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TODAYS RASHI RULE:    WORD MEANINGS
TODAYS RASHI SUBRULE: SYNONYMS
-----------------------------------

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF RULE
-------------------------
Rashi had 6 main goals in his commentary. These 6
main goals are compactly summarized in the following paper
http://www.Rashiyomi.com/rules-01.htm

One of those goals is to exlain the meanings of words, the
same way a dictionary does. Rashi may also explain the
special NUANCES of a word--that is, Rashi may explain how
a given word has NUANCES different from other words which
are SYNONYMS.

TODAYS EXAMPLE
--------------
Todays posting deals with the word AYTH. If you ask the average
Hebrew speaking Israeli what AYTH means they will tell you
that AYTH means TIME.

Rashis goal was to argue against this translation. AYTH
really means SCHEDULED or APPOINTMENT. It can also mean
NOW, the default SCHEDULE for something that has to be done.

Hence when Lv16-21a states that the goat is sent by an AYTH
PERSON it should be translated as THE GOAT IS SENT BY A
SCHEDULED PERSON (or by an APPOINTED PERSON). Rashi notes
that one characteristic of scheduling is that the person was
appointed at least one day in advance*10.

EXERCISE
--------
How can we defend Rashi? How can we show that AYTH really
means SCHEDULED/APPOINTED vs TIME.

A standard procedure is to use the Konkordance,a CD ROM,
or the RADACKS book, ROOTS and critically examine verses
where AYTH occurs. We can then perform 2 tests
-- does the verse sound OK with the translation SCHEDULED
-- does the translation TIME, NOT fit in.

THE LIST
--------
A collection of verses is brought below so that the
reader can examine them him/herself.

------------------------------------------------------
TODAYS RASHI RULE:   TYPING TECHNIQUES
TODAYS RASHI SUBRULE:BULLETS
------------------------------------------------------

BRIED DESCRIPTION OF RULE and SUBRULE
-------------------------------------
A modern typist has a rich variety of techniques to
indicate emphasis. Among these techniques are such
methods as
- BOLD, ITALICS, UNDERLINES
- PARAGRAPHS
- BULLETING
- TABLES

The Bible did not implement these typing techniques
the same way modern typists do. Instead the Bible had
special methods of indicating these techniques.

The Bible implemented a BULLET STRUCTURE by using a
REPEATED KEYWORD

STANDARD EXAMPLE
----------------
Todays verse serves as a good example.

Lv16-32a
--------------------------------------------------------
The priest, WHO is annointed & WHOse hands are consecrated,
....will perform these day of atonement procedures
--------------------------------------------------------

EXERCISE
--------
Notice the repeated keyword. Here is the exercise.
Rewrite this verse in modern BULLET notation using
either bullets or else the repeated keyword. The
solution is immediately presented below.


RASHIS SOLUTION
---------------
Lv16-32a (Bullet style using repeated words)
---------------------------------------------------
The priest
-- WHO is annointed
-- WHO is dressed in the 8 priestly garments
will perform these day of atonement procedures
---------------------------------------------------

Lv16-32a (Bullet style using bullets)
---------------------------------------------------
The priest
* (if) annointed
* (if) donned with the 8 priestly garments
will perform these day of atonement procedures
---------------------------------------------------

The bullets create an atmosphere of emphasis. TWO
points are being emphasized. Without the bullets I
would assume the Torah is using a conversational style:
I would assume they are talking about THE PRIEST WHO
WAS CONSECRATED BY ANNOINTMENT.

Since the bullets emphasize TWONESS we conclude that
the day of atonement procedures can be performed by
either a high priest that was annointed or else by
a high priest who was consecrated by being dressed
in the 8 garments *1

STANDARD REFERENCES FOR THIS RULE
---------------------------------
http://www.Rashiyomi.com/rules-01.htm (See the last 2 pages)
http://www.Rashiyomi.com/database.htm (See Section 9)

HOW TO USE THESE LISTS FOR SCHOOL PROJECTS
------------------------------------------
You can use the LIST below for school projects.
Here is how: If you are a teacher then you
can present the verses and then ask the students to
do 3 things
-- find the repeated keyword (for example WHO)
-- rewrite the verse in BULLET form
-- try and guess what the bullets emphasize
The student can then compare their answers with Rashis.

TODAYS EXAMPLE
--------------
The bullet structure of todays verse is repeated below
in table form. Footnotes further clarify.

------------------------------------------------
TODAYS RASHI RULE:    RABBI ISHMAEL STYLE RULES
TODAYS RASHI SUBRULE: NON-SPECIFIC-FOCUSED
------------------------------------------------


BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE RULE AND SUBRULE
-----------------------------------------
One of Rashis main goals is to describe
Biblical STYLES and their consequences. A
very great scholar, Rabbi Ishmael the high
priest, identified 3 general Biblical style requirements
-- Styles requiring GENERALIZATION
-- Styles requiring LITERAL meaning
-- Styles requiring BROAD(but not totally GENERAL) meaning

Today we deal with Biblical styles requiring LITERAL
meaning without generalization.

SUPPOSE a Biblical sentence
-- uses a vague non-specific word
-- and follows that word by a specific description

THEN the verse should be read as dealing with that
specific situation. The standard example clarifies

STANDARD EXAMPLE
----------------
Nu05-12d
-------------------------------------------------
If a women DESCECRATES her marriage (by)
SLEEPING with a man

THEN you perform this ceremony on her
-------------------------------------------------

EXERCISE
--------
To appreciate the style the student is invited to
-- give examples why DESCECRATE is a vague non focused concept
-- why SLEEPING with a man is a FOCUSED PARTICULAR example


SOLUTION
--------
There are many ways a woman can descecrate her marriage.
For example, she can INSULT her husband, she can REFUSE
TO COOK for him, she can FLIRT with other men, she can
commit ADULTERY.

Thus the word DESCECRATE is vague and non-focused.

By contrast, the word SLEEP WITH is focused and specific
It isolated one method of marriage descecration.

Hence we translate this verse by connecting the two
phrases with the elliptical word BY
---------------------------------------
When a woman DESCECRATES her marriage [BY]
SLEEPING with a man, then...
---------------------------------------

STANDARD REFERENCES FOR THIS RULE:
----------------------------------
http://www.RashiYomi.com/example4.htm


HOW TO USE THIS LIST FOR SCHOOL PROJECTS
----------------------------------------
You can use the reference for school projects.
Here is how. If you are a teacher then you
can present the verses in the list to students.

You can then ask the students to perform 3 tasks
-- give examples showing that 1 word is vague & non-focused
-- show how the 2nd phrase gives a focused detailed example
-- translate the verse smoothly using the word BY.
The student can then compare their soluation with Rashis.
I have found that the student and Rashi solutions for this
rule are usually identical.


TODAYS EXAMPLE
--------------
Today we examine Lv16-18:19. The Bible
-- 1st states that: The priest will ATONE
-- then it states: the following blood sprinklings atone
We interpret this using a GENERAL-SPECIFIC style.
The word ATONE is vague and non-specific. It means different
things in different contexts. For an UP offering it means
THROWING BLOOD UPWARD. For a SIN offering it means placing
blood on the horns.

Thus Lv16-18:19 identifies HOW atonement is achieved.
ATONEMENT IS ACHIEVED IN THE YOM KIPPUR OFFERING BY
(a) MIXING THE BLOODS (b) PLACING THEM ON THE ALTAR
HORNS (c) SPRINKLING (7 Times).

The LIST below more clearly depicts the Biblical structure
of the verses

---------------------------------------
TODAYS RASHI RULE:     OTHER VERSES
TODAYS RASHI SUBRULE:  FURTHER DETAILS
---------------------------------------

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE RULE and SUBRULE
-----------------------------------------
The rule of OTHER VERSES simply means that Rashi
is explaining one verse by citing an OTHER VERSE

One way of doing this is to cross reference a
verse that speaks about the SAME topic but gives
FURTHER details.


STANDARD EXAMPLE
----------------
The following example comes from the Passover
Hagaddah

Dt26-05 states that
-------------------------------
With only a FEW PEOPLE did the
Jews go down to Egypt
-------------------------------

FURTHER DETAILS on the meaning of
the Biblical phrase FEW PEOPLE is
provided in Gn46.

EXERCISE:
---------
Before reading the Rashi try reading
Gn46 yourself and see if you can
discover the further details.

RASHIS SOLUTION
---------------
Rashi cites Gn46-27
-----------------------------
The total number of people who
came with Jacob to Egypt is 70
-----------------------------

Thus the Rashi method of OTHER VERSES
in this case has explained to us that
the FEW PEOPLE that went down to
Egypt refers to SEVENTY people


STANDARD REFERENCES FOR THIS RULE
---------------------------------
http://www.Rashiyomi.com/other-20.htm


HOW TO USE THESE LISTS FOR SCHOOL PROJECTS
------------------------------------------
You can use the LIST below for school projects.
Here is how, if you are a teacher then you
can present the verse in the first column
(eg Dt26-05) and the CHAPTER (but not the verse)
in the 3rd column---e.g. Gn46.

The student is then instructed to discover
the further details. The students solution
can then be compared with Rashis.

TODAYS EXAMPLE
--------------
Lv16-27 states that
---------------------------------------
The priest will bring the sin offering
WHOSE BLOOD WAS BROUGHT INSIDE
---------------------------------------

Rashi simply cites Lv16-15 (and other verses) which show
how this sin ofering -- the one brought on the day of
atonement -- had special procedures with its blood that
were done on the curtain on the border of the holy of holies
A comparison with other sin offerings shows that this is
unique.

THE LIST
--------
The details in this list can be found in the footnotes
or else by referring back to the references above. The
first record in the list is todays example

----------------------------------------
TODAYS RASHI RULE:       ALIGNMENT
TODAYS RASHI SUBRULE:    FURTHER NUANCES
----------------------------------------

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF RULE
-------------------------
Many Rashis do NOT focus on an internal analysis of the verse.
There may be nothing bothering Rashi in THAT verse. The words
used may all be normal.

But when the given verse is compared with another verse--that
is, when the two verses are ALIGNED together-- we see blatant
differences.

The ALIGNED verses therefore suggest that these ALIGNED
DIFFERENCES were deliberately placed there to emphasize
certain nuances. The standard example will illustrtae this.


STANDARD EXAMPLE
----------------
Recall that the Moabite King BALAK was apprehensive about
Israel journeying throught its territory. It wanted Israel
banished. It hired a professional curse-man, Bilam who would
curse the Jews. Bilam however describes his job SLIGHTLY
differently. Here are the verses.

-----------------------------------------------
BALAK: Nu22-06 I will banish Jews FROM THE LAND
BILAM: Nu22-11 ...... banish Jews -------------
-----------------------------------------------


EXERCISE
--------
To fully appreciate Rashi perform the following 2 exercises
- What is the minor difference between the aligned verses?
- What NUANCE do YOU think this implies?


RASHIS SOLUTION
---------------
BALAK only wanted Jews away from his land; his goals were
political. By contrast, BILAM wanted them DESTROYED. Hence...

BALAK wanted Jews BANISHED FROM THE LAND. But Bilam wanted
them BANISHED PERIOD (That is destroyed).


STANDARD REFERENCES FOR THIS RULE
---------------------------------
http://www.Rashiyomi.com/align-58.htm

This summary may be a bit too terse. You can browse the
57 postings leading up to by going to
http://www.Rashiyomi.com/align-1.htm
http://www.Rashiyomi.com/align-2.htm etc.

Or you can visit the Rashi Yomi Calendar at

http://www.RashiYomi.com/calendar1.htm

This calendar presents a day by day listing of Rashis.
The ALIGNMENT series occurs between 7-28-01 and 10-10-01.


HOW TO USE THESE LISTS FOR SCHOOL PROJECTS
------------------------------------------
You can use the LISTS referenced above for
school projects. Here is how. If you are a
teacher then you can present the two aligned
verses and ask the students to perform the
following exercises

-- What are the minor differences between the verses
-- What nuances do they imply

The students can then compare their analysis with that
of Rashis. This leads to greater appreciation of Rashi.


TODAYS EXAMPLE
--------------
We present 3 examples today--that 3 pairs of verses
which we are aligning for purposes of inferring nuances.
The first pair is presented below and other two pairs
follow in the next lists.

We continue the examples of ALIGNMENTS that teach nuances
The examples below deal with SANCTIFICATION procedures.
In only one of them is the phrase PURIFY & SANCTIFY used.
In all others it states SANCTIFY without the word PURIFY.
Hence Rashi felt justified in extracting nuances from PURIFY

We continue the examples of ALIGNMENT that teach nuances.
Technically the following example may better be classified
as teaching MULTIPLE COMPONENTS. These two verses deal with
the blood of the YOM KIPPUR OFFERING