*1 Over the next year or so we will be writing modules for
   the 2-4 dozen basic Rashi skill competencies needed for
   learning Rashi. These modules will then be gathered into
   a workbook which can be used at home or in schools In
   the meantime each of these modules is usable in actual
   schools or home-schooling situations.

*2 Posting Dt06-07a reviews several competing methods for
   interpreting strange words including
   -- good examples
   -- Verb-Noun transformations
   -- Context
   -- Usages in Other verses
   We also analyze how to select between competing
   translations and review the controversies of the Rishonim

*1 As the reader reviews this list, they will notice how
   a variety of words/phrases are used
   - THEY WILL BE vs BIND THEM on your arm/head
   - SIGN, REMEMBERANCE, ORNAMENT, TRINKET
   - LEARNING

   In fact the above list contains the only 4 Biblical
   paragraphs mentioning that something should be BOUND on
   your arm/head.  Collectively this list requires us to
   wear ARM and HEAD tefillin which function as a symbol
   that helps us learn

*10 I brought this verse because SOME COMMENTATORS think the
   word TRINKET in them refers to tefillin. THe alternate
   point of view is that it refers to the TRINKETS that they
   took out from Egypt (and used in making the golden calf)
   (Curiously Rashi holds the alternate point of view)

    I brought this verse to show how certain commentaries
    which are judged as fanciful may be reasonable (Even
    if in the end we dont accept them). Reviewing this list
    we see that INTERPRETING TRINKET as TEFILLIN is reasonable
    (In passing the reason Rashi rejected this interpretation
     is because the CONTEXT requires otherwise--the Jews
     sinned by using these Trinkets to make the golden calf;
     hence they were punished by having them removed)

*1 As Rashi says on Dt06-20a and Ex13-14a
   -----------------------------------------------
   Tomorrow can mean either TOMORROW or the FUTURE
   -----------------------------------------------

   The Jo22-27 verse PROVES Rashis point.
   The method by which the word tomorrow, EXTENDS to
   mean the future is the GOOD EXAMPLE method (eg
   HONEY means SWEET) and is presented in the next list

*1 Ex25-31e Ex25-34a

*2 Rashi on Dt06-20a and Ex13-14a

   This list shows HOW tomorrow gets the new meaning of FUTURE
   In the previous list we showed how to PROVE that in fact in
   the Bible TOMORROW means FUTURE (by citing a verse with this
   usage, Jos22-27)

*1 That is to make the person appear GRACEFUL*10

*2 Thus a nation that experienced an unusual death loss
   would be said to have been HOLOCASTED. The Jewish HOLOCAST
   is therefore used as the basis of an EXAMPLE for any other
   HOLOCAST.  The Hebrew word Mem-Shin-Lamed actually means
   EXAMPLE. So the ENGLISH and BIBLICAL metaphor are the same.

*3 e.g. At Yitzchak Rabins funeral the American President said
   -----------------------------------
   We have had our Yitzchak sacrificed
   -----------------------------------
   The president was making a pun on the sacrifice of Isaac
   by Abraham. By so doing the President eulogized Rabin who
   was therefore compared to a Patriarch.

   The President accomplished this effect by using a SHARP
   expression. The Sharp expression vividly portrays the
   death of Rabin.

*4 This refers to the practice of making SHARP comments
   that summarize broad legal areas.

   An example of a SHARP legal statement might be
   POSSESSION IS 9 TENTHS OF THE LAW (or in Hebrew, BURDEN OF
   PROOF IS ON THE PERSON WHO SUES (not on the person who
   POSSESSES).

   These SHARP TERSE statements lay down
   principles which then govern many legal applications*11

*10 But Rashi gives a second explanation
    ---------------------------------------------------
    Do not let the conquered 7 nations remain in Israel
    even in a ghetto
    ---------------------------------------------------

    On this list we have adopted the position that whenever
    Rashi presents 2 explanations he prefers the 2nd.

    First let us clarify where the 2 explanations come from.

    The Hebrew root Chet-Nun which occurs in roots like
    Chet-Nun and Chet-Nun-Nun and Chet-Nun-Hey can equally
    mean GRACEFUL or CAMP.

    So Rashi

    - can make a verb of the adjective GRACEFUL
    and translate it as SAYING NICE THINGS ABOUT SOMEONE..
    MAKING PEOPLE THINK THEY ARE GRACEFUL

    OR
    - Rashi can translate the verse using the meaning CAMP
    ---------------------------------------------------
    Do not let the conquered nations CAMP in Israel
    ---------------------------------------------------

    On the surface both explanations seem reasonable.

    Why then does Rashi prefer the 2nd explanation?

    Because it fits into the context of the verse
    Here is the whole verse (Comments are in BRACKETS)
    -------------------------------------------------
    God will GIVE you these nation
    - and you will SMITE them
    - and you will EXCOMMUNICATE them
    - you shall not make a TREATY with
    - and you shall not let them REMAIN [even in ghettos]
    --------------------------------------------------

    So Rashis point was based on CONTEXT---EVEN it you
    excommunicate them and EVEN if you dont make a
    treaty with them you should not let them stay
    even in ghettos. (In other words the verse was
    talking about living with these people not about
    admiring them--hence Rashi selected the meaning
    CAMP vs GRACE)

*11 This is Rashis approach who bases himself on the fact
    that the root Shin-Nun-Nun always means sharp
    (cf Dt32-41, Ps140-04, Is05-28, Ps73-21, Dt06-07, Dt28,37)

    But the Radack says that Shin-Nun-Nun means to CHAT
    (DAILY TALK). So Radack gives the following translations
    ---------------------------------------------------
    Dt28-37 Because of your suffering the non-jews will
            CONSTANTLY TALK about you and make you as
            as example
    ---------------------------------------------------


    ----------------------------------------------------
    Dt06-06:08 These words of the BIble will be on your
            mind & you will CHAT on them ...when you are in
            your house, on the road, when you go to sleep
            and when you get up
    ------------------------------------------------------

    Why did Radack deviate from the straightforward meaning
    of the root--Shin-nun-nun which means to sharpen--and
    which is consistent with metaphors in many languages.

    What is the controversy between Rashi and Radack?

    It is a controversy on method.

    -Rashi uses the method of UNIFYING MEANING. Rashi has one
    meaning for all words using the root shin-nun-nun--namely
    SHARP

    - Radack uses the method of CONTEXT/PARAGRAPHING. Kindly
    read the the paragraph of verses above in Dt06-06:08
    Do you notice the LIST of phrases meaning be CHATTY
    -- speak about them in your house
    -- speak about them on the road
    -- speak about them when you go to sleep
    -- speak about them when you get up

    Now you understand why RADACK translated SHINUN as CHAT
    This translation is CONSISTENT with the rest of the
    paragraph.

    -- SUMMARY: Rashi and Radack dispute whether UNIFYING
    MEANING or PARAGRAPH THEMES should be the preferred rule
    in determining meaning.

*1 EXPERT TESTIMONY METHOD:
   The point: To find out what HYPNOSIS is I dont go
   to Biblical verses or Dictionaries but go to the
   expert hypnotists. Whatever they say induces trances
   is how I will interpret the word KOSAYM (Rambam uses
   this method also)

*2 GRAMMAR: LETTER ROOT MEANING:
   I have divided GRAMMAR into several methods.

   This examples illustrates the RASHI 2 letter root method
   There are many examples presented in the main posting
   but many people consider this method fanciful

*3 GRAMMAR: DOUBLING
   ADAM means RED. ADAMDAM means INTENSE RED(ie not pinkish)

*4 GRAMMAR: ROOTS or ROOTS + PREPOSITION
   Thus the root Y-R-Sh means
   --To CONQUER in the HIFIL mode
   --to INHERIT in the kal mode
   --POVERTY as a noun
   Thus the meaning depends on which grammaticl mode is used

   Meaning can also depend on which connective is used

*5 GRAMMAR: SEMANTIC TRANSFORMATIONS:
   There are 3 ways for an OBJECT to become an activity
   --TO MAKE the object (eg to flower)
   --TO USE the object (Eg to hammer)
   --TO REMOVE the object (eg to dust)

*6 GRAMMAR: SENTENCE USAGE:
   For example the word SAR means MASTER. It however can be
   used in 3 ways
   ---MASTER CHEF       WHAT you are master of
   ---FRENCH CHEF       WHERE you are master
   ---MASTER OF A 100   HOW MANY you supervise/master over

*7 PHRASES:
   The words ON, THE, and FACE each have distinct meanings
   The phrase ON THE FACE has a new meaning--it means DURING
   THE LIFETIME. The phrase occurs 4-5 times in the Bible (in
   reference to humans) and Rashi says this on each verse

*8 PARALLEL FORM: Gn01-02 reads
   --------------------------------------------
   The earth     was TOHU VAVOHU
   on  the deep  was DARKNESS
   --------------------------------------------
   Using the method of PARALLEL FORM I infer that TOHU VAVOHU
   means something like DARKNESS or CONFUSION

*9 SPECIAL WORDS:
   For example the compass positions are a
   special set of words. How are they to be named
   ---FACE means EAST (Because you face the sun)
   ---BACK means WEST (when you FACE east, WEST is in BACK)
   ---RIGHT means SOUTH(When you FACE East, SOUTH is on RIGHT)

   Other sets of special words are BODY ORGANS, NUMBERS etc

*10 VERSE: SYNONYM-NUANCES
    The VERSE method requires the reader to review other
    verses where this word occurs. We have divided the
    VERSE method into 4 submethods. This method is very very
    powerful

    One application of VERSES is to review how synonyms
    are used. This enriches our understanding of them.
    For example the following words all mean TO TALK
    --DBR
    --DBH
    --DBA
    --GRN
    If we dont look at other verses we think of these
    words as synonyms. By looking at other verses we
    obtain the precise nuances of these words. Here
    is what Rashi says
    --DBR Talk
    --DBH Chatter
    --DBA Chatter about me
    --GRN Paranoic grumbling

*11 VERSES--PROPERTIES
    In this method we use other verses to find PROPERTIES
    of an object. Take the CHOSHEN GARMENT. We see that
    --it is embroidered from gold, azure,pink (Ex28-15)
    --it is 9 inches by 9 inches (Ex28-16)
    --it is linked by chains and worn on chest(Ex28-25,27)
    Hence Rashi calls the CHOSHEN a GARMENT ORNAMENT or a
    GARMENT TRINKET. Rashi here used the method of REVIEWING
    OTHER VERSES TO FIND PROPERTIES

*12 VERSES--ONE VERSE LINK
    Sometimes just ONE OTHER VERSE will clarify a usage. For
    example, Lv08-09 says HE PLACED THE MITZNEFET on his
    head. Hence, I infer that the MITZNEFET was a HAT.

    In this case I used ONE OTHER VERSE to make an inference.

*13 VERSES - SYNONYM CONFUSION
    In this method I review other verses with a word to dispel
    a common conception of translation. For example many
    English translations translate NHSHAL as TO REMOVE or
    TO FALL. A close examination of verses shows it means TO SLIP
    ---Dt28-40 when your olives SLIP from the tree
    ---Dt18-05 when an ax-head SLIPS from the ax & kills someone