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               (C) RashiYomi Incorporated, 2002
               Written by Dr Russell Jay Hendel

                     Volume 14 Number 6
          For the WORD QUALITY HTML VERSION click here
               -----------------------------------
               http://www.Rashiyomi.com/h14n6.htm

                     Produced May 29th, 2002

       WARNING: USE FIX WIDTH FONTS (eg COURIER (NEW) 10)

`          Whats new and hot in this issue?

*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.

#*#*#*# (C) RashiYomi Inc., 2002, Dr. Hendel, President #*#*#*#*#

VERSE: Nu08-06a

RASHIS COVERED: Nu08-06a Nu16-01b Gn02-15a Gn16-03a Ex14-06b
                Lv08-02b Nu11-16c Dt01-15a Nu27-18a Nu27-22a

VERY BRIEF SUMMARY
------------------
The Hebrew root Lamed-kaph-Cheth means TO TAKE. As in English,
TO TAKE can mean to be TAKEN IN--that is, it can refer to SMOOTH
TALK.  Examples of this usage--TAKE=SMOOTH TALK--occur in Pr07-21
--the prostitute made him deviate thru HER SMOOTH TALK. Similarly
Pr04-02 states that God gave us the Torah, which consist of GOOD
SLICK SAYINGS. In general TO TAKE has 2 primary meanings: It can
mean to PHYSICALLY TAKE--booty, tongs--or it can mean to TAKE
NON-PHYSICALLY--death(the taking of the soul), seduction, market,
to buy. It can similarly refer to non-physical transfers--to join
a group(get taken in) or to appoint(Taken to a new position)

------------------------------------------------------
TODAYS RASHI RULE:    WORD MEANINGS
TODAYS RASHI SUBRULE: UNIFIED MEANING
------------------------------------------------------

BRIED DESCRIPTION OF RULE and SUBRULE
-------------------------------------
One of Rashis 6 main goals was to function like a dictionary
and present the meanings of words. Very often a given Hebrew
root can have a dozen or so meanings. Rashis job was to point
to unifying themes. This unifying theme does not contradict
the particular nuances of each meaning and enriches our
understaning of it.

STANDARD EXAMPLE
----------------
A useful way of understanding these Rashis was outlined in
my article PSHAT & DRASH--Tradition, Winter 1980 in which I
suggest finding semantic models or analogies in other
languages.

Consider the word TAKE in ENGLISH. TAKE can mean to
- PHYSICALLY TAKE
- BE SEDUCED/FOOLED (Get TAKEN IN)
- STEAL (Make a TAKE)

Such a rich variety of meanings in English helps us appreciate
a similar rich variety in Hebrew. For indeed Rashi explains
that the Hebrew root Lamed-Kaph-Cheth means TO TAKE, TO MARKET,
TO MAKE SMOOTH TALK, TO BUY, TO DIE, TO GET BOOTY etc. Thus
the English and Hebrew metaphors are the same.

AN IMPORTANT RASHI TECHNIQUE
----------------------------
Before proceeding we present an important principle in Rashi.
Nu16-01 says that
-------------------------------------
KORACH TOOK, WITH DATAN & AVIRAM
-------------------------------------
Rashi presents 2 interpretations
----------------------------------------------------
KORACH appointed HIMSELF ALONG WITH DATAN AND AVIRAM
----------------------------------------------------
or
------------------------------------------------------------
KORACH marketed HIMSELF TO THE CONGRESS AS MOSES REPLACEMENT
------------------------------------------------------------

Notice the Rashi technique that I used
-----------------------------------------------------
I translated Rashi using similar metahpors in English
-----------------------------------------------------

In other words Rashi literally says
--------------------------------------------------
KORACH took himself to one side against the nation
--------------------------------------------------
but I translated this using a similar metaphor in English
------------------------
KORACH appointed himself
------------------------

Similarly Rashi literally says
-----------------------------------------------------
KORACH USED slick talk to invite Congress to join him
-----------------------------------------------------
while I translated this using an English metaphor
---------------------------------------
KORACH marketed HIMSELF TO THE CONGRESS
---------------------------------------

In both cases
- I did NOT translate the verse using the verb TAKE
- I rather translated it using an English word(MARKET,APPOINT)
that can metaphorically be referred to by the English word TAKE
This technique, of finding good semantic analogies in other
languages was the technique I advocated in my Tradition article.

HOW TO USE THESE LISTS FOR SCHOOL PROJECTS
------------------------------------------
You can use the LISTS referenced below for
school projects. Here is how. If you are a
teacher then you can present
-- the root invovled--LAMED-KAPH-CHETH=TAKE
-- The meanings suggested by Rashi--WIN OVER, MAKE HIMSELF LEADER

You can then ask the students to perform the
following 4 exercises
-- try and find non-standard meanings of the English word(TAKE)
-- try and find English analogies that have these other meanings
(So e.g. MARKET means to TAKE IN/WIN OVER)
-- use the Konkordance or a CD Rom to find other verses where
these non-standard meanings occur.
-- Try and suggest a punchy nifty interpretation of the verse
that captures Rashis idea (Eg Korach Marketed himself...or
Korach used Smooth talk to attempt to win over support)
Such lists and analogies help make Rashi more palatable and
believable. Rashi will no longer FEEL FORCED since the identical
metaphors exist in English.

Thus the above method is also a way for dealing with forced
Rashis.

TODAYS LISTS
------------
We present 3 lists
-- we present a list of verses/Rashis where TAKE=APPOINT/JOIN
-- We present ALL 10 meanings of TAKE with supporting verses
-- We present a SUMMARY: The 2 main meanings (PHYSICALLY TAKE
and NON-PHYSICALLY TAKE) with their derivative meanings.

STANDARD REFERENCES FOR THIS RULE
---------------------------------
http://www.Rashiyomi.com/word.htm contains Rashis on
the dictionary. This fundamental page is updated from time
to time. Several techniques for meaning are illustrated
on this page. The particular technique used today is called
UNIFIED MEANING. This is indicated by a letter  c  in
the ClickMe column.

PSHAT AND DERASH: A NEW INTUITIVE SPONTANEOUS APPROACH,
Tradition, Winter 1980. This fundamental article introduced
the idea of translating Rashi using analogies.

Here is the first list: Verses/Rashis where TAKE means
SMOOTH TALK, JOIN or APPOINT.

*1 Note the difference between
   ---------------------------------
   Korach APPOINTED himself
   ---------------------------------
   vs
   -----------------------------
   Korach MARKETED himself
   -----------------------------

   MARKET has nuances of BOTH appointment and smooth
   talk which are two meanings of the Hebrew root
   Lamed-kaph-Cheth. Hence we prefer the translation
   MARKET vs APPOINT.

*10 Many commentaries focus on the grammar of this verse.
   KORACH TOOK. The verb TAKE is transitive but in this
   verse there is no mention of WHAT IS TAKEN.

   Such an approach DOES PROVE that the translation TAKE
   is invalid. But, in and of itself, it does not justify
   what other meaning to use.

   However a DICTIONARY APPROACH can be just as revealing
   One can simply point out that the Hebrew root L-K-X
   can EQUALLY mean to PHYSICALLY TAKE or to MARKET/TALK INTO

   Such an approach, though not as forceful as the grammatical
   approach has merit since it appeals to known meanings and
   usages.

Here is a list of verses with the 10
meanings of the word TAKE.
The various types of TAKES---physically, socially(buy)--
are listed.

*1 The HITPAEL or INTERACTIVE tense of TAKE means OSCILLATING
   Recall one of the meanings of TAKE is to BUY. The give
   and take motions of markets looks like the to and from
   motion of oscillation.

*2 Cf The same usage in 2Sam4-6 and Prv31-16

*3 Cf Gn30-15. Leah complains that Rachel TOOK(=seduced) her
   husband with the love flowers.

*4 Radack brings a cute and beautiful controversy on Jos9-14
   Recall that Givonites were afraid of the Jewish conquests.
   So they disguised themselves; they claimed they came from
   far away. The Jews were convinced and made a treaty.
   The Bible states that
   ----------------------------
   The Jews TOOK of their bread
   ----------------------------

   - Radack claims that they ate bread as part of the treaty!

   - Rav Yonah claims that the Jews were TAKEN IN by the
   stale bread and believed the disguise.

   Whom do you think is right?

Here is a summary of the MAIN and SUBSIDIARY meanings of
the Hebrew root Lamed-Kaph-Cheth which means to TAKE
Verses for these usages occur in the lists above.

*1 BOOTY are items taken BY FORCE

*2 TONGS are items taken FROM A DANGEROUS PLACE (Fire)

*3 Actually the UNDERTONGUE--a UTENSIL used for TAKING

*4 OSCILLATION looks like a TO and FROM motion--that is
   it is the MOTION of taking

*5 The taking of the SOUL

*6 The seductress TAKES IN the person (Same metaphor in English)

*7 To BUY is to TAKE into your domain (not exactly the same
   as physical transfer)

*8 TO JOIN a group is to get ACCEPTED or TAKEN IN by the group
   Again this TAKE denotes TRANSFER but not PHYSICAL MOTION

*9 This includes all verses where Lamed-Kaph-Cheth means
   SMOOTH TALK. Again, in English we have the metaphor of
   BEING TAKEN IN BY SMOOTH TALK

*10 To APPOINT somebody is to TAKE them from one social
    POSITION to another POSITION.

RASHI RULE USED: UNIFIED MEANING

#*#*#*# (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 #*#*#*#*#