*1 So God Spoke to AARON to Say is a rarity which
must be commented on

*10 There is a long Malbim on the Sifray at Lv01-01
where the Malbim goes into depth on the Divine
commands to MOSES vs AARON vs MOSES & AARON.

Suffice it to say that this Rashi takes a
simpler approach at explaining the anomalies.
Also...Rashi never addresses the 11 verses with
God speaks to MOSES AND AARON

*1 This chapter deals with the prohibition
of drinking wine which caused the
downfall and deaths of Aarons 2
children For further details on why God
directly told this to Aaron see LIST603c


*2 This chapter deals with the priestly
gifts. Hence it was spoken directly
to Aaron

*10 We take this opportunity to discuss methodology
Rashi actually states that
---------------------------------------
AARON WAS silent WHEN MOSES TOLD HIM
THAT GOD SANCTIFIES HIMSELF THRU
THE DEATH OF HIS CLOSE ONES. HENCE
BEcAUSE OF THIS silence HE MERITED
THAT THE CHAPTER PROHIBITING WINE WAS
STATED TO HIM
---------------------------------------

By contrast we have stated
---------------------------------------
THERE ARE TWO CHAPTERS WHERE GOD SPOKE
TO AARON. BOTH THESE CHAPTERS DEAL
WITH priestly matters--ONE DEALS WITH
PRIESTLY GIFTS WHILE ONE DEALS WITH
PRIESTLY RESPONSIBILITIES (TO ABSTAIN
FROM WINE DURING SERVICE). HENCE THESE
CHAPTERS were stated exclusively to Aaron
--------------------------------------

Notice how our explanation deals with
the ENTIRE LIST. This is a deeper
approach to the Biblical text.

Nevertheless Rashi adds an important point
------------------------------------------
Aaron was a serious religious person
He was interested in Gods commands
Hence he could be TRUSTED with the
responsibility of telling people to
abstain from wine during service since
it might lead to their deaths.
------------------------------------------

Rashi proves Aarons seriousness by noting
--------------------------------------------
that when Moses told him that God sanctifies
himself thru the death of righteous people
Aaron was silent (And accepted)
--------------------------------------------

By contrast we have presented a
------------------------------------------
list of 3 items showing that Aaron was
serious and religious
------------------------------------------

Our approach is deeper and richer

But our approach does no CONTRADICT Rashi.
Rather we regard Rashi as giving ONE EXAMPLE
Therefore proper Rashi study suggests
adding more examples.

I think this way of taking Rashi study
is exemplary.

*10 Recall that an issue in education is BREADTH vs DEPTH
For example when studying Talmud is it preferable to
- list many approaches to an issue (BREADTH)
- go into the pros-cons on one approach (DEPTH)

Similarly when analyzing a chess position
- Do you FIRST study all possible responses
- Or Do you FIRST study in depth one response

The Bible in Ex06-16:25 had a similar problem
- Do you FIRST list all children; 2nd all
GRANDCHILDREN; 3rd all GREAT GRANDCHILDREN
- Or do you FIRST list a whole genealogy
down to the 5th generation followed by
a whole a genealogy to another 4th-5th
generations.

These are all BREADTH vs DEPTH problems (Similar
problems come up in computer science). The
Bible in Ex06-16:25 used the BREADTH approach

First all chilren are listed. Then each set
of grandchildren etc. This list which the
reader should check supports this.
------------------------------------
Verse   Level of genealogy mentioned
------- ----------------------------
16      1
17      2
18      2
19      2
20      3
21      3
22      3
23      4
24      4
25      5
-------------------------------------
The list has implications for teaching, playing
chess, writing programs and learning Talmud

In passing public comments were made when
Kasporov beat the computer--
------------------------------------------
the computer is good at depth analysis
at seeing many 100,000s of moves father

By contrast I used intuition (overview
of possible responses). (This is the
breadth approach).

The use of intuition vs analysis (breadth
vs depth) enabled me to beat the computer
-----------------------------------------

And now you know...all this comes explicitly
from the holy Torah.

- Praise be Him who chose them and their learning -

*1 WORKBOOK rule #17 overlaps with WORKBOOK rule
#4. Both items deal with CONTRADICTIONS

*1 Hence the fire did not burn their clothes
The idea that the FIRES mentioned in Dt05
or Ex20 was the FIRE OF PROPHECY vs REAL
FIRE is supported by many verses and
themes (Dt05-21). There are other Biblical
supports for this idea but this will suffice
for now.*10

*10 It does not detract from the greatness of the
miracle of revelation that the FIRE means FIRE
OF PROPHECY.

For Judaism does not view Gods greatness in His
ability to make a mountain smoke with Fire.

Rather Judaism views Gods greatness in His
ability to make people burn with Spiritual Prophecy

*1 Rashi cites 2 opinions about the death
of Aarons children
- it was caused by wine
- it was caused by non-allowed sacrifices
My own opinion is that Rashi was not
stating contrasting but rather
complementary opinions

That is
- the sons of Aaron drank wine
- and they got drunk
- and they said it was ok to offer
non-allowed sacrifices
And this lead to their death at the
hands of heaven.

This approach---looking at 2 opinions as
complementary vs conflicting is fundamental
to proper study of Rashi

*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 As explained above Rashi sees these two views as
complementary
- First they drank wine and got drunk
- While drunk they thought it permissable to offer
sacrifices which should not be offered
Hence they died for both crimes

*4 Rashi explains the Causal connection
- when the masses see that God EVEN kills the righteous
for sins
- then they are aware how they must also observe
Gods commandments
- This leads to more honor for God

*1 Other meanings in the NEAR GROUP exist eg
-- GOING TO COURT as in Ex22-07
-- ...THEY WILL APPROACH THE BENCH

The relationship between NEAR and RELATIVE/CHOSEN/SACRIFICE
should be obvious. Eg The sacrifice brings us near God

*2 The INSIDE is NEAR the outside

*3 In WAR the two parties GET NEAR and FIGHT