Whats new and hot in this issue?

VERY BRIEF SUMMARY
------------------
One of Rashis tasks is to explain Grammar the same way modern
Grammar textbooks explain grammar. Grammar deals with a variety
of issues including a) verb conjugation, b) sentence structure,
c) plurality, d) special word forms. In this posting Rashi
explains that the AYIM ending refers to objects that
intrinsically come in pairs: Such as
- hands (YaDAYIM)     - Feet (RagLAYIM)    -Hands (CapAYIM)
- Eyes (AyNAYIM)      - Breasts (ShadAYIM) -
We can infer new meanings such as NAHARAYIM (A city between 2
rivers) or SHAMAYIM=a place of multiple THERE(see footnote *10)

--------------------------------------------------------------
TODAYS RASHI RULE                              GRAMMARr
TODAYS RASHI SUBRULE                           SPECIAL ENDINGS
--------------------------------------------------------------

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF RASHI RULE AND SUBRULE
-------------------------------------------
One of Rashis tasks is to explain Grammar the same way modern
Grammar textbooks explain grammar. Grammar deals with a variety
of issues including a) verb conjugation, b) sentence structure,
c) plurality, d) special word forms. In this posting Rashi
explains that the AYIM ending refers to objects that
intrinsically come in pairs: Such as YADAYIM = hands

STANDARD REFERENCE FOR TODAYS RULE
----------------------------------
The RashiYomi grammar page: http://www.Rashiyomi.com/grammar.htm

TODAYS LIST
-----------
We review several examples of Hebrew words for items that are
intrinsically paired (like hands). We then (in the lower half
of the list) review new meanings based on this concept of
pairing.

VERY BRIEF SUMMARY
------------------
There are a variety of words in Hebrew which mean DEATH. One
of these words is the Hebrew root Gimel-Vav-Ayin. Rashi states
that this root is only used with regard to the death of Righteous
people (& Hence since Ishmaels death is described using the word
Gimel-Vav-Ayin it follows that Ishmael is righteous). The list
below presents all occurences of the Root Gimel-Vav-Ayin in the
Bible. As can easily be seen many of these occurences deal with
the death of wicked people. However Rashi can easily be amended:
- When Gimel-Vav-Ayin refers to the death of a SINGLE person
then it will only be used if that person is Righteous.*10

------------------------------------------------------
TODAYS RASHI RULE:    WORD MEANINGS
TODAYS RASHI SUBRULE: SYNONYMS
------------------------------------------------------

BRIED DESCRIPTION OF RULE and SUBRULE
-------------------------------------
One of Rashis 6 main goals was to function like a dictionary
and present the meanings of words. In presenting the meanings
of words, Rashi, could
- explain the meaning of an unknown term
- explain the meaning of an unknown phrase
- unify the disparate meanings of a root
- clarify the nuances of competing synonyms

STANDARD REFERENCES FOR TODAYS RASHI RULE
------------------------------------------
The RashiYomi dictionary: http://www.RashiYomi.com/words.htm
The 6 Rashi rules: http://www.RashiYomi.com/rules-01.htm


TODAYS EXAMPLE
--------------
We present the list of all verses using the Hebrew root
Gimel-Vav-Ayin. Note how GVA can occur by the death of
wicked people. However when GVA refers to the death of
a single individual (2nd half of list)then it always refers
to the death of righteous people

VERY BRIEF SUMMARY
------------------
In Gn16-12 God promises that Ishmael (The Arab people) will be
NOMADIC--they will DWELL all over the place. But in Gn25-18 the
phraseology abruptly changes: We are told that the Arabs DROP
IN all over the place. Gn25-18 was stated after the death of
both Abraham and Ishmael*10. The less respectful term DROP IN
seems to imply that while Abraham & Ishmael lived,Arabs DWELT
(respectfully among everybody); but after Abraham & Ishmaels
death Arabs were less respected (They DROPPED IN vs DWELT)

----------------------------------
TODAYS RASHI RULE:       ALIGNMENT
TODAYS RASHI SUBRULE:    TWO CASES
----------------------------------

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.

A nifty way of explaining the ALIGNED verses is to think
of ALIGNMENT as the vehicle that the Biblical Author uses
to indicate FOOTNOTES. That is, a modern writer might use
FOOTNOTES to indicate details; the Biblical Author instead
used REPEATED ALIGNED VERSES with DIFFERENT DETAILS.

The simplest case of ALIGNMENT is when the differences
CLEARLY and EXPLICITLY show that we are dealing with
two cases each with different details. The STANDARD
example below from the 10 commandments illustrates this

STANDARD EXAMPLE
----------------
Perhaps the simplest example of an alignment revealing
two cases and two laws occurs in the 10 commandments.
Ex01-02:03 states

----------------------------------------------
Ex20-02 you shall NOT HAVE  the gods of others
Ex20-03 you shall NOT MAKE  idols
----------------------------------------------

STUDENT EXERCISES:
------------------
-- What is the SAME in the ALIGNED verses
-- What is DIFFERENT in the ALIGNED verses
-- State the 2 CASES you infer from the aligned differences

RASHIS SOLUTION
---------------
- Both verses begin YOU SHALL NOT. In other words
they are negative prohibitions.

- One verse prohibits HAVING idols while the 2nd verse
prohibits MAKING idols

- THere are 2 separate idolatry prohibitions: MANUFACTURE
(even if you dont keep them) and OWNERSHIP/POSSESION
(even if you dont make them)

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
3 student exercises listed above.

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

TODAYS EXAMPLE
--------------
We bring 3 verses showing how Arabs are nomadic (and dwell
all over the place). The first verse was mentioned during the
lifetime of Abraham and Ishmael and uses he RESPECTFUL term
DWELLING all over the place. The 3rd verse spoken after the
death of both Abraham and Ishmael*10 uses the lest respectful
term DROPPED IN all over the place (denoting NOMADNESS). The
2nd verse seems to show that there were always two types of
Arabs (those that commanded respect and dwelt and those that
DROPPED IN all over the place)

VERY BRIEF SUMMARY
------------------
Recall that the Bible is discussing how Eliezer, Abrahams servant
gave Rivka jewelry gifts (Since he wanted her to marry Abrahams
son, Isaac). Rivka ran to tell her house. Laban, Rivkas brother
also ran out to meet Eliezer. Gn24-28:30 describing Labans meeting
Eliezer is written in a GENERAL-DETAIL-GENERAL style
-- Rivka RAN to her house
-- GENERAL Laban RAN to Eliezer
-- DETAIL  -------------------- When he saw the Jewelry gifts
-- GENERAL Laban CAME to Eliezer
The GENERAL-DETAIL-GENERAL style shows Laban only wanted money

------------------------------------------------------
TODAYS RASHI RULE:       THE RABBI ISHMAEL STYLE RULES
TODAYS RASHI SUBRULE:    GENERAL-DETAIL-GENERAL STYLE
------------------------------------------------------

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF RULE
-------------------------
Some Rashis deal with GRAMMAR or MEANING. But other Rashis
deal with STYLE. The Great Talmudic Sage Rabbi Ishmael,
laid down 3 style rule classes which divide into a dozen
or so rules.

Today we deal with the DETAIL-GENERAL or
GENERAL-DETAIL-GENERAL style. In this style the verse
first states something specifically and then repeats
the requirement generally.

The Rabbi Ishmael Style rules then demand that the
specific details be partially generalized. This requirement
of generalization is not because of grammar or meaning or
even because some word in the verse is extra: Rather, it
is a requirement of style.

STANDARD EXAMPLE
----------------
The simplest example I could find occurs at Ex25-31.

-----------------------------------------------------------
DETAIL-SPECIFIC: Make a Candellabrah of PURE GOLD
GENERAL:         Sculptored shall you make the Candellabrah
-----------------------------------------------------------

STUDENT EXERCISES:
-----------------
-- Can you restate the verse in a simple style without
the SPECIFIC-GENERAL form?

-- How would you apply the Rabbi Ishmael requirement
of partial generalization to the detail in this verse


RASHIS SOLUTION
---------------
(NOTE: This example occurs in the Talmud but is not
brought down by Rashi).

There are at least two ways to state the verse without
the SPECIFIC-GENERAL style:

-- Make a Golden Menorah that is sculptored with all parts
coming from it.

-- Make a menorah that is sculptored with all parts coming
from it.

Both the above sentences are simple. By contrast the Bible
used a 2-sentence approach with one sentence being SPECIFIC
and the other being GENERAL

--- Make a Golden Menorah
--- Make a ------ Menorah Sculptored with all parts coming
from it.

In other words the Bible deliberately used a STYLE of
stating the idea in 2 verses.

The Talmud then explains how the SPECIFIC DETAIL, GOLD,
is PARTIALLY GENERALIZED: The Menorah can be made of
anything SIMILAR TO GOLD--that is ANY METAL. *10 *11

STANDARD REFERENCES FOR THIS RULE
---------------------------------
http://www.Rashiyomi.com/example7.htm

You can also revu the whole Rabbi Ishmael style
series at http://www.RashiYomi.com/ishmael.htm

Finally you can visit the Daily Rashi calendar at
http://www.RashiYomi.com/calendar1.htm The Rabbi Ishmael
series occured during August and September 2000.


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 verses with
the general-specific-general style
and ask the students to perform the
2 student exercises listed above.

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

TODAYS EXAMPLE
--------------
We show the GENERAL-DETAIL-GENERAL style of Gn24-28:30
This style shows that the only reason for LABAN RUNNING/COMING
to Eliezer was because of the Jewelry gifts