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Written by Dr Russell Jay Hendel
Volume 13 Number 2
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|
OVERVIEW OF HILIGHTS IN THIS ISSUE |
` Whats new and hot in this issue? |
| ITEM | WHATS NEW & HOT IN THIS ISSUE |
| QUESTION | Was R Hirsh Original or can he be based on sources |
| ANSWER | Moses Grade of Prophecy-- What is it? |
| R Ishmael | 5 techniques of TEACHING BY CONTRADICTION |
| R Ishmael | The GENERAL SPECIFIC GENERAL style |
| Bonchek-Hendel | EXTRA-WORD approach vs the STYLE approach*1 |
| |
| COMMENTS |
*1 See posting Ex30-12a.
- There are 3 TEmple taxes
- Rabbi Boncheks approach would emphasize EXTRA WORDS
- Dr Hendels approach emphasizes R Ishmaels Style rules
|
|
Rashis covered in this issue |
|
| VERSE | RULE | BRIEF DESCRIPTION |
| ======== | =============== | ======================================= |
| Ex30-12a | Example7 | GENERAL-DETAIL-GENERAL style(Ex30-11:16 |
| Ex30-15a | Example7 | GENERAL-DETAIL-GENERAL style(Ex30-11:16 |
| Ex30-16a | Example7 | GENERAL-DETAIL-GENERAL style(Ex30-11:16 |
| Ex30-16b | Example7 | GENERAL-DETAIL-GENERAL style(Ex30-11:16 |
| Ex25-02d | RabbiIshmael | 2 Temple taxes: Required/Volunteer |
| Ex25-02b | RabbiIshmael | 2 Temple taxes: Required/Volunteer |
| Ex25-02c | RabbiIshmael | 2 Temple taxes: Required/Volunteer |
| --------- | ---------------- | --------------------------------------- |
#*#*#*# (C) RashiYomi Inc. 2002, Dr. Hendel, President #*#*#*#*#
VERSE: v8-2-6a
FROM: Anonymous, Shomrey Emunah Congregation
TO: Rashi is Simple
RE: Rav Hirschs etymologies
BACKGROUND
----------
Rabbi Weinreb, the former Rabbi of Shomrey Emunah who is now
a vice president for the O-U was visiting town for a bar
mitzvah. In his sermon Rabbi Weinreb mentioned that Radack
lists 4 meanings for EMUNAH(FAITH) (a) A sculpturor (b)
nursemaid (for an infant) (c) trust (d) strong
I had commented to several people that Rav Hirsch in Lech
Lechah gives a unifying meaning which focuses on AMN as
being an INTENSE creation. Thus a sculpturor doesnt just
make a statute (the way you make an omlet or cup of coffee);
rather he INTESELY makes it. Similarly the nurse-maid INTENSELY
makes the child; etc; similarly in Dt28-59 God is not
talking about strong diseases but rather about CANCER--a
disease which doesnt just attack the body but TOTALLY
and intensely overtakes it (So..concludes R Hirsch, FAITH
is TOTAL SURRENDER to GODS WILL--to let GOD TOTALLY
INFILTRATE EVERY ASPECT OF YOUR EXISTENCE) (In passing
Rabbi Weinreb liked this added touch)
QUESTION
--------
One person I told this to asked as follows:
----------
Rabbi Weinreb cited Radack which is a SOURCE approach.
By contrast Rav Hirsch is using an ORIGINAL possibly
a MIDRASHIC approach.
-----------
Anonymous
NOTE: I cited this question here since I frequently get
accused of the same thing. The answer will be given
in future issues
#*#*#*# (C) RashiYomi Inc. 2002, Dr. Hendel, President #*#*#*#*#
VERSE: v8-2-6b
ANSWER: To question about the Akaydah where I seem to indicate
that Abraham had a higher degree of prophecy than Moses
1st) Moses greatness as a prophet does not lie in his having
CLEAR visions (vs MIRROR visions) since many prophets
had CLEAR visions (e.g. Jacob Gn35-01, or Daniel (Dan10-01))
In fact the Sifrah points out that a difference between Moses
and other prophets is that Moses CONTINUOUSLY had clear visions
while other prophets had ONE-TIME CLEAR VISIONS
2nd) Moses greatness as a prophet does not mean that others
didnt surpass him in certain capacities. For example Ex18
shows how Jethro had to advise Moses about the most elementary
aspect of Government---delegation of authority in a hierarchical
manner (Moses was judging all cases and had to wait for Jethro
to tell him to let ordinary people judge easy cases while
he would judge the hard cases). (I am indebted to my brother,
the Honorable Neal Hendel of Beer sheva for this punchy point)
Another example cited by Chazal is that Bezalel was smarter
at building construction than Moses.
A final example is the Talmudic story that Rabbi Akiva
surpassed Moses in intelligence.
3rd) Rather Moses greatness is a GREATNESS OF LEGAL AUTHORITY
Moses was King of Ethopia for 40 years. He had excellent
experience in making laws and running society. Hence God
made him the FATHER OF ALL LAWGIVERS. The Torah is in
fact the final LAW and cannot be amended.
PErhaps the following will shed further insight. Certainly
Abraham promugated laws---didnt he make the law of idolatry
and develop it. When God gave the Torah Moses received
credit for 611 of the 613 commandment. On the one hand
Moses couldnt receive credit for belief in God and the
prohibition of idolatry since Abraham spent his life
on these. On the other hand Abraham couldnt receive credit
since Moses had a greater authority.
So God compromised FOR them...God took credit for the
laws of belief in God and the prohibition of Idolatry
thereby saving face for Moses and Abraham.
This seems to be the simplest approach for this matter.
It immediately follows that Moses greatness is only
in LEGAL AUTHORITY. However since the essence of
prophecy is faith and since Abraham surpassed Moses
in faith therefore it does not contradict Mosaic
authority that Abraham was a better prophet.
Russell Hendel; http://www.RashiYomi.com/
#*#*#*# (C) RashiYomi Inc. 2002, Dr. Hendel, President #*#*#*#*#
VERSE: Ex30-12a
RASHIS COVERED: Ex30-12a Ex30-15a Ex30-16a Ex30-16b
|
ALL CENSUSES DONE BY COUNTING MONEY |
BACKGROUND
----------
One of the 6 major Rashi methods is the method of STYLE.
According to this method certain Biblical STYLES indicate HOW a
set of verses should be interpreted. Some styles indicate that
a set of verses should be interpreted GENERALLY & BROADLY while
other styles indicate that a set of verses should be interpreted
specifically.
REFERENCE
---------
The Rabbi Ishmael rules of style may be found at
http://www.Rashiyomi.com/ishmael.htm
THE TEXT
--------
Ex30-11:16 speaks about the annual HALF-DOLLAR tax that the Jews
paid for the temple support and maintenance. The text indicates
that every Jew should give HALF A DOLLAR to the temple. The text
also indicates that the census of the Jews was then inferred from
the amount of money collected.
THE RASHI
---------
This paragraph is stated in a GENERAL-SPECIFIC-GENERAL style
---------------------------------------------------------
--- GENERAL: -- Counting Jews is done by counting ATONEMENT MONEY
----- SPECIFIC: All adults give exactly a half dollar
--- GENERAL: -- The MONEY is used for ATONEMENT
---------------------------------------------------------
The GENERAL-SPECIFIC-GENERAL style indicates a BROAD or GENERAL
interpretation: All censuses of PEOPLE are done by counting MONEY
THE style APPROACH vs THE word-picking APPROACH
-----------------------------------------------
Rashi further notes on these verses
-------------------------------------------------
The idea of TAKING money for the temple is mentioned
several times. In fact there were 3 such taxes
-- a voluntary gift to BUILD the temple
-- a half dollar tax to build SILVER TEMPLE UTENSILS
-- a half dollar tax for SACRIFICES
-------------------------------------------------
Rashi seems to derive MULTIPLE TAXES from MULTIPLE STATEMENTS
Each statement corresponds to a different tax. This is the
EXTRA WORD approach-- in this approach every extra word in
the Biblical text justifies an inference. Rabbi Boncheck &
many other Rashi scholars use this approach.
But we use a STYLE approach -- the GENERAL-SPECIFIC-STYLE
requires a BROAD interpretation -- EVERY census is done
by collecting half dollars. HENCE since there were 2-3 censuses
in the wilderness therefore there are 2-3 taxes for a half
dollar. Rashi learns of the 2-3 censuses from explicit verses*11
Rashi similarly learns of the voluntary tax from an explicit
verse*12 But all Ex30-11:16 teaches us is the principle that
EVERY CENSUS IS DONE BY COUNTING MONEY. The multiple statements
create a style and atmosphere which requires generalizing this
principle
THE LIST
--------
In the list below we present the chapter of Ex30-11:16 rewritten
in GENERAL-SPECIFIC-GENERAL style.
REFERENCE
---------
See http://www.RashiYomi.com/ex25-02d.htm which complements
this posting--it to deals with multiple taxes but uses different
methods and arrives at complementary conclusions. |
| TYPE | TEXT |
| GENERAL | If you wish*1 to take a census,count by ATONEMENT*2 money |
| SPECIFIC | ------------- Give half a temple dollar |
| SPECIFIC | ------------- All adults, 20 and above, should give |
| SPECIFIC | ------------- The half-dollar tax is UNIFORM |
| GENERAL | Use the ATONEMENT money FOR the temple to ATONE*2 |
| |
| COMMENTS |
*1 Rashi states (Ex30-12a) that the Hebrew text means
-----------------------------------------------------------
WHEN/IF YOU wish to count PEOPLE, THEN count them by money
-----------------------------------------------------------
As indicated above the paragraph Ex30-11:16 is in a
GENERAL-SPECIFIC-GENERAL format and therefore refers to
ANY census, whether the one done now or ones that will be done
in the future. HENCE, Rashi interprets the Hebrew word KI
as meaning IF-THEN*10.
*2 Note how both the introductory and closing GENERAL clause use
the word ATONE. Additionally the closing clause mentions
[USING THE MONEY FOR THE TEMPLE]. Accordingly Rashi interprets
the verses as indicating that these temple taxes can be used
to purchase any item connected with the TEMPLE OR ATONEMENT.
Either (a) purchasing materials for the temple (b) or
purchasing sacrifices for the poor.*11
| LONGER FOOTNOTES |
*10 The Hebrew word KI has 7 meanings and can mean IF, WHEN etc
See http://www.RashiYomi.Com/ki-11.htm.
Note that Rashi was not interpreting the Hebrew word [TISAH]
as [WISH] since [TISAH] very clearly means [COUNT] (E.g.
Nu04-21). Thus the most reasonable approach to Rashi is
that he is interpreting the word [KI] as [WHEN/IF]
A further point will clarify Rashi. I could have interpreted
the verse as an IF-AND [IF you will count AND take taxes...]
The structure of the paragraph however requires IF-THEN
[IF you count THEN do it by taking taxes]
*11 The idea that Sacrifices ATONE is clear. The idea that
temple materials atone is not that clear. Rashi derives
this by using the TECHNIQUE of OTHER VERSES.
In fact Ex38-25:26 explicitly states that the half-dollar
taxes were used to purchase all silver for the temple sockets
and hooks.
Since the Temple was erected on Month 1 Day 1(Ex40-02)
while the 1st explicit census of the Jews happened on
Month 2 Day 1 (Nu01-01) we infer from Ex38-25:26 that there
must have been another census prior to the building of the
temple. The money from that census was used for making the
silver items in Ex38-25:26 which according to Ex30-11:16
atones
Notice the careful flow of logic here
-- I know from Ex30-11:16 that every census is done by money
-- I know from Ex38-25:26 that census tax purchased silver
-- But I know from Ex30-11:16 that census tax ATONES.
Hence I conclude that
-- purchasing temple MATERIALS atones and
-- there was a hidden census prior to the census in Nu01-01
This census was used for building the temple.
It is then natural to inquire why this census was hidden
and when did it happen. Rashi rightly conjectures that it
happened after the sin of the golden calf which resulted
in a civil war with a loss of people. The census was to find
how many were left. It is then clear why this was hushed up.
The above analysis exploiting the OVERALL STRUCTURE of
Ex30-11:16 allows several inferences:
-The Rashi on Ex35-15a mentioning the SEVERAL taxes
-The Rashi on Ex35-16b mentioning using the census
tax money for the silver material purchased in Ex38-25:26
-The Rashi on Ex35-16a mentioning the hidden census
after the Golden calf.
Again we have derived all the above by overall structure
without using the EXTRA WORD principle.
*12 Eg Ex25-02 or Ex35-29.
| |
RASHI RULE USED: Example7
#*#*#*# (C) RashiYomi Inc. 2002, Dr. Hendel, President #*#*#*#*#
VERSE: Ex25-02d
RASHIS COVERED: Ex25-02d Ex25-02c Ex25-02b
|
THERE WERE 2 TEMPLE TAXES |
BACKGROUND
----------
The Torah required building a Temple of Holiness symbolic of
Gods dwelling among the Jewish people
THE TEXT
--------
But the Torah seems to use contradictory language.
- Some verses speak about a REQUIRED FIX TAX
- Some verses speak about a VOLUNTARY NON-FIXED TAX
THE RASHI
---------
Rashi resolves these contradictions using the Rabbi Ishmael
method of CONTRADICTION. Rabbi Ishmael outlined 5 methods for
resolving contradictory passages: The simplest approach is
to assume that the two contradictory passages are talking
about two aspects of the same thing.
Thus Rashi-is-Simple: There were 2 types of Tax:
- VOLUNTARY
- FIXED.
Each of these taxes had specific purposes*10
THE LIST
--------
We present several verses below: Some point to a voluntary
tax while others point to a required tax. Some of these
verses are commands while others are implementations of
these commands. Along the way we have occasion to examine
how Rashi inferred the meaning of certain words. These
inferences are examined in the longer footnotes
REFERENCES
----------
http://www.RashiYomi.com/ri-14.htm RIshmaels contradiction method
http://www.RashiYomi.com/means-32.htm (methods to infer meaning) |
| VERSE | TEXT OF VERSE DEALING WITH TAX | TAX TYPE |
| Ex25-02 | Take GIFTS*1 | Voluntary |
| Ex25-02 | Take ..from people who VOLUNTEER*2 to give | Voluntary |
| Ex35-05 | Take GIFTS from VOLUNTEERS | Volunteer |
| Ex35-21 | All of GOOD HEART,with the SPIRIT of VOLUNTEER | Volunteer |
| Ex35-36 | Women whose SPIRIT MOVED THEM, wove for temple | Volunteer |
| Ex36-29 | All who VOLUNTEERED, brought gifts | Volunteer |
| ------- | ----------------------------------------------- | --------- |
| Ex30-13 | Levi a half dollar tax for atonement | Required |
| Ex38-26 | The half-dollar tax was used in silver utensils | Required |
| | |
| COMMENTS |
*1 Rashi (Ex25-02b) explains that the Hebrew TERUMAH means GIFT
A close examination of verses shows that it refers to a sort
of TOKEN GIFT. Here are some typical verses
------------------------------------------------------------
VERSE TERUMAH REFERS TO COMMENT
------- -------------------- -------------------------------
Lv07-32 the THIGH gift FROM SACRIFICES
Nu15-19 the DOUGHT gift FROM BAKED ROLLS/bread
Ex30-13 the HALF DOLLAR gift FROM ALL ONES WEALTH
Nu31-41 0.5% military gift FROM ALL BOOTY
Prv29-4 SMALL BRIBE GIFTS DESTROYS JUSTICE
------------------------------------------------------------
The method used here is inferring PROPERTIES FROM VERSES
See http://www.RashiYomi.Com/means-32.htm
*2 Rashi Ex25-02c explains that the Hebrew verb N-D-V means
VOLUNTEER. Rashi did this because other verses speak about
a REQUIRED tax. Hence Rashi had to make it clear that
NADAV does mean VOLUNTEER as it is usually translated
Here are some typical verses
---------------------------------------------------------------
VERSE How verse indicates that NADAV means VOLUNTEER/GENEROUS
------- -------------------------------------------------------
Nu15-08 NDV(VOLUNTEER) is contrasted to NEDER(OATH)
1C29-17 NDV(VOLUNTEER) is according to how your HEART feels
Dt16-10 You NDV(VOLUNTEER) according to how much you-re BLESSED
Isa32-5 The opposite of NDV(GENEROUS) is NAVAL(DISGUSTING)
P107-40 The opposite of NDV(GENEROUS) is BOOZ(DESPICABLE)
---------------------------------------------------------------
The method used here is inferring PROPERTIES FROM VERSES
See http://www.RashiYomi.Com/means-32.htm
| LONGER FOOTNOTES |
*10 It is profitable to compare the derivation here to the
derivation in http://www.RashiYomi.com/ex30-12a.htm
Both Rashis derive multiple taxes but they do so from a
different perspective.
The MAIN focus of the Rashi in Ex25-02d is on the
CONTRADICTION between verses requiring VOLUNTARY vs
REQUIRED taxes. Rashis main contribution here is that
there were 2 types of taxes: VOLUNTARY & REQUIRED.
By contrast the MAIN focus of the Rashi in Ex30-12a is
on the general principle that EVERY CENSUS IS DONE
BY COLLECTING A REQUIRED HALF-DOLLAR TEMPLE TAX(The
amount of money corresponded to the number of people)
Rashis main contribution on Ex30-12a, Ex30-15a, Ex30-16a
and Ex30-16b is that (a) the first census tax was used
to purchase the silver temple utensils mentioned in
Ex35-25:26 (b) the consequent census taxes were used
to purchase sacrifices to atone for poor people who
could not afford them.
TAKEN TOGETHER these two sets of Rashis say there
were 3 taxes
- the 1st-required-census-tax for the SILVER UTENSILS
- future census taxes used to purchase SACRIFICES
- voluntary gifts used to make GOLD-COPPER UTENSILS
Rashi in fact mentions these 3 taxes BOTH on Ex30
and on Ex25. Thus it can falsely appear that Rashi
derived the 3 types of taxes from one of these
verses alone. The simple approach adopted above
shows that
- Ex25-02d derives VOLUNTARY vs REQUIRED TAXES
- Ex30-15a derives 2 TYPES OF VOLUNTARY TAXES.
Such an approach is logically sound and uses
two different Rashi rules
- Ex30-15a uses the GENERAL-SPECIFIC-GENERAL style rule
- Ex25-02d uses the Rabbi Ishmael CONTRADICTION method
| |
RASHI RULE USED: RabbiIshmael
#*#*#*# (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 #*#*#*#*#