*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.

*1 This phrase is the same in both verses

*2 Rashi is Simple
   - Jacob whose brothers came from ONE MOTHER was blessed that
     the brothers from his MOTHER should bow to him

   - By contrast, Judah, whose brothers came from multiple wives
     of the same father was blessed that the brothers of his
     FATHER should bow to him *10

*10 I think, Rashis like this prove that Rashis main function
    and purpose was to be a Masorite not a commentator: That is
    Rashi was not concerned with Biblical commentary: Rather,
    Rashi was concerned with preserving the Biblical text--the
    same goal as the Masorites. Rashi however introduced into
    preserving the Biblical text the idea of using humorous,
    punchy or insightful commentaries to help preserve
    distinctions.

    In the case at hand, Rashis comment helps alert a Biblical
    reader to the fact that a text that does not have this
    MOTHER-FATHER distinction is corrupt.

*1 Thus "whoever see the humiliating Adulterous wife rite"
   will be so shocked that he will abstain from wine

   Similarly "Judah advised his brothers to sell Joseph"
   and so when they regretted it they blaimed him and he
   had to "separate from them."

   Similarly "Sarah died" from the shock that "Abraham
   offered Isaac."

*2 In other words because the snake saw Adam and Eve naked
   therefore he became Jealous and wanted Adam killed so
   he could marry Eve.

   ALthough this sounds a bit wild there is strong supporting
   evidence. Gn04-01 uses the past perfect form
        "And Adam HAD BEEN FAMILIAR with his wife & they had
        a child"
   So the sequence of chapters is
        "Adam was lonely"
        "God makes Eve"
        "Adam and Eve are naked"
        ------------------------"Snake tempts Eve"
        "Adam has a child with Eve"
   Thus the sequence of chapters (Naked--->child) is
   clearly interrupted by the Snake story.

*3 To be technical here are the verses:
   - Gn26-34:35 Esauv takes bad wives which annoy Isaac
   - Gn27-01 Isaac is old and WEAK in sight

   And here are the inferences:
   - The first chapter (ANNOYING WIVES) caused
     the 2nd chapter (EYE WEAKNESS)
   - Rashi discusses the TYPES of EYE WEAKNESS
   --- Maybe the wives worshipped idols and the incense
       made Isaacs physical sight weak OR
   --- More realistically maybe, because they were his
       daughter-in-laws,Isaacs prophetic VISION became
       weak (so he overlooked their flaws)

   This second interpretation (that his prophetic vision
   became weak) is supported by two OTHER VERSES
   -- All of Gn27 deals with how Isaac JUDGED PEOPLE BY
      APPEARANCES not CONTENT. e.g. the Stinging verse

      ------------------------------------------
      But Isaac did not recognize Jacob [merely]
      because his hands were hairy !!(Gn27-23)
      ------------------------------------------

   -- The Bible explicitly states that Isaac identified
      Canaanite wives as of POOR CHARACTER(See Gn27-46
      and Gn28-01:09)

   Thus paradoxically in this case, the interpretation of
   EYE WEAKNESS as LACK OF PROPHETIC INSIGHT seems to be
   the SIMPLE MEANING of the text.

*1 In the merit of our following "Judicial process" we will
   be able to "win wars"

   Similarly after Miryams death there was no water. Thus
   we have that in the merit of "Miryam" the Jews had water


*2 Again a close examination of the BIblical text shows a
   past perfect

        "And God punished Avimelech and his household"
        "And Abraham prayed for Avimelech & his household"
        "But God HAD ALREADY VISITED Sarah with a child"

   In other words Sarah had already had a child.
   The Bible deliberately juxtaposes "sarah having a child"
   with "Abraham praying for Avimelechs household to have a
   child" to teach us
        "That whoever is a kind person and
        prays for others will have their own
        needs met first"

*3 Amalek decided that the death of a righteous person
   would demoralize the people and make winning a war easier

*4 The idea is that one should not seek a wife for ones son
   while one has needs as that makes one vulnerable. People
   who are interested in the son might pressure Abraham to
   marry him for his needs. Therefore the verse emphasizes
   that Abraham had all he needed--he was THEREFORE free to
   select a wife for his son that was compatable with him.*10

*10 Rashi emphasizes the Gematria that BACOL (ALL) equals SON
    It is of course rediculous to assume that Rashi derived
    meaning from such numerical associations (Since there would
    be no consistency in such derivations).

    Rather uses the GEMATRIA, ALL-SON, to emphasize the link
    that only after ones own needs are satisfied should one seek
    a wife for ones son.

    Thus the real derivation comes from the grammatical rule
    of consecutive paragraphs; the gematria is simply a mnemonic

    We have explained other gematrias in Rashi similarly and
    have cited respectable authorities to support our thesis.

*1 On a superficial level Rashi seems to be connecting 2
   verses.

   Avoid idolatry DESPITE your being a slave to a non jew
   (who encourages its violation). Do not think "I will
   worship idols now and when I am free I will go
   back to believing in God" See *10 for a deeper reason

*2 Dt28 gives a long list of curses if the Jews violate
   the commandments.

   Dt29-12 says "You are all STANDING before God today" In
   other words despite the curses for disobediance you are
   still here before God(The implication being that no
   matter how angry God gets he will not destroy you)

   A further support for this theme can come from the
   General-particular-General form

        Dt28    GENERAL:    Curses for disobediance
        Dt29-12 PARTICULAR: You are standing here before God
        Dt29-19 GENERAL:    Curses for disobediance

  Thus the General-Particular-General form shows that Gods
  curses still allow us to "Stand before him"--in other
  words they are educative curses not punitive.


*3 In other words (always) "Observe the Sabbaths"
   DESPITE a request to the contrary "By your parents"

   This can happen if eg your parents ask you to
   desecrate the Sabbath.  You must observe the
   Sabbath even if your parents request to
   the contrary.

   And this can be generalized to all Torah laws(that
   they take precedence over your parents request)


*4 Wear Tzitzith DESPITE the fact that they may have Shaatnez
   Wool and linen together (In the priestly garments made of
   Linen the Tzitzith were made of wool--thus the commandment
   of Tzitzith OVERRIDES the prohibtion of wearing wool and
   linen)

*5 Actually the two verses state as follows
   ----------------------------------------------------------
   We then moved to PEOR [where the Jews sinned with harlots]

   But now Jews [simply] listen to the statutes & commandments
   that I give you this day in order that you shall live
   -----------------------------------------------------------

   Rashi emphasizes that these two verses are linked by contrast
   -----------------------------------------------------
   DESPITE your sins in Peor
   NEVERTHELESS if you simply do Gods word then you will
   earn eternal life
   ------------------------------------------------------

*6 Here is the full Biblical text
   ------------------------------------------------
   Gn23-09 (ABRAHAM) I will pay for a burial plot, full price
   Gn23-11 (EPHRON) NO [No need to pay]
   Gn23-11 (EPHRON) [It is as if] I have given you a gift[Free]
   ------------------------------------------------------------

   There are many ways to explain Rashi: e.g. Rashi explains
   that the word NO means NO-YOU NEED NOT PAY. Similarly
   Rashi explains that the Biblical phrase I HAVE GIVEN YOU
   THE FIELD means IT IS AS IF I HAVE GIVEN YOU THE FIELD

   These explanations are in fact indicated by the filled in
   bracketed phrases [].

   However the primary emphasis in Rashi is that Rashi fills in
   these phrases IN ORDER TO MAKE THE CONSECUTIVE SENTENCES
   FLOW SMOOTHLY. This appears to be the best way to approach
   this Rashi.

*10

   On a profound level Rashi sees a unifying theme to this
   whole chapter. The chapter encourages observing the
   shimitah laws which encourage abstaining from agriculture
   once every 7 years so that people can devote themselves
   to God and study. If one violates these laws he is
   progressively punished. Here is the sequence of
   punishments

   {LIST} {Paragraphs in BEHAR}
   -------------------------------------------------------
   VERSE        LAW
   -----------  ------------------------------------------
   Lv25-01:12   Observe the 7 and 50 year Land sabbaticals
   Lv25-13:24   If not you will have to sell your MOVABLES
   Lv25-25:28   If not you will have to sell your LAND
   Lv25-29:34   If not you will have to sell your HOUSE
   Lv25-35:38   If not you will have to           LOAN
   Lv25-39:46   If not you will have to become a  SLAVE
   Lv25-47:54   If not you'll become a  NONJEWISH SLAVE
   Lv26-01:03   If not you'll be tempted to    IDOLATRY
   -------------------------------------------------------


   Thus Rashi does not merely teach juxtaposition of verses
   but he also teaches juxtaposition of ALL paragraphs in
   the chapter. As such this example would belong to the
   next category

*1 Rashi only comments on these paragraphs. But clearly
   the unifying theme of Moses departing applies to all

*1 The Grammatical form Ye-Moos-SHAY-ni is rare
   Moshe Silvermans Grammatical Konkordance gives
   this as form 1805 with only 2 examples
   --------------------
   Ps139-13 TeSooKayNi
   Gn27-12  YeMooShayNi
   --------------------