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               Written by Dr Russell Jay Hendel

                     Volume 18 Number 21
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                    Produced Jul 31th, 2003

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#*#*# (C) RashiYomi Inc.2003, Dr. Hendel, President #*#*#*#
OVERVIEW OF HILIGHTS IN THIS ISSUE
(C) Dr Hendel, Jan-03

Whats new and hot in this issue?
ITEM WHATS NEW & HOT IN THIS ISSUE
ANNOUNCEMENT NEW: 1 Year Project on FIGURES OF SPEECH*1
COMMENTS
*1 Many of the Rashi rules we present, particularly
the Rashi rules on WORD MEANINGS have well known
technical meanings in English. I refer to such techniques
as METAPHOR, SIMILY, ANTITHESIS... There are about 100
such techniques.

The fundamental novelty of this email letter is the
use of LISTS to justify techniques. But there are
already many LISTS in the literature to justify
FIGURES of SPEECH.

Hence over the next year we shall review these
FIGURES OF SPEECH. We hope by the end of the year
to cover all methods and illustrate them with Rashis

Today we begin by illustrating use of METAPHOR
and SIMILE.
Rashis covered in this issue
(C) Dr Hendel, Jan-03

VERSE RULE BRIEF DESCRIPTION
======== =============== ========================================
Lv06-11c WORD MEANINGS HOLY means LIKE A HOLY OBJECT(Metaphor)
Dt22-09b WORD MEANINGS HOLY means LIKE A HOLY OBJECT(Metaphor)
Ex29-37a WORD MEANINGS HOLY means LIKE A HOLY OBJECT(Metaphor)
Nu20-13b WORD MEANINGS HOLY means LIKE A HOLY OBJECT(Metaphor)
Lv27-32b WORD MEANINGS HOLY means LIKE A HOLY OBJECT(Metaphor)
Lv27-21b WORD MEANINGS HOLY means LIKE A HOLY OBJECT(Metaphor)
Nu06-20a WORD MEANINGS HOLY means LIKE A HOLY OBJECT(Metaphor)
Lv19-24a WORD MEANINGS HOLY means LIKE A HOLY OBJECT(Metaphor)
Lv22-10a WORD MEANINGS HOLY means LIKE A HOLY OBJECT(Metaphor)
--------- ---------------- -----------------------------------
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VERSE: Lv06-11c
RASHIS COVERED: Lv06-11c Dt22-09b Ex29-37a Nu20-13b
Lv27-32b Lv27-21b Nu06-20a Lv19-24a
Lv22-10a
Lv06-11c
(C) Dr Hendel, Jan-03


SUCCINCT SUMMARY
----------------
Perhaps the most famous of Rashis 6 main goals is
his responsibility to explain dictionary meaning.
Rashi, uses a variety of techniques to explain
dictionary meaning including the use of FIGURES OF
SPEECH. Today we review meaning based on METAPHOR
and SIMILE. METAPHOR simply means that a word is
used to indicate something SIMILAR to it.

EXAMPLE
-------
The word HOLY can also mean SOMETHING THAT IS LIKE
A HOLY OBJECT. The Bible calls several objects holy
- temple offerings
- priestly gifts(offered in temple)
- priestly gifts(not offered in temple)
- items only eaten in certain places
(outside temple/only eaten by priests)

The lists below contain verses where objects
are directly called holy as well as verses
where METAPHOR is used. Thus for example the
verse ALL THAT TOUCHES THE MINCHAH WILL BECOME
HOLY means ALL THAT TOUCH THE MINCHAH WILL BE
TREATED LIKE A HOLY MINCHAH THAT IS OFFERED
ITEM DETAIL
RASHI RULE CLASS: WORD MEANINGS
RASHI SUBRULE CLASS NEW MEANINGS
RASHI WORKBOOK PRINCIPLE #7
SEE BELOW LIST870a
List of verses with Objects called HOLY*1
------------------------ ---------------------------
SEE BELOW LIST870b
List of verses with*1 Word HOLY meaning LIKE HOLY
COMMENTS
*1 Recall that METAPHORIC use of HOLY means that
the items are LIKE HOLY objects. Hence we
need two lists
- items EXPLICITLY CALLED HOLY (LIST870a)
- items TREATED LIKE HOLY (LIST870b)
LIST870a
(C) Dr Hendel, Jan-03


Items EXPLICITLY called HOLY.*1
ITEM VERSE WHERE IT IS CALLED HOLY
Sacrifices Lv18-09
Priestfly gifts Lv27-21*2
4th year fruit Lv19-24*3
Tithed produce Lv27-30*3
COMMENTS
*1 See LIST870b for items that are
metaphorically called LIKE HOLY OBJECTS

*2 These verses speak about FIELDS DEDICATED
to GOD. These FIELDS are explicitly called
HOLY and we are EXPLICITLY told to give
it to the PRIESTS

*3 These items are RESTRICTED in where they
can be eaten but are not
-offered in Temple
-given to Priest
LIST870b
(C) Dr Hendel, Jan-03


Items METAPHORICALLY called HOLY. That is they
are Treated LIKE HOLY OJBECTS*10
VERSE ITEM HOW OBJECT IS like HOLY
Dt22-09b Mixed seeds Jump away from it (Like holy object)*1
Lv06-11c Touched Minchah Touched item treated like Minchah*2
Ex29-37a Touched Altar Touched item treated like offerings*3
Nu20-13b Moses,Aaron Their death atones like sacrifice*4
Lv27-32b Tithed Animals Offered in Temple like sacrifice*5
Lv27-21b Dedicated field Gift to Priest like Forbiden fields*6
Nu06-20a Shoulder,Matzah Gift to Priest like Shoulders*7
Lv19-24a 4th Year Eaten ONLY IN JERUSALEM like Tithe*8
Lv22-10a Terumah Like other priestly gifts/Tithes*9
COMMENTS
*1 That is mixed seeds are PROHIBITED to use like
a TEMPLE SACRIFICE. Notice how all we can say
is that they are LIKE a HOLY object. HOW this
LIKENESS manifests itself may be unknown. This
distinction between (a) assertion of metaphoric
likeness vs (b) the details of HOW this likeness
manifests itself will be felt thoroughout this
list *11

*2 All we know is that the touched item is HOLY=TREATED
like a HOLY MINCHAH. We are not aware HOW this
TREATED-LIKE manifests itself.*11 (Rashi gives
further legal details)

*3 All we know is that the touched item is HOLY=TREATED
like a HOLY OFFERING. We are not aware HOW this
TREATED-LIKE manifests itself.*11 Rashi gives further
details. *12

*4 (My wording, not Rashis but clear). Just as the
death of the sacrificed animal makes
owner aware of the seriousness
of his transgression (That he/she should die) so too
the death of Moses and Aaron make the Jews aware
of the seriousness of their sin(That perhaps they
are worthy of death). This awareness is healthy
and leads to repentance.

*5 Interestingly Rashi offers the following insights
on WHICH HOLY object these TITHED animals are compared
to
-----------------------------------------------
HOLY here refers to a TEMPLE SACRIFICE
Indeed, an argument of silence would show that
- these are not priestly gifts mentioned in Nu18
- these are not mentioned as eaten by Priest in Lv06,Lv07
- Hence we conclude that the owners eat it!!!
-----------------------------------------------

A most unusual argument-by silence *11

*6 This is a SIMILE (Explicit) not a METAPHOR
-----------------------------------------
It will be holy LIKE THE FORBIDDEN FIELDS
-----------------------------------------
See Nu18-14 for the explicit statement that
these fields are priestly gifts

*7 Nu06-20a refers to the 3 items mentioned in Nu06-19.
At least one of them (THE SHOULDERS OF THE NAZARITE
OFFERING) is a priestly gift (eg Lv07-34)). Thus
the comparison (LIKE HOLY) is justified (It is
not explicitly mentioned by Rashi)

*8 Again we point out difference between SIMPLE MEANING
and TALMUDIC INFERENCE. The SIMPLE MEANING is one
of METAPHOR--the 4th year fruits are LIKE a holy
object. But it then requires Talmudic discourse to
determine WHICH holy object it is LIKE.*11

In this case the idea is simple....FRUIT HOLINESS of
4th Year fruit should be compared to other produce
holiness such as TITHED PRODUCE (It wouldnt make
sense to compare it to eg ANIMAL OFFERING HOLINESS)

*9 We know from LIST870a that Tithes are called HOLY
Lv22 seems to naturally divide into two sections
- Lv22-01:09 talking about HOLY SACRIFICES
- Lv22-10:16 talking about HOLY FOOD eaten in house
Thus the context seems to be the priestly gifts
that can be eaten like the TERUMAH

LONGER FOOTNOTES

*10 For a list of items that are EXPLICITLY called
HOLY see LIST870a. This list (LIST870b) by
contrast gives items that are METAPHORICALLY
called HOLY.

*11 There is a subtle point throughout this whole list.
We must distinguish between SIMPLE MEANING and
TALMUDIC ANALYSIS. In each case of this list
- THE SIMPLE MEANING is METAPHORIC use of HOLINESS
Some object is treated LIKE OTHER HOLY OJBECTS

- Talmudic logic is then required to clarify
WHICH HOLY OBJECT the item is compared to.
This talmudic logic can often be long,
protracted and non-intuitive.

The point!? The point is that we should separate
the SIMPLE and the ADVANCED. The advanced nature
of TALMUDIC DISCOURSE does not negate or
contradict the idea that the simple meaning
of the verse is one of METAPHORIC TRANSFER
The Talmud simply clarifies the RANGE OF
APPLICABILITY OF THE METAPHOR.

*12   Offhand I would supplement Rashi as follows
----------------------------------------------------
You cant argue that EVERYTHING that touches the
altar gets offered since this would eg contradict
the harsh language in Lv22-17:25 that blemished
animals should NEVER be offered.

Thus it becomes reasonable to restrict the idea
that ANYTHING THAT TOUCHES ALTAR IS OFFERED LIKE
A SACRIFICE--we restrict it to items which were
FORMERLY eligible to be offered but became
ineligible as a result of an accident (like
ritual impurity). (We do not however offer items
like blemished animals that were NEVER eligible)
-------------------------------------------------

I think this supplement to Rashi makes Rashi
more palatable. (Technically Rashi dwells on
the restrictiveness of the word THIS in the
next Biblical paragraph---I do not think this
argument BY ITSELF to be forceful enough)
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End of Rashi is Simple Digest
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