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VERY BRIEF SUMMARY
------------------
Rashi explains the Hebrew phrase RESTFUL SCENT
- The Hebrew RESH-YUD-CETH means WIND or SCENT or SMELL
- The Hebrew root NUN-CETH means REST
Rashi explains that the phrase RESTFUL SCENT means PLEASING
This phrase or idiom typicallys occurs by all sacrifices
Its meaning can also be inferred from context. Gn08-21 states
--------------------------------------------------------------
And God scented the RESTFUL SCENT: And God said to Himself:...
I will not again kill all life as I just did (by the flood
--------------------------------------------------------------

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TODAYS RASHI RULE:    WORD MEANINGS
TODAYS RASHI SUBRULE: PHASE IDIOMS
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BRIED DESCRIPTION OF RULE and SUBRULE
-------------------------------------
Most people are familiar with the concept of a DICTIONARY. A
DICTIONARY explains WORDS whose meaning you may not be familiar
with. One of Rashis 6 main goals is to function as a dictionary
and explain the meaning of WORDS. But the Rashi dictionary also
explains the meanings of NEW PHRASES. These NEW PHRASES are
composed of words EACH of whose meaning is known but TOGETHER--
as a new phrase-- the meaning is unknown.


STANDARD REFERENCES FOR THIS RULE
---------------------------------
The standard reference for the Rashi dictionary is the
Rashiyomi word page located at
http://www.RashiYomi.com/words.htm

The standard paper on the 6 Rashi rules is
http://www.RashiYomi.com/rules-01.htm

STANDARD EXAMPLE
----------------
The following Hebrew words have the following meanings
-----------------------------------------
HEBREW                  MEANING
------                  -----------------
Ayin-Lamed              On
Pay-Nun-Yud             The Face of
-----------------------------------------
In half a dozen places in the Bible the combined phrase
ON THE FACE OF means DURING THE LIFETIME OF. This is
especially true when ON THE FACE OF is used in connection
with a person. A simple example might be Nu03-04
-----------------------------------------
Elazar was made a HIGH PRIEST
(ON THE FACE OF) DURING THE LIFETIME of Aaron
-----------------------------------------

SUGGESTED EXERCISES
-------------------
How should the student deal with a Rashi like this?
Here are some suggested exercises. These exercises
can be applied in schooling situations, by beginning
students of Rashi or by teachers.
-- With a Konkordance or CD Rom gather all verses
where this phrase occurs and verify if Rashis
suggested meaning is valid

-- If Rashis suggested meaning is only valid in
SOME of the verses try and find what is special
about these verses


RASHIS SOLUTION
---------------
The phrase ON THE FACE OF occurs several dozen times
in the Bible. Usually it means ON. However in about
6 verses it refers to ON THE FACE OF A PERSON and
it means--in these 6 verses--DURING THE LIFETIME OF
THAT PERSON.

It follows, that the review of verses has enriched
our understanding of Rashi-- for the Rashi rule that
ON THE FACE OF means DURING THE LIFETIME only applies
in the special case when this phrse is connected with
a person.

TODAYS LIST
-----------
We present here several sacrifices which are declared
to be a RESTFUL SCENT (PLEASING) to God. Besides explaining
the idiom Rashi also points out WHY the sacrifices are
PLEASING.

It is not just the sacrifices brought on good occasions---
such as PEACE OFFERINGS, THANKS GIVING OFFERINGS, GOING-UP
OFFERINGS --- that are called PLEASING--it is also the
offerings brought on bad occasions--when sinning -- that
are called PLEASING.

From the fact that ALL TYPES of
sacrifices are called PLEASING we infer that the reason
the sacrifices are pleasing is NOT because of the source
of the sacrifice---joy, thanksgiving, sin---but rather
because the PERSON OBEYED GODS ORDERS IN THE PARTICULAR
SITUATION THAT (S)HE WAS IN.*10 Here is the list of
occasions when people bring sacrifices. The other
columns indicate attributes of the sacrifices(Why they
are brought)

VERY BRIEF SUMMARY
------------------
Certain Biblical words have known symbolic meaning. The most
famous example are the animals which can equally refer to
physical animals or to human personality types. The famous Gn49
-- which inspired Chagalls windows -- describes the BRAVERY
of Judah with the word LION, the HARD WORK of Yissachar with
the word MULE, the grace of Naftali with the word GAZELLE. The
3 major animals brought for sacrifices have the following
symbolism: The OX symbolizes someone who works HARD  FOR GOD.
The RAM sybolizes someone who LEADS the community. The SHEEP
symbolizes someone who is proud to FOLLOW the leaders.

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TODAYS RASHI RULE:    ADVANCED METHODS
TODAYS RASHI SUBRULE: SYMBOLISM
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BRIED DESCRIPTION OF RULE and SUBRULE
-------------------------------------
Certain Rashi rules are almost mechanical. For example
the RASHI RULE OF REPETITION states that eg if a name
is repeated it may indicate ENDEARMENT--someone you are
familiar with.

One can easily learn this rule, practice it, and then
apply it when a Biblical verse repeats a name
(eg the Biblical verse ABRAHAM ABRAHAM-
teaches that God liked ABRAHAM)

By contrast certain rules are broad and complex--requiring
a comprehensive analysis and awareness of many items in
a Biblical chapter.

One such complex rule is the SYMBOLISM rule. SYMBOLISM asserts
that a Biblical chapter or verse does not mean what it says it
means, but rather means something else--someething symbolic.

To apply the symbolism rule you must know
-- WHEN a symbolic interpretation is REQUIRED
-- how to PROPERLY SYMBOLICALLY interpret the Biblical item


STANDARD REFERENCES FOR THIS RULE
---------------------------------
The standard reference for this rule occurs at
http://www.RashiYomi.com/gen-1.htm
Although this essay contains other items it is a very
good and brief summary of symbolism.

This article appears in the Journal BOR HATORAH, Vol 13E
in the last half of 2002. It contains a brief but
comprehensive and succinct account of Rav Hirschs definitive
approach to symbolism as outlined in his 100 page essay
GUIDELINES TO A JEWISH SYMBOLISM. This fundamental essay is
-- reprinted in Timeless Torah by J Breuer
-- occurs in Rav Hirschs collected writings put out by Feldheim
-- is succinctly summarized in the above mentioned essay


STANDARD EXAMPLE
----------------
The standard and simplest example for Biblical symbolism
is Gn49. There the BRAVE JUDAH is called a a LION,
the HARD WORKING YISSACHAR is called a MULE  etc

SUGGESTED EXERCISES
-------------------
Symbolic methods are advanced. They in general cannot
be taught at the elementary school level. However GIVEN that
a passage is symbolic a teacher and student can explore WHAT
each term means. In todays list we explore the symbolic
meaning of OX, RAM and LAMB in the sacrifices. Thus a suggested
exercise for students is
-- Look up verses and/or sacrifices involving OX, RAM,LAMB
-- What are the properties these animals are known for
-- What TYPES of people must use certain animals
-- Based on the above lists try and ascertain the symbolism
of these animals.

TODAYS LIST
-----------
Here is a sample list of verses on OX RAM SHEEP. Some of the
verses deal with the animals directly.Some of the verses deal
with WHICH ANIMALS symbolize WHICH OFFERERS. Both approaches
enrich our conception that
- OX = WORKS HARD FOR GOD
- RAM= LEADS THE FLOCK
- LAMB=A FOLLOWER
As mentioned this analysis was originally done by Rav Hirsch