      You dont have to work ALL days of the week
    Charity       Dont hoard EVERY dollar--give to the poor
    Learning      Dont work EVERY minute; learn every day
    Manna         Dont HOARD the manna; new manna tomorrow
    Shabat-Manna  Dont work EVERY day;God gives extra time
    --------------------------------------------------------

    Thus these great commandments of (Orthodox) Judaism teach
    lack of delayed gratification.  This is in fact the
    focal point of the Manna commandments--the emphasis
    on being satisfied with WHAT YOU NEED and not HOARDING
    or WORRYING about the future(one day at a time and
    no work on Shabbath)

    In other words I would interpret the above Rashi
    broadly. God was testing, using the Manna as a good example,
    whether Jews could observe commandments focusing
    on delayed gratification.

    In passing this lesson is derived from the ALIGNMENT
    of Ex and Nu. The fact that dates are not given for journeys
    but the date is given by the start of the manna shows that
    the Bible emphasized the need to see the Manna experience as
    a continuation of the 3 grocery cartons per person that the
    Jews took out of Egypt

RASHI RULE USED: ALIGNMENT

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