`          Whats new and hot in this issue?

VERY BRIEF SUMMARY
------------------
Just as there are rules of MEANING (the dictionary) and rules
of GRAMMAR, so too there are rules of PARAGRAPH DEVELOPMENT. Dr
Leibowitz and her followers emphasized the MEANING-GRAMMAR aspect
of Rashi but not the PARAGRAPH rules. One method of PARAGRAPHING
is to state a topic sentence followed by many EXAMPLES(See the
list below). However the Biblical paragraph Nu13-27:29 uses
a COUNTEREXAMPLE to develop the theme that ISRAEL IS BAD. Rashi
explains that when your topic sentence is false (ISRAEL IS BAD)
it is best to admit some COUNTEREXAMPLES (ISRAEL HAS MILK&HONEY)
since the admission of partial truths makes you more credible.

-------------------------------------------
TODAYS RASHI RULE:    GRAMMAR
TODAYS RASHI SUBRULE: PARAGRAPH DEVELOPMENT
-------------------------------------------

BRIED DESCRIPTION OF RULE and SUBRULE
-------------------------------------
Rashi has 6 main goals. One of them is to explain GRAMMAR.
Most people think of VERB CONJUGATIONS and GENDER AGREEMENT
when you mention GRAMMAR. These are the topics typically
taught in School. But the (beautiful) theory of Paragraph
development is also part of grammar.

Recall that a paragraph has a TOPIC SENTENCE which is
then DEVELOPED. The key to good writing is to skillfully
develop the topic sentence.

One basic method of DEVELOPMENT is to list EXAMPLES of
the topic sentence. See the LIST below for Biblical
paragraphs developed by this method.

SUGGESTED EXERCISES
-------------------
Here are some good exercises for Rabbis, beginners
and school teachers.
-- find some Biblical paragraphs
-- identify the topic sentence
-- identify the method of development

RASHIS SOLUTION
---------------
- Nu13-27:29 is a Biblical paragraph
- The topic sentence is that Israel is bad for conquest
- This theme is developed by using EXAMPLES
- But a counterexample is also presented:Israel has Milk&Honey
- Rashi explains that a counterexample is good development
technique when your topic sentence is false--it enhances
your credibility

STANDARD REFERENCES FOR THIS RULE
---------------------------------
http://www.RashiYomi.com/grammar.htm
The RashiYomi Grammar page

http://www.RashiYomi.com/rules-01.htm
The 6 Rashi goals

TODAYS LIST
-----------
We now list Biblical paragraphs and their method of development

VERY BRIEF SUMMARY
------------------
The root Yud-Resh-Shin has 3 meanings
depending on the grammatical mode
- In the intensive mode YRSH means POOR
- In the Active Mode YRSH means INHERIT
- In the Causative Mode YRSH means to OUST/CONQUER

REFERENCE:
---------
This posting is almost verbatim from posting
http://www.RashiYomi.com/gn45-11a.htm which occured in
http://www.RashiYomi.com/h12n13.htm

Also see
http://www.RashiYomi.Com/h1n11.htm which contains
a previous posting on the root Yud-Resh-Shin. We
include all previous lists in this posting with added material.

When studying grammar it helps to use the Ibn Shoshan
dictionary

-------------------------------------------
TODAYS RASHI RULE:    GRAMMAR
TODAYS RASHI SUBRULE: ROOT MEANING
-------------------------------------------

BRIED DESCRIPTION OF RULE and SUBRULE
-------------------------------------
Rashi has 6 main goals. One of them is to explain Grammar.
Most people know that Hebrew grammar is based on triliteral
ROOTS which can be CONJUGATED in various ways. These roots
can have one or several meanings. Besides teaching conjugation
Rashi will also teach root meaning. Very often even advanced
scholars will only know the basic meaning of a root--Rashi
will then come and show the other meanings.

TODAYS LISTS
------------
We present 2 lists. The 1st list, simply lists the 3 basic
meanings of YRSH with sample verses and illustrative texts.
The 2nd list reviews the Rashis on this word who makes further
nuances. Here is the 1st list.

The 1st list above, simply lists the 3 basic meanings of YRSH
with sample verses and illustrative texts. The 2nd list below
reviews the Rashis on Y-R-Sh who makes further nuances.

VERY BRIEF SUMMARY
------------------
As the list below shows, a traditional prayer on behalf of the
Jews usually involves 2 themes: (a) The merit of the
Patriarchs (b) the wickedness of the current non-jewish
inhabitants. Yes Moses prayer in Nu14-13:20 subtly lacks mention
of the Patriarchs! Rashi suggests a Reason: God in Nu14-12 states
that he WILL KILL THE JEWS AND LET MOSES REPLACE THEM. So Rashi
suggests that God intended to fulfill the promise to the
Patriarchs by letting Moses become a big nation. Since Moses did
not want this he did not mention the merit of the Patriarchs.

----------------------------------------
TODAYS RASHI RULE:       ALIGNMENT
TODAYS RASHI SUBRULE:    FURTHER NUANCES
----------------------------------------

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF RULE
-------------------------
Many Rashis do NOT focus on an internal analysis of the verse.
There may be nothing bothering Rashi in THAT verse. The words
used may all be normal.

But when the given verse is compared with another verse--that
is, when the two verses are ALIGNED together-- we see blatant
differences.

The ALIGNED verses therefore suggest that these ALIGNED
DIFFERENCES were deliberately placed there to emphasize
certain nuances. The standard example will illustrtae this.


STANDARD EXAMPLE
----------------
Recall that the Moabite King BALAK was apprehensive about
Israel journeying throught its territory. It wanted Israel
banished. It hired a professional curse-man, Bilam who would
curse the Jews. Bilam however describes his job SLIGHTLY
differently. Here are the verses.

-----------------------------------------------
BALAK: Nu22-06 I will banish Jews FROM THE LAND
BILAM: Nu22-11 ...... banish Jews -------------
-----------------------------------------------


EXERCISE
--------
To fully appreciate Rashi perform the following 2 exercises
- What is the minor difference between the aligned verses?
- What NUANCE do YOU think this implies?


RASHIS SOLUTION
---------------
BALAK only wanted Jews away from his land; his goals were
political. By contrast, BILAM wanted them DESTROYED. Hence...

BALAK wanted Jews BANISHED FROM THE LAND. But Bilam wanted
them BANISHED PERIOD (That is destroyed).


STANDARD REFERENCES FOR THIS RULE
---------------------------------
http://www.Rashiyomi.com/align-58.htm

This summary may be a bit too terse. You can browse the
57 postings leading up to by going to
http://www.Rashiyomi.com/align-1.htm
http://www.Rashiyomi.com/align-2.htm etc.

Or you can visit the Rashi Yomi Calendar at

http://www.RashiYomi.com/calendar1.htm

This calendar presents a day by day listing of Rashis.
The ALIGNMENT series occurs between 7-28-01 and 10-10-01.


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 present the two aligned
verses and ask the students to perform the
following exercises

-- What are the minor differences between the verses
-- What nuances do they imply

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


TODAYS EXAMPLE
--------------
A beautiful set of 5 paragraphs which lists 2 reasons for
the Jews to inherit Israel
-- Promise to the Patriarchs
-- the present non-jewish inhabitants are evil
Softly, one of these 5 paragraphs is missing an EXPLICIT
reference to the Patriarchs. Rashi in characteristic
fashion milks a nifty nuance from this conspicuous absence.
Here is the list

VERY BRIEF SUMMARY
------------------
Moses in Nu14-17 says
-----------------------------------------------------------
God, Please show the greatness of Your Strength AS YOU SAID
God: Long Suffering, With Much mercy and truth...
-----------------------------------------------------------
The phrase AS YOU SAID cross-references ex34-06
-----------------------------------------------------------
God, God: ........Long Suffering, with much mercy and truth
-----------------------------------------------------------
Rashi simply points out this cross reference.

---------------------------------------
TODAYS RASHI RULE:     OTHER VERSES
TODAYS RASHI SUBRULE:  CITATION
---------------------------------------


BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE RULE and SUBRULE
-----------------------------------------
The rule of OTHER VERSES simply means that Rashi
is explaining one verse by citing an OTHER VERSE

The Bible in several dozen places QUOTES. Thus a verse might
say SUCH AND SUCH WILL HAPPEN AS IT SAYS. The phrase AS IT
SAYS refers to a CITATION from another verse.

Rashis job is to find this other verse and show how the
Bible is citing it.


STANDARD EXAMPLE
----------------
Dt26-18:19 states
------------------------------------------------------------
God will make you a precious nation today AS HE SAID
..and make you a leading nation and a holy nation AS HE SAID
------------------------------------------------------------


EXERCISE:
---------
Before reading Rashi
-- can you find a verse where God promises to make us PRECIOUS
-- can you find a verse where God promises to make us HOLY


RASHIS SOLUTION
---------------
Rashi cites Ex19-05:06
-----------------------------------------------------
If you (The Jews) listen to Me and watch my convenant
...  then you will become a PRECIOUS NATION to Me
...  and you will become to me a HOLY nation
-----------------------------------------------------
Thus the Bible is cross-referencing itself.

COMMENT:If you found this verse by yourself then you produced
2 Rashi comments, just like Rashi. This should inspire you
that with proper study you can become a Torah Scholar LIKE RASHI


STANDARD REFERENCES FOR THIS RULE
---------------------------------
http://www.Rashiyomi.com/other-20.htm

OR
Navigate to the Rashi calendar at
http://www.RashiYomi.com/calendar1.htm

The OTHER series was presented in November of 2000.
You can directly navigate to
http://www.RashiYomi.com/other-1.htm
http://www.Rashiyomi.com/other-2.htm etc


HOW TO USE THESE LISTS FOR SCHOOL PROJECTS
------------------------------------------
You can use the LIST below for school projects.
Here is how, if you are a teacher then you
can present the verse in the first column
(eg Dt26-05) and the CHAPTER (but not the verse)
in the 3rd column---e.g. Gn46.

The student is then instructed to discover
the verse that is cross referenced. The students solution
can then be compared with Rashis. Very often the student
can do as well as Rashi. This inspires confidence in the
students since they see that Rashis commentary emanates
from scholarship, not from authority.

TODAYS LIST
-----------
We augment the CITATION method from the OTHER VERSE list
by adding todays new examples. For further details revu
the URL above.