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

                     Volume 16 Number 2
          For the WORD QUALITY HTML VERSION click here
               -----------------------------------
               http://www.Rashiyomi.com/h16n2.htm

                     Produced Nov 14, 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: Gn30-01c

RASHIS COVERED: Dt24-06c Ex21-28a Ex21-17a Ex22-21a Ex22-30b
        Dt22-23a Dt23-11a Dt13-07f Dt15-19b Dt25-04a
        Dt24-06c Gn30-01c

VERY BRIEF SUMMARY
------------------
In Gn30-01c, Rachel states
- Give me children for if not it is as if I am dead
The Rabbi Ishmael Style rules require us to GENERALIZE this
EXAMPLE--not only would the matriarch Rachel be considered dead
without children, but any woman without children is considered
dead.

------------------------------------------------------
TODAYS RASHI RULE:       THE RABBI ISHMAEL STYLE RULES
TODAYS RASHI SUBRULE:    GENERALIZATION
------------------------------------------------------

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF RULE AND SUBRULE
-------------------------------------
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 GENERALIZATION style. This
style applies to ANY SIMPLY STATED SENTENCE.

The Rabbi Ishmael Style rules then demand that the verse
be interpreted BROADLY as applying to ANY SIMILAR CASE.
This requirement of BROAD interpretation 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 Dt25-04
---------------------
Dont MUZZLE
an OX
while it is THRESHING
----------------------

STUDENT EXERCISES:
-----------------
-- Suppose you didnt want to interpert the verse BROADLY?
How could you interpret the verse STRICTLY? (The answer to
this question facilitates understanding what not to do)

-- How would you apply the Rabbi Ishmael requirement
of BROAD INTERPRETATION to Dt25-04. More specifically
attempt to generalize each CAPPED WORD.


RASHIS SOLUTION
---------------
-- If I interpreted the verse STRICTLY then it would
ONLY be prohibited to MUZZLE an OX while it is
THRESHING

-- The BROAD interpretation prohibits
---- Not just MUZZLING but ANY inteference with eating
---- not just to an OX but to ANY working animal
---- not just while THRESHING but while doing ANY animal work

STANDARD REFERENCES FOR THIS RULE
---------------------------------
http://www.Rashiyomi.com/example3.htm
http://www.Rashiyomi.com/ex21-17a.htm

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

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

Finally we cite Rashi on Pesachim Folio 6 who explicitly
states that ALL simply stated Biblical verses should
be GENERALIZED.


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 BROAD-GENERALIZATION 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 LIST
--------------
Please find below examples of verses in the GENERALIZATOIN
form taken from http://www.Rashiyomi.com/example3.htm.
The GENERAL term is CAPPED in the 2nd column---the BROAD
INTERPRETATION of this general term is presented in the
3rd column.  The new example today is presented on bottom.

*1 The verse states
   -----------------------------------------------------------
   if you find a diseased animal in the FIELD it is not Kosher
   -----------------------------------------------------------

   We generalize this as follows
   -----------------------------------------------------------
   If you find a diseased animal ANY PLACE it is not Kosher
   -----------------------------------------------------------

   We can view this as a GENERALIZATION. We can also view this
   as
   -------------------------------------------------------
   The Torah uses common frequent examples to illustrate laws
   without necessarily making the law more restrictive
   -------------------------------------------------------

   Thus in this case MOST diseased animals are found in the
   field but the law applies any place.

*2 The full verse states
   ----------------------------------------------------------
   If a man rape an engaged woman in a city they are both put
   to death--the man because he committed adultery and the
   woman because she could have screamed/protested but didnt
   ----------------------------------------------------------

   Again...cities are TYPICAL places where SCREAMS of rapists
   would not go unnoticed. But the law applys any place.

*3 The actual verse states
   -------------------------------
   dont work with 1st born oxen
   dont share 1st born sheep
   -------------------------------

   But this prohibition generalizes to prohibit
   WORKING with any first born
   and SHARING any 1st born.

   Again the Bible simply took typical examples.

*4 As indicated above we generalize 3 things
   - ANY ANIMAL (not just ox)
   - ANY INTEFERENCE with eating (not just muzzling)
   - WHILE DOING ITS TYPICAL ANIMAL WORK(Not just threshing)

*5 This is consistent with the end of the verse
   --------------------------------------------------
   dont take grindstones as collateral
   BECAUSE YOU ARE TAKING THE SOUL AS COLLATERAL
   --------------------------------------------------

   In other words since the utensils help in preparation
   of food it is as if you are taking the persons life as
   collateral.

   As can be seen from the list the main derivation is
   from the fact of generalization and independent of
   extra phrases.

RASHI RULE USED: EXAMPLE3


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

VERSE: Gn30-02a

RASHIS COVERED: Gn30-02a Gn30-34a Gn30-33a Gn30-32d
                Gn30-32a Gn30-32b Gn30-32c

VERY BRIEF SUMMARY
------------------
One of Rashis 6 main goals is to explain the meaning of words
the same way a dictionary does. In doing this Rashi employs a
variety of techniques. In this posting we review 3 techniques:
--WORD MEANING BY FORM--a PATCHED object looks like DEW on GROUND
--SYNONYMS --Rashi selects between contradictory meanings of word
--ROOT+ PREPOSITION - the preposition following a root can change
its nuances. Using the above we have that
-- DOTTED, DEWED, BURNT refers to sheep with (Small) DOTS, (Big)
PATCHS (Like Dew), a REDDISH-BROWN burnt color
-- ANSWER IN means TESTIFY or PROVE. Other words are below

----------------------------------------------------
TODAYS RASHI RULE                  WORD MEANINGS
TODAYS RASHI SUBRULE               NAMING TECHNIQUES
----------------------------------------------------

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF RULE
-------------------------
One of Rashis 6 main goals is to explain the meaning of words
the same way a dictionary does. Words can be named by any of
8 techniques (Eg PENTAGON names an object by its shape while
United Nations names an object by its FUNCTION). Similarly
there are 13 methods of inference of word meaning: These
include for example SYNONYMS in which Rashi explores either
SIMILAR meanings to DISSIMILAR roots or DISSIMILAR meanings
to SIMILAR/IDENTICAL roots. They also include seeing
special nuances in ROOT+PREPOSITION connections.

REFERENCES FOR TODAYS RULE
--------------------------
8 methods of naming:     http://www.RashiYomi.com/naming-8.htm
13 methods of inference: http://www.RashiYomi.com/means-32.htm
Rashi dictionary:        http://www.Rashiyomi.com/words.htm
6 Rashi goals            http://www.Rashiyomi.com/rules-01.htm

TODAYS LISTS
------------
We present 4 lists illustrating various techniques.
In this first list we illustrate naming objects by
their FORM or APPEARANCE. Hence DOTTED, DEWED, and BURNT sheep
refer to sheep that appear DOTTED,FLAKED or REDDISH-BLACK

*1 Both Rashi and Radack explain that DEWED sheep refers to
   sheep with bigger freckles.

   Note that this identification of FRECKLES with the
   APPEARANCE of DEW is consistent other meanings of
   the root Dew--for example in Jos09-08, DEWED means
   PATCHES

*2 Rashi says that CHUM means LIKE RED while Radack says
   that CHUM means BLACK.

   We need NOT see this as a controversy. After all they
   both agree that CHUM means burnt. The color or APPEARANCE
   of burnt objects is either RED, BROWN or BLACK.

   Hence Rashis, LIKE RED and Radacks BLACK could reflect
   a common idea of LOOKING BURNT.

   In fact traditional races living in the hot climates
   of our planet have EITHER Red or Black skin.

   Thus I think the best approach is to translate CHUM
   as BURNT LOOKING--this would refer to Sheep with
   dark color (not traditional white) and hence their
   wool would not market well. Hence Jacob hoped Laban
   would consent to letting him have these sheep as wages

The root Hay-Nun has 4 meanings--
- AFFIRM
- HERE
- NOW
- THEM
When Laban said
-  H-N
To Jacobs proposal of DOTTED,FLAKED and BLACK sheep it could
mean

- HERE--you can have DOTTED, FLAKED & BLACK sheep

So Laban would not take the current DOTTED,FLAKED and BLACK
but would give Jacob ALL Dotted, FLAKED and BLACK sheep

or it could mean

- AFFIRMED--I will take the CURRENT dotted, flaked and black
and you can have the rest.

Thus the two interpretations contradict each other.
Hence Rashi had to clarify which translation is used. This
inference comes from context.

Here are the 4 meanings of HAYN

*10 Technically SYNONYMS refer to DISSIMILAR roots with
    SIMILAR meanings while here we are talking about
    DISSIMILAR meanings to the same ROOT. But the idea of
    Rashi commenting on a simultaneous SIMILARLITY and
    DISSIMILARITY is the driving force and hence I have
    lumped together SYNONYMS and HONONYMS

The root Tauv-Chet-Tauv can mean
- REPLACE
- BOTTOM
- UNDERNEATH
- BECAUSE
- PLACE

Hence Gn30-02 can be interpreted in two ways
- Am I, Jacob, UNDERNEATH God
- Am I, Jacob, a REPLACEMENT of God who can give you children

Because the translation UNDERNEATH is more respectful
Rashi had to clarify that the 2nd meaning, REPLACEMENT, was
intended, Rashi came to this conclusion because of the context

In this list we explore meaning based on ROOT+ PREPOSITION.

The ordinary meaning of Ayin-Nun-Hey is TO ANSWER.

The Hebrew root Ayin-Nun-Hey when followed by the preposition
BETH (in) means TESTIMONY and PROOF (Radack ROOTS).

*1 Jacobs suggested deal was to take only sheep that were
   - dotted
   - flaked
   - black
   Jacob further offered Laban to remove the ALREADY dotted,
   flaked and black sheep (So that Jacob couldnt get the
   offspring of these sheep)(Rashi Gn30-32d)

   Hence Jacobs wages (dotted,flaked and black) would TESTIFY
   against him(that is, they would CLEARLY PROVE his
   honesty/dishonesty)--if any sheep were not dotted, not flaked
   and not black then they were stolen(Gn30-33a)

*2 Perhaps the translation PROVEN is better than TESTIFIED
   - Our sins CLEARLY PROVE how bad we are
   - My wages(Dotted,flaked,black) CLEARLY PROVE how honest I am
   - Their arrogance CLEARLY PROVES their sinfullness

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 #*#*#*#*#