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Surfing the Talmudic Seas
(C) RashiYomi Incorporated, 2002
Written by Dr Russell Jay Hendel
Volume 15 Number 4
For the WORD QUALITY HTML VERSION click here
-----------------------------------
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Produced Aug 19th, 2002
WARNING: USE FIX WIDTH FONTS (eg COURIER (NEW) 10)
OVERVIEW OF HILIGHTS IN THIS ISSUE |
Whats new and hot in this issue? |
ITEM | WHATS NEW & HOT IN THIS ISSUE |
WORKBOOK | We are embarking on a Rashi Workbook Project*1 |
Peachy Rashi | R-G-A=second, Crack, rest--What unifies these*2 |
Rabbi Spatz | Question on Singular-Plural in Dt24-16 |
| |
COMMENTS |
*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 This posting also shows how to critically analyze
early authoritys and the questions they raise.
|
Rashis covered in this issue |
|
VERSE | RULE | BRIEF DESCRIPTION |
======== | =============== | ======================================= |
Dt26-02a | GRAMMARr | FROM refers to PART of a group |
Ex34-26a | GRAMMARr | FROM refers to PART of a group |
Lv22-07a | GRAMMARr | FROM refers to PART of a group |
Lv01-14a | GRAMMARr | FROM refers to PART of a group |
Dt28-65a | WORD MEANINGS | R-G-Z=tremble;R-G-A=Calm;A-Sh-K=withold |
Dt28-29a | WORD MEANINGS | R-G-Z=tremble;R-G-A=Calm;A-Sh-K=withold |
Dt28-65b | WORD MEANINGS | R-G-Z=tremble;R-G-A=Calm;A-Sh-K=withold |
--------- | ---------------- | --------------------------------------- |
#*#*#*# (C) RashiYomi Inc., 2002, Dr. Hendel, President #*#*#*#*#
VERSE: v080819a
SINGULAR PLURAL |
|
EMAIL ITEM | DETAILS |
FROM-- | Rabbi Yehuda Spatz |
TO-- | rjhendel@juno.com |
SUBJECT-- | Dt24-16 |
DATE-- | Sat, 17 Aug 2002 |
| |
| |
COMMENTS |
QUESTION
-----------
Can you give a satisfying explanation to the singular-plural
shifts in Dt24-16. I know what the commentaries say but I
would like to see some good solid lists of examples. The
capped words below show the singular-plural problem.
----------------------------------------------------
FatherS shall not be executed for their childREN
and childREN shall not be executed for their fatherS
EACH person shall be executed for HIS sin
----------------------------------------------------
LONGER FOOTNOTES |
ANSWER
-------
Yehuda
If you wish to peak ahead the Malbim gives a rather full
and detailed theory on Gn49-28.
While the Malbim, as is his traditional custom, gives many
examples, the rules and lists could use some tightening up
I had been planning to look into this more closely and
will do so at the earliest convenience.
Thanks for asking.
Russell Jay Hendel; Moderator Rashi-is-Simple
| |
#*#*#*# (C) RashiYomi Inc., 2002, Dr. Hendel, President #*#*#*#*#
VERSE: Dt26-02a
RASHIS COVERED: Dt26-02a Ex34-26a Lv22-07a Lv01-14a
FROM INDICATES PART |
RASHIS COVERED: Dt26-02a Ex34-26a FROM indicates PART
Lv22-07a
VERY BRIEF SUMMARY
------------------
One of Rashis 6 main goals is the explanation of grammar. One
part of grammar deals with the usage and meaning of connective
words like FROM. A general guideline is that the word FROM is
usually not necessary and indicates that a rule applies only
to part of a group. The verse pairs below show that indeed the
word FROM is not necessary. For example
- Dt26-02a Take FROM all the first fruit
- Ex24-26a Take -------- the first fruit
Thus not all fruit have a first-fruit requirement. The Bible
does not indicate what is excluded but we infer it from logic.
--------------------------------------------
TODAYS RASHI RULE: GRAMMARr
TODAYS RASHI SUBRULE: CONNECTIVES
--------------------------------------------
STANDARD REFERENCES
-------------------
http://www.Rashiyomi.com/grammar.htm
TODAYS LIST
-----------
We bring 3 alignments showing that the word FROM is not
necessary. This leads to the conclusion that only part of the
group is required. We then logically exclude some subgroup.
We use logic to identify this subgroup.*10 |
VERSE | VERSE PAIRS with/without FROM | RESTRICTS TO |
Dt26-02a | Take FROM ALL the first fruit | Only 7 Fruits*1 |
Ex34-26a | Take ---- --- the first fruit | |
-------- | ---------------------------------------- | --------------- |
Lv01-14a | If you offer FROM the birds | Not wounded *2 |
Lv03-12 | If you offer -------- Goats | |
-------- | ---------------------------------------- | --------------- |
Lv22-07a | after mikveh he can eat FROM holy items | Only terumah*3 |
Lv22-10 | non-priests may not eat ----- holy items | |
Lv22-12 | a priestess may not eat IN-- holy items | |
-------- | ---------------------------------------- | --------------- |
| | |
COMMENTS |
*1 We use the principle of stages:
-- Only certain fruit have first-fruit requirements
-- So it is probably the fruit Israel is praised for
(The 7 fruit types mentioned in Dt08-08)
*2 Only CERTAIN birds can be offered
So we exclude the most obvious type(Damaged birds(Ex22-30))
*3 SOME items can be eaten after going to Mikveh while others
cannot.The foods that priests eat are either TERUMAH or
SACRIFICES From the context we infer that the Torah is
speaking about Terumah since the whole chapter is speaking
about Terumah.
(Indeed it speaks about daughters of priests eating these
holy things and women may eat Terumah but not sacrifices
Nu18-10:11)
LONGER FOOTNOTES |
*10 The Malbim developed this principle, that FROM refers
to PART of a group in great detail. The Malbim also
distinguishes between MIN and M both of which mean FROM.
However while the MALBIMS goals were to explain Talmudic
midrash, my goals, are to justify all rules with
database queries.
At the present time we can justify tha sometimes FROM
refers to PART OF A SUBGROUP. We infer this rule by
the alignments in the list above.
I expect that as more examples appear we will get
closer to MALBIMS formulation (However we will have
the lists to back it up)
| |
RASHI RULE USED: GRAMMARr
#*#*#*# (C) RashiYomi Inc., 2002, Dr. Hendel, President #*#*#*#*#
VERSE: Dt28-65a
RASHIS COVERED: Dt28-65a Dt28-29a Dt28-65b
SOME WORD TRANSLATIONS |
VERY BRIEF SUMMARY:
-------------------
One of Rashis 6 main goals is to explain meaning the same way the
dictionary does. Dictionary explanation, far from being a routine
task, is very often challenging. We present some real peaches of
Rashi here. Rashi explains
-- Ayin-Shin-Kuph doesnt mean to steal--it means WITHOLDING WAGES
-- Resh-Gimel-Zayin refers not so much to anger as TREMBLING
-- Resh-Gimel-Ayin can mean CRACK, SECOND, CALM:
---- In the ACTIVE tense R-G-A means to CRACK TO PARTICLES
---- In the NOUN form R-G-A means a SECOND--a PARTICLE of time
---- In the PASSIVE tense R-G-A means to REST--GIVE-ME-A-SECOND
---------------------------------------------------------------
TODAYS RASHI RULE: WORD MEANINGS
TODAYS RASHI SUBRULE: UNIFIED MEANING
---------------------------------------------------------------
STANDARD REFERENCES FOR THIS RULE
---------------------------------
http://www.RashiYomi.com/words.htm The RashiYomi dictionary
TODAYS LISTS
------------
We present below 6 lists
-- 2 Lists explain that A-Sh-K means to WITHOLD
----- one list derives this from verses with A-Sh-K
----- another list derives this a second way
-- 1 list derives RGZ=TREMBLE from several verses with RGZ
-- 2 lists derive the 4 meanings of R-G-A
----- one lists verses with R-G-As 4 meanings
----- a second list gives meaning by tense & unifies them
The last 2 lists also shows a beautiful analysis of some
questions raised by the RADACK
HOW TO USE THESE LISTS FOR SCHOOL PROJECTS
------------------------------------------
You can use the LISTS below for school projects.
Here is how, if you are a teacher then you can
present an unknown word like AShK, RGZ etc and ask students
-- to find comparable verses with this word
-- infer the PRECISE nuances of the word
In doing this exercise the challenge is to be precise.
Thus most students can see that A-Sh-K means to STEAL
but can they find out that it means STEALING by WITHOLDING
WAGES. Similarly most students can find that R-G-Z means
to get ANGRY but can they find that RGZ means to get so
angry that a person TREMBLES.
Similarly if a word like R-G-A has several meanings
then you can ask students to
-- list all meanings of the word with supporting verses
-- attempt to find a unifying theme.
The students solution can then be compared with Rashis.
This leads to greater appreciation & insight into Rashi
Here is the first list---verses showing that A-Sh-K means
to WITHOLD WAGES*1 |
VERSE | TEXT |
Mal3-5 | Those who WITHOLD the wages of laborers, orphans.. |
5-2-14 | Do not WITHOLD the wages of poor laborers |
Jer7-6 | Do not WITHOLD the alien, orphan and widow |
Jer50-33 | The Jews are WITHELD--their captives hold them |
Job40-33 | He(Leviathan) WITHOLDS the river (waters) |
| |
COMMENTS |
*1 Hence on Dt28-29a which states
--------------------------------------
You will be WITHELD every day
--------------------------------------
Rashi states
------------------------------------
You will be the subject of many lawsuits
------------------------------------
This clicks right since WITHOLDING vs STEALING
has a connotation of lawsuits.
|
A-Sh-K means WITHOLD |
In this second list Rashi derives the meaning of
A-Sh-K from Lv05-21b which describes 5 stages of theft
See http://www.Rashiyomi.com/lv05-21b.htm for further
details |
ORDER IN VERSE | TYPE OF THEFT |
1) | Denial of a DEPOSITED OBJECT*1 |
2) | Denial of a LOANS & INVESTORSHIPS*1 |
3) | Denial of THEFT *2 |
4) | Denial of WITHOLDING WAGES (A-Sh-K)*3 |
5) | Denial of FINDING A LOSS OBJECT*4 |
| |
*1 In both DEPOSIT | S/LOANS there is giving an object |
-- DEPOSITS req | uire return of the OBJECT |
-- LOANS requir | e return of the VALUE |
| |
*2 - In THEFT the | object was never given to you |
- In DEPOSITS/L | OANS the object was originally given to you |
| |
*3 - In WITHOLDING | WAGES no object is kept against owners wil |
- in THEFT,DEPO | SITS,LOANS objects are kept against owners |
| |
*4 - With a LOSS O | BJECT you dont know the owner |
- with thefts/w | itholding/loans/deposits you know the owner |
R-G-Z means to TREMBLE |
In the list below we present 5 verses where R-G-Z clearly
means TO TREMBLE. It also can mean ANGER and refers to ANGER
where the person TREMBLES. |
VERSE | TEXT OF VERSE with R-G-Z translated as TREMBLE |
Job09-06 | who makes the earth TREMBLE..her foundations shake |
2Sm22-08 | there were earthQUAKES...the foundations of heaven TREMBLED |
Isa05-25 | ..God is angry..he smites...the mountains TREMBLE |
Isa13-13 | I will make heaven TREMBLE & the earth QUAKE |
Ps77-19 | ROLLING thunder, lightning FLASHES,TREMBLING/QUAKING earth |
R-G-A has 4 Meanings |
In this list we present the 4 meanings of RGA.
Each meaning is accompanied by verses illustrating
the usage.
These meanings are also presented by RADACK in his
book BIBLICAL ROOTS.*10 |
VERSE | MEANING | TEXT OF VERSE |
Isa54-08 | SECOND | I hid a SECOND & will return ETERNALY |
Nu16-21 | SECOND | I will destroy them in a SECOND |
Nu17-10 | SECOND | destroy them in a SECOND |
-------- | ------ | --------------------------------------- |
Dt28-65a | REST | you will not have REST |
Is28-12 | REST | This is the REST..this is the REST |
Is34-14 | REST | LILITH finds REST and REST there |
Jer51-15 | CALM*10 | CALM DOWN & be silent |
-------- | ------ | --------------------------------------- |
Isa51-15 | CRACKS | Who CRACKS the sea and its waves shudder |
Job26-12 | CRACKS | Who CRACKS the sea |
Job07-05 | CRACKS | My Skin CRACKS |
-------- | ------ | --------------------------------------- |
| | |
COMMENTS |
LONGER FOOTNOTES |
*10 Radack does not distinguish between the PASSIVE
and CAUSATIVE tense--he claims they both mean
REST. I distinguish slightly between them claiming
that one means a STATE OF REST while the other
refers to CALMING down. (See the next list below
for further details).
Radack also brings several other verses which might
belong to either the REST or CRACK meaning. Thus
Jer49-19 could either be translated as
--for the lion CRACKS the enemy..who can withstand
--for the lion finds a RESTPLACE--who can withstand
One of the great joys in reading Rishonim is finding
odd problems like this and solving them.
In this case what I have done is added one small
component to the Radack...the component of Grammatical
tense. I show in the next list that each tense
has a specific meaning. I also show how each meaning
falls under a unified meaning.
Using this correspondence--between grammatical mode
and meaning--we can settle the questions the Radack
presents: Our discovery is that each word obeys
the unique meaning associated with that Grammatical
mode.
| |
R-G-A: 4 Meanings |
We present here the 4 meanings of R-G-A
We also show the relationship between each meaning &
grammatical mode.
I think these relationships are clear since the
English metaphors are clear. |
TENSE | MEANING | RELATION TO PARTICLE/SECOND |
Active | BREAK UP | CRACK to particles |
Noun | SECOND | a particle of time |
Causative*1 | Be Not Rushed | A WAIT-A-SECOND atmosphere |
PASSIVE*1 | Calm down | Wait-a-second before proceeding |
| | |
COMMENTS |
*1 Thus in the PASSIVE TENSE I passively receive the
WAIT-A-SECOND atmoshphere
Similarly in the CAUSATIVE Tense I cause other
people--bosses, family, friends-- to WAIT-A-SECOND
before doing what they ask. Thus the CAUSATIVE tense
does not refer so much to ME calming down as it refers
to a WAIT-A-SECOND atmosphere.
|
RASHI RULE USED: WORD MEANINGS
#*#*#*# (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 #*#*#*#*#