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Surfing the Talmudic Seas
(C) RashiYomi Incorporated, 2002
Written by Dr Russell Jay Hendel
Volume 13 Number 13
For the WORD QUALITY HTML VERSION click here
-----------------------------------
http://www.Rashiyomi.com/h13n13.htm
Produced March 14th, 2002
WARNING: USE FIX WIDTH FONTS (eg COURIER (NEW) 10)
|
OVERVIEW OF HILIGHTS IN THIS ISSUE |
` Whats new and hot in this issue? |
| ITEM | WHATS NEW & HOT IN THIS ISSUE |
| Passover | The 4 sons: http://www.RashiYomi.com/pa.htm |
| ' | |
| OTHER VERSES | 6 METHODS:Several examples of CROSS REFERENCING*1 |
| REPETITION | 4 METHODS:REPETITION can denote BROADENING |
| |
| COMMENTS |
*1 These Rashi illustrate the technical Talmudic method
of SIMILARITY
|
|
Rashis covered in this issue |
|
| VERSE | RULE | BRIEF DESCRIPTION |
| ======== | =============== | ======================================= |
| Lv04-17a | ALIGNMENT | Sin of community more severe than Pries |
| Lv04-08a | DOUBLE NOUNS | Repetition BROADENS meaning:Any OX |
| Lv04-08b | DOUBLE NOUNS | Repetition BROADENS meaning:Any OX |
| Lv04-12d | DOUBLE NOUNS | Repetition BROADENS meaning:Any OX |
| Lv04-10a | OTHER VERSES | SIN OFFERING=PEACE OFFERING |
| Lv04-19a | OTHER VERSES | SIN OFFERING=PEACE OFFERING |
| Lv04-20a | OTHER VERSES | SIN OFFERING=PEACE OFFERING |
| Lv04-26a | OTHER VERSES | SIN OFFERING=PEACE OFFERING |
| Lv04-31a | OTHER VERSES | SIN OFFERING=PEACE OFFERING |
| Lv04-35a | OTHER VERSES | SIN OFFERING=PEACE OFFERING |
| --------- | ---------------- | --------------------------------------- |
#*#*#*# (C) RashiYomi Inc. 2002, Dr. Hendel, President #*#*#*#*#
VERSE: Lv04-17a
|
COMMUNITY most important |
BACKGROUND
----------
Lv04 discusses the various sin offerings brought
- by an INDIVIDUAL who sins
- a KING who sins
- a PRIEST who sins
- a CONGRESS/Community who sins
Because many of the paragraphs are similar, Rashi frequently
uses the powerful alignment method to infer legal and moral
nuances
THE TOPIC
---------
Both the PRIEST and COMMUNAL sin offering speak about sprinkling
blood towards the PAROCETH curtain. However one paragraph speaks
about the HOLY Paroceth curtain while one paragraph omits this
word
THE VERSES-THE LIST
-------------------
The two verses are ALIGNED in the list below
THE RASHI
---------
Rashi infers a moral lesson from here. When the community sins
the temple so to speak loses its HOLINESS. By contrast if the
High Priest sins, it is not as serious---the TEMPLE is still
HOLY--just one representative needs correction |
| VERSE | WHO | PHRASE1 | PHRASE2 |
| Lv04-06 | Priest | Sprinkle blood on the face of the | HOLY curtain |
| Lv04-17 | Nation | Sprinkle blood on the face of the | curtain |
| Differ | *1 | *2 | *3 |
| | | |
| COMMENTS |
*1 Lv04-06 speaks about the sin offering of the HIGH PRIEST
while Lv04-17 speaks about the sin offering of the
community
*2 These phrases are the same
*3 When ONLY the priest sins, the curtain is still called HOLY
However when the whole community sins the curtain so to
speak loses its holiness. The goal of the temple is the
nation
|
RASHI RULE USED: ALIGNMENT
#*#*#*# (C) RashiYomi Inc., 2002, Dr. Hendel, President #*#*#*#*#
VERSE: Lv04-08a
RASHIS COVERED: Lv04-08a Lv04-08b Lv04-12d
|
REPETITION can BROADEN MEANING |
REFERENCE
---------
http://www.Rashiyomi.com/doubl-14.htm
BACKGROUND
----------
In the above reference we present verses where a word is
repeated. For example >WHEN A MAN MAN HAS HIS WIFE CHEAT<
We present 4 methods for dealing with repetition
-- REPETITION indicates ENDEARMENT and CLOSENESS
-- REPETITION indicates the CHOICEST and BEST
-- REPETITION indicates EXTRA CASES in the subject,verb, object
-- REPETITION indicates a broad non-usual meaning
One method of REPETITION is to deliberately avoid pronouns.
THE TEXT
--------
Lv04-03 ...let him bring an OX as a SIN offering
Lv04-08 ...let him offer the fat of the OX of the SIN offering
COMMENT: Notice the repeated words OX and SIN offering. Proper
use of pronouns would require >Let him offer ITS fat<
Lv04-12 & the remains are burned at the ASH DUMP;by the ASH DUMP
COMMENT: Notice the repeated words ASH DUMP
THE RASHI
---------
Rashi interprets all 3 repetitions using the same method. He
broadens the meaning of the term and applies the sentence to
other similar examples. E.g.
---------------------------------------------------
Lv04-08 ..offer the fat [of this or ANY] Ox of [any] sin offering
---------------------------------------------------
So the repeated words OX and SIN offering broadly apply even
to OTHER SIN OFFERINGS like the GOAT sin offering for idolatry
(Nu15-27) or to OTHER OX SIN OFFERINGS like the OX offering on
the Day of atonement (Lv16)
Here is the LIST of repeated words which receive a broader
interpretation |
| VERSE | REPEATED WORD*1 | NARROW MEANING | BROAD MEANING INCLUDES |
| Lv04-08 | OX | Ox Priest Sin*2 | Ox Day of Atonement |
| Lv04-08 | Sin offering | For priest sin | for idolatry sin*3 |
| Lv04-12 | ASH DUMP | If ashes there | Designated place*4 |
| Lv04-24 | GOAT | KING GOAT SIN | Nachshons Goat Sin*5 |
| Nu17-28 | NEAR NEAR | WILLFULLY near | NEGLIGENTLY near*6 |
| | | |
| COMMENTS |
*1 In Lv04-12 the phrase ASH DUMP is actually repeated. In
the other verses the REPETITION occurs because a PRONOUN
could have been used. This is discussed in the BACKGround
section above
*2 By the phrase OX PRIEST SIN, I of course mean, OX PRIEST
SIN OFFERING. In order to fit everything on one line I
have left out the word OFFERING.
*3 Notice that Rashis main point is that the REPETITION indicates
doubling. HOW this doubling is applied is a technical matter
For example the Sifrah asks: Why not apply the repeated word
sin to the GOAT SIN OFFERINGS ON THE FESTIVALS; why apply it
to the Idolatry sin offering. Rashi does not go into that much
detail. Rashis focus is on the basic rule.(For the answer
to the above question read the sifrah)
*4 eg the English BATH-ROOM originally meant the ROOM with the
BATH. Today however, BATHROOM refers to the room for
personal matters EVEN if there is no bath there but just
a toilet.
Similarly here: ASH DUMP refers to the place where ASHES are
dumped. LITERALLY it implies that ASHES must be there. By
repeating the word, we imply the DESIGNATED PLACE for
ash dumping EVEN if ashes arent there.
*5 This example is NOT brought by Rashi but IS brought by the
Sifrah. The position of this email list is that an integral
part of understanding Rashi is TRANSFERENCE and APPLICATION
of his methods to other verses. We call this the WORKBOOK
APPROACH. The GOAT SIN OFFERINGS of the PRINCES are mentioned
in Nu07
*6 The verse states
--------------------------------------------------
Anyone who comes NEAR NEAR to the holies will die
--------------------------------------------------
Thus it sounds as if anyone who WILLFULLY disrespects the
temple by coming near must die. Rashi interprets the
repeated word NEAR NEAR to mean that he dies even if he
negligently came near as eg there was a crowd and he
was accidentally pushed in. The holiness
of the temple requires people to be extra careful
|
RASHI RULE USED: DOUBLE NOUNS
#*#*#*# (C) RashiYomi Inc., 2002, Dr. Hendel, President #*#*#*#*#
VERSE: Lv04-10a
RASHIS COVERED: Lv04-10a Lv04-19a Lv04-20a Lv04-26a
Lv04-31a Lv04-35a
|
PROCEDURE CROSS REFERENCE |
REFERENCE
---------
http://www.Rashiyomi.com/other-20.htm
BACKGROUND
----------
One of the most powerful of Rashi methods is the method of
CROSS REFERENCE. The reason this method is powerful is because
people frequently seek to find a Rashi reason in the VERSE they
are studying without realizing that the simple reason for Rashi
lies in an other explicit verse.
THE 6 METHODS
-------------
We have outlined 6 methods of using OTHER VERSES
- DIRECT CITATIONS (as it says...)
- Cross referencing procedures(do this like that)
- Adding details #1): a FEW Jews came to Egypt;#2:70 Jews came)
- Contradictory verses: (2 verses say different things)
- Several Multiple proofs
- Explaining a word meaning
THE TEXT
--------
Lv04-10 Offer the FAT OF PRIEST SIN OFFERING like the
FAT OF THE PEACE OFFERING
Lv04-20 ...do to the COMMUNAL SIN OFFERING like the
PRIEST SIN OFFERING
Lv04-26 offer the FAT of the GOAT--SIN---OFFERING like
the FAT of the (GOAT)PEACE OFFERING
Lv04-31 offer the FAT of the SHEEP SIN --OFFERING like
the FAT of the SHEEP PEACE OFFERING
THE RASHI
---------
Rashi simply notes that the cross reference justifies
a GENERAL transference of laws. He uses this to infer
several missing laws and emphasis*2
THE LIST
--------
The list below indicates the exact law and cross reference
Further details and a 2nd important list are presented in the
footnotes |
| VERSE | SIMILARITY(Text of verse) | New point |
| Lv04-35a | FAT SHEEP sin OFFERING:FAT SHEEP peace*1 | With ALYAH |
| Lv04-19a | communal SIN OFFERING::priest SIN OFFERING | Offer finger |
| Lv04-26a | FAT GOAT sin OFFERING:FAT GOAT peace OFFER | No ALYAH |
| Lv04-31a | FAT GOAT sin OFFERING:FAT GOAT peace OFFER | No ALYAH |
| Lv04-10a | FAT priest sin OFFERING:FAT PEACE OFFERING | Brings peace |
| | |
| COMMENTS |
*1 Lv04-19a
Lv04-26a
Lv04-31a
Lv04-35a
Lv04-10a
We bring two supplementary lists
An alignment sheds light on this
--------------------------------------------------------------
Lv04-26 Remove its fat like the fat of the peace offer
Lv04-31 Remove its fat like the fat of the SHEEP peace offer
--------------------------------------------------------------
Notice how Lv04-31 emphasizes the animal (SHEEP) while
Lv04-26 does not. Rashi therefore explains that Lv04-26
which discusses the GOAT SIN OFFERING is like the GOAT PEACE
OFFERING while Lv04-31 which discusses the SHEEP GOAT
OFFERING is like the SHEEP PEACE OFFERING.
This is further clarified by the following list of offered
fat objects
----------------------------------------------------------
PEACE OFFERINGS SIN OFFERINGS
Compared to sin offerings Compared to each othr
Lv04-26,31,35 Lv04-19
---------------------------------- ---------------------
Lv03-09 SHEEP Lv03-14 GOAT Lv04-08 Lv04-19
from SHEEP from GOAT PRIEST Nation
----------------- --------------- ----------- ---------
Alyah Fat ?? ?? ??
Intestinal Fat Intestinal Fat Intestinal Intestinal
Kidneys and fat Kidneys & Fat Kidney&fat ??
Finger of liver finger of liver finger livr ??
----------------------------------------------------------
So now the point of all the cross references is clear:
-- Sheep Sin offerings offer ALYAH fat like Sheep Peace offer
-- Goat Sin offerings dont offer ALYAH fat(Like GOAT PEACE)
-- Nation sin offerings include Kidney and liver
There is a further comparison (Lv04-10) of
PRIEST SIN OFFERINGS and PEACE OFFERINGS.
But as the list above shows,the 2 inner columns are the same!?
So what is the point of the comparison?!
Rashi suggests that the comparison is more general and eg
implies that just as PEACE OFFERINGS reflects a THANK YOU
TO GOD ON BEING SAVED FROM DANGER AND ACHIEVING PEACE
so to SIN OFFERINGS reflect a THANK YOU TO GOD ON BEING
SAVED FROM DANGER AND ACHIEVING PEACE.
*2 The technical term for cross referencing procedures is
SIMILARITY (HAYKESH). The Bible typically says that
------------------------------------
A is to be treated like B
------------------------------------
THere is controversy in the Talmud on whether this justifies
- inferring the laws of A from B
or also
- inferring the laws of B from A
Rashi mentions this in passing but this is an advanced topic
|
RASHI RULE USED: OTHER VERSES
#*#*#*# (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 #*#*#*#*#