VERY BRIEF SUMMARY
------------------
One of the great beauties of the Bible is the
consistent use of symbolic communication. Such symbols
enrich the experience of Biblical reading with added
beauty.

Rabbi Samson Raphael Hirsch, on the basic of several
centuries of symbolic interpretation laid down the
definitive methodology on symbolism.

For a complete study of the symbolic method see our
essay http://www.Rashiyomi.com/gen-1.htm which presents
in a compact form Rav Hirschs symbolism.

This list approach towards symbolism was developed by
him in his commentary.

In todays posting we review the symbols of
-- THE SACRIFICIAL SUPPORT PROCEDURE
---------------------------------
This procedure indicates VESTMENT OF RESPONSIBILITY
- The offerer agrees to IDENTIFY with the animal
Therefore Every procedure done to the animal
is by agreemtn symbolic advice to the offerer
- The stoners of the blasphemer (Death penalty)
place their hands on the blasphemer indicating
that he (not them) are responsible for his death
- The Jews agree that the Levites are their
designated representatives in the temple

-- THE SACRIFICIAL CUT-HAIR PROCEDURE
----------------------------------
This procedure which exposes the skin seems to
symbolize LISTENING--extra sensitivity to the
outside environment (Skin). Thus
- The LEPOR who slandered people must start LISTENING
- The NAZARITE who withdrew from the world because
of its temptations must start listening and
responding to the environment
- The LEVITE who serves Gods temple and helps those
who bring sacrifices must also learn to be
a good listener

- PRAISE BE HIM WHO CHOSE THEM AND THEIR LEARNING -

For a complete study of the symbolic method see our
essay http://www.Rashiyomi.com/gen-1.htm which presents
in a compact form Rav Hirschs symbolism.

This list approach towards symbolism was developed by
him in his commentary.

We present below the 3 sacrifices where a person
must completely shave his body(or head) This shaving
exposes the skin, the organ that FEELS the outside
world....hence the shaving symbolizes GREATER SENSITIVITY
TO THE OUTSIDE WORLD (Listening!)

For a complete study of the symbolic method see our
essay http://www.Rashiyomi.com/gen-1.htm which presents
in a compact form Rav Hirschs symbolism.

This list approach towards symbolism was developed by
him in his commentary.

We present below the 3-4 places that the SUPPORT procedure is
used. In all 3 it seems to indicate vestment/transfer
of responsibility

VERY BRIEF SUMMARY
------------------
As we all know Passover is a holiday
of education. But how do we educate young
children--how do we build them
up to become Gedolim.

The Hagaddah is very clear---the basic
education technique exhibited in the
Hagaddah is CROSS REFERENCE. You show
a child or Gadol one verse and ask them
for another verse with the same theme.
The entire AN ARAMEAN DEPRIVED
MY FATHER OF A JOB section of the Hagaddah
is filled with cross references

Several examples of this basic CROSS
REFERENCE technique occur in Dt16
- Dt16-01b Egypt salvation at night cross references
- Ex13-31a   Pharoh got up at night*1

- Dt16-02a Pesach offering from HERDS cross references
- Ex12-03:05 Passover from SHEEP,GOATS*2

- Dt16-03b Because you left hastily cross references
- Ex12-39    Matzoh not bread due to haste

TODAYS EXAMPLE
--------------
Nu08-08 says to take 2 oxen:
- one for a sin offering
- one for ??(It doesnt say)
Nu08-12 however says
- one for a sin offering
- one for an up offering

Thus Rashi clarifies the missing information
in Nu08-08 using Nu08-12

We compactly present a list of verses (VERSE 1) whose
meanings is clarified with further detail by VERSE 2

VERY BRIEF SUMMARY
------------------
One of Rashis 6 main techniques is to use
Cross references. These cross referenced
verses illumine the meaning of the original
verses. There are 5 techniques of cross
referencing.

EXAMPLE Nu08-07a
----------------
Nu08-07a refers to sprinkling SIN-WATER on the
Levites. We are not told what this phrase means.

There are 3 sacrificial procedures where water
is used
- The lepor purification procedure (Lv14)
- The Suspected adulteress procedure(Nu05)
- The Red Heiffer procedure (Nu19)

The Red Heiffer procedure is the only place
in the Bible where the interactive form of
the root Chet-Tet-Aleph(Sin) is used.

Taken together the SIN-WATER seems to refer
to the Red-Heiffer water which when sprinkled
on the impure person during the course of a
week removes sinful thoughts from him/her

We present a list of verses where
the meaning of words in one verse are
illumined by the usage of these words
in other verses.

The classical example is the word CALF
which occurs several times in the
Torah(eg Gn15-09).

We know a CALF is a YOUNG OX/BULL
but we dont know HOW YOUNG. The details
are gives by Lv09-07d which shows that
CALFS are 1 year (And this derivation
is accepted legally)

VERY BRIEF SUMMARY
------------------
Most Rashis deal with the verse in question:
- either Rashi explains MEANING of words
- or Rashi explains GRAMMATICAL points
- or Rashi explains STYLE
- or Rashi supports a verse with CROSS REFERENCES

But some Rashis focus on broad studies of themes.
These Rashis are also part of the simple meaning
of the text.  Rashi will take some THEME and ask
for all verses with this THEME. Rashi will then
seek a CORRELATE of this THEME. The THEME-CORRELATE
connection is something new and enriches our
understanding of the verse

EXAMPLE
-------
In this posting we study those verses where it says
--AND THE JEWS DID AS GOD COMMANDED THEM
It does not say this by all commandments, but rather
by only a few.

Using database methods we find that it uses this
phrase by
-- commemoration of the Exodus
-- Commandments dealing with special statuses
(eg Priests Levites etc)

Yet these two issues (the Exodus and status) are
precisely what the Jews rebelled about in the
wilderness. They
-- wanted to return to Egypt
-- wanted equality and no special statuses

Thus the Bible goes out of its way to tell us
that the Jews were basically good and accepted
Gods will (Except for a few rare occasions when
some Jews rebelled)

We list those verses where it says
-- AND THE JEWS DID AS GOD COMMANDED THEM

As can be seen these verses are said by
-- Commandments commemorating the exodus
-- Commandments recognizing special statuses
(Such as priests, levites, etc)

These two themes correspond to causes of rebellion
by Jews against God and Moses in the wilderness
-- They wanted to return to Egypt*1
-- They wanted equality and no special statuses*2

Hence these verses counteract the belief that
the Jews were always bad. Rather the Jews were
generally good but rebelled on specific occasions.