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TODAYS RASHI RULE:       CLIMAX
TODAYS RASHI SUBRULE:    CLIMAX
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VERY BRIEF SUMMARY
------------------
Lv26-19:20 states that if the Jews sin, then God
will punish them BY DEPRIVING THEM OF FOOD FROM THEIR FIELDS.
This is the SIMPLE UNDERLYING THEME of Lv26-19:20. However
since this theme is repeated 7 times (eg I will break your
proud strength; you will work for nothing; the land wont
yield; the trees wont yield..), therefore Rashi applies the
CLIMAX principle. This principle requires using POETIC
LICENSE on all phrases so as to add nuances.Hence Rashi explains:
no rain, no produce, no yield, no fruits, premature falling
of fruits etc. In other words the THEME is enriched with DETAILS.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF RULE
-------------------------
The CLIMAX rule deals with the very special case
where the Bible repeats the SAME idea in SIMILAR
language 3 or more times.

The CLIMAX rule views these repeating phrases as
forming a Biblical PARAGRAPH.

To apply the CLIMAX rule first identify the
UNIFYING TOPIC idea of this paragraph.

The CLIMAX rule then shows how this basic TOPIC idea
is DEVELOPED over a series of STAGES. In effect the
CLIMAX rule requires poetic lisence; the CLIMAX rule
requires reinterpretation of similar or even identical
phrases so as to indicate all nuances of a topic idea.

In effect the CLIMAX rule READS AN INTERPRETATION into
a verse and as such appears homiletic. The 3 guiding
principles when applying the climax rule are
-- Is a basic idea being REPEATED 3 or more times?
-- do the interpretations reflect STAGES in this idea?
-- the JUSTIFICATION of the interpretation is NOT based
on grammar or meaning but rather is justified by
the idea of CLIMAX: That is we expect
THAT A PARAGRAPH OF REPEATING PHRASES MUST BE SHOWING
DEVELOPMENT. This expectation in and of itself
justifies the interpretation. Grammar and meaning
may be supportive but the ultimate proof is always
the paragraph structure.
The standard example illustrates this.

STANDARD EXAMPLE
----------------
The clearest example of a CLIMAX RASHI is Dt19-11
---------------------------------------
When a person HATES his friend
and he AMBUSHES him
and CONFRONTS him
and he LETHALLY HITS HIM and he dies
...then the murderer will be tried and dies
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STUDENT EXERCISES
-----------------
- Find the TOPIC IDEA (or the UNIFYING idea) in
the above 4 phrases

- Show how the list of CAPPED verbs describes
HOW IT HAPPENS--that is it shows a progression
of STAGES that naturally leads to murder.

- In describing this succession of stages you
may have to stretch the meaning of some words.
Justify this using CLIMAX

RASHIS SOLUTION
---------------
ANSWERS TO THE ABOVE QUESTIONS:
- The TOPIC IDEA is MURDER. The above paragraph
is describing a MURDER

- The 3 stages that naturally lead to murder are
-- HATRED
-- PARANOIA-noticing every action of the hated person
-- CONFRONTATION-disagreeing with actions of the hated

When you have such a setup: Continual confrontation
coupled with a lack of privacy rooted in hatred--there
eventually erupts a fight which can lead to death.

COMMENTS: Note how we re-translate the word AMBUSH
to refer to a general atmosphere of SPYING AND NOTICING
the hated person. But AMBUSH does NOT mean SPYING and
NOTICING. That is Rashi has used POETIC LICENSE--he
has STRETCHED the meaning of the word AMBUSH to include
all spying and noticing.


The justification for this stretch of meaning is the
CLIMAX prinicple which allows and even requires us to
stretch some meanings in repeated Biblical
phrases in order that the paragraph conform to a succession
of stages. In other words, CLIMAX takes precedence over
dictionary meaning and even grammar---the need to see the
paragraph unified and developed justifies these
reinterpretations.

The understanding of this principle--that CLIMAX, not
the dictionary, justifies poetic license will help
clarify the simplicity in many Rashis.

ALTERNATE APPROACHES
--------------------
Since CLIMAX requires poetic lisence it follows that
2 different people may interpret the same passage
in 2 different ways and show 2 different developments
of the same idea.

In fact, the Midrash and Sifrah on which Rashi
based himself may present several such interpretations.
The fact that Rashi mentions only one of these
interpretations doesnt mean that he rejects the others.
Rashi should be perceived as giving an EXAMPLE of a
possible interpretation rather than stating THE MEANING.
Tbe student in this case is encouraged to not only read
the other interpretations but to come up with his/her own.
Such an approach leads to greater appreciation of both
Rashi, the MIDRASH and CHUMASH.

STANDARD REFERENCES FOR THIS RULE
---------------------------------
A standard reference for Rashis using climax may
be found at http://www.RashiYomi.com/example9.htm

Also visit the Rashi calendar at
http://www.RashiYomi.com/calendar1.htm

The CLIMAX series was presented from Mid August 2000
to Mid September (Xampl-1 thru Xampl-22 on the
calendar).(Or directly go to
http://www.RashiYomi.com/xampl-1.htm
http://www.RashiYomi.com/xampl-2.htm....

It is summarized at Xampl-36.
http://www.Rashiyomi.com/xampl-36.htm

(NOTE: We there regard CLIMAX as an example of the
Rabbi Ishmael DETAIL-GENERAL principle. The Topic
sentence becomes the GENERAL STATEMENT (eg MURDER).
The phrases preceding this general statement are seen
as the DETAILS of murder (eg HATE, AMBUSH, CONFRONTATION).

The Rabbi Ishmael style rules require us to GENERALIZE
these details. Hence the word AMBUSH which has a
specific meaning is generalized by Rashi to refer to
any SPYING and persistent noticing. Thus Rabbi Ishmael
justifies the POETIC LICENSE used by Rashi. These are
two different perspectives describing the same thing.)

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 use the above resources
to display verses with repeating phrases.

You can then have the students do the 3 exercises
listed above:
(a) Find the Topic sentence
(b) Describe the Development in stages
(c) List deviations from standard meanings
and justify these reinterpretations using
the CLIMAX principle.

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

TODAYS EXAMPLE
--------------
Todays Rashi focuses on the group of verses in Lv26-19:20
The topic idea is
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THE JEWS WILL BE PUNISHED
FOR THEIR SINS
WITH A LACK OF FOOD
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The LIST below gives the verse texts, Rashis explanation as
well as alternate explanations presented by the Sifray.