Rashi-Is-Simple Mailing List VISIT the RASHI DATABASE archives AT http://www.RashiYomi.com/ Surfing the Talmudic Seas (C) RashiYomi Incorporated, 2003 Written by Dr Russell Jay Hendel Volume 19 Number 14 For the WORD QUALITY HTML VERSION click here ----------------------------------- http://www.Rashiyomi.com/h19n14.htm ----------------------------------- Produced Oct 2nd, 2003 WARNING: USE FIXED WIDTH FONTS (eg COURIER (NEW) 10) |
(C) Dr Hendel, Jan-03 | ||
Whats new and hot in this issue? | ||
ITEM | WHATS NEW & HOT IN THIS ISSUE | |
HAPPY NU YEAR | To all who learn Rashi*10 | |
3NEW ARTICLES | Three new articles on the Rashi website*1 | |
Real Rashi | Peachy example: Rashi comments on X not Y*2 | |
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*1 THE EVILEYE-A RATIONAL APPROACH http://www.RashiYomi.com/evileye.rtf RASHI IS SIMPLE in PDF (Volume 19 Number 8) http://www.RashiYomi.com/h19n8.pdf PDF EXPANDED VERSION OF THE 30 RASHI WORKBOOK PRINCIPLES #1 http://www.RashiYomi.com/wbook-01.pdf Much more to follow *2 This is a classic example of HOW NOT to learn Rashi - Rashi points on the verse Gn12-14 HE(Abe) CAME TO EGYPT that it does not say THEY CAME TO EGYPT implying that Sarah was hidden in a chest!!!! This could NOT be what was bothering Rashi since almost every verb in the chapter is singular. Read this Peachy posting to find out how to really learn Rashi. | ||
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*10 -------------------------------------------------------- # # # ##### ##### # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # ##### ##### # ##### ######### # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # ##### # # # ## # # # # # # # # # # ## # # # # #### # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # ## ##### # # # # #### # ##### # # # # # # # # # # # # ##### # # ### ###### # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # #### # # # # Russell http://www.RashiYomi.com/ ------------------------------------------------------------- |
(C) Dr Hendel, Jan-03 | |||
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VERSE | RULE | BRIEF DESCRIPTION | |
======== | =============== | ======================================== | |
Gn12-08a | WORD MEANING | Ayin-Tauv-Kuph means UPROOT | |
Gn13-09b | GRAMMARr | Rare conjugation of HIFIL (Causative) | |
Gn12-01e | STYLE | GENERAL:Leave your land DETAIL:Father | |
Gn12-05a | GRAMMARr | PLURAL(They converted);SINGLE(He Went) | |
Gn12-14a | GRAMMARr | PLURAL(They converted);SINGLE(He Went) | |
Gn13-02a | WORD MEANINGS | SYNECHDOCHE: Abe was heavy=Many Assets | |
--------- | ---------------- | ----------------------------------- |
#*#*# (C) RashiYomi Inc.2003, Dr. Hendel, President #*#*#
VERSE: Gn12-05a
RASHIS COVERED: Gn12-05a Gn12-14a
(C) Dr Hendel, Jan-03 | ||
SUCCINCT SUMMARY ---------------- One of Rashis 5 main tasks is to teach grammar. GRAMMAR covers a variety of areas including, gender, plurality, verb conjugation, use of connectives etc. EXAMPLE ------- In todays digest we review several verses describing the journeys of Abraham and Sarah. Some of these verses use the PLURAL (THEY acquired many followers) while some of these verses use the SINGULAR (HE came to Egypt). Rashi distinguishes nuances based on the singular and plural. - PLURAL indicates a joint effort - SINGULAR indicates an effort instigated by Abraham (but followed by the others) In particular we see that Sarah participated with Abraham in managing their servants and slaves and in bringing them closer to God; by contrast Abe was totally in charge of all journeys--Sarah stayed behind the lines acting modestly | ||
ITEM | DETAIL | |
RASHI RULE CLASS: | GRAMMAR | |
RASHI SUBRULE CLASS | SINGULAR-PLURAL | |
RASHI WORKBOOK PRINCIPLE | #9 | |
SEE BELOW | LIST070f | |
List of SINGLE-PLURAL in | Gn12-04:14 |
(C) Dr Hendel, Jan-03 | |||
List of verses in Gn12-04:14 with singular-plural clearly stated | |||
TEXT OF VERSE, Gn12-04:14 | Plural? | Implication of Plural | |
Abraham went | Single | ||
Abe took Sarah,Lot and | Single | ||
took souls they acquired | plural | Acquired souls together*1 | |
they went to Canaan*1 | plural | Slaves followed Abe-s religion | |
they came to Canaan | plural | ||
Abe came to Schem | single | ||
and built an altar | single | ||
He moved his tent | single | ||
he built an altar | single | ||
he preached | single | ||
He journeyed southward | single | ||
When he got near to Egypt | single | Abe initiated journeys*2 | |
When he came to Egypt... | single | Abe initiated journeys*2 | |
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*1 On a technical point the Hebrew root Ayin-Sin-Hey can mean MADE, FIXED, or ACQUIRED *10 Note the several plurals - the souls THAT THEY acquired in Charan - THEY (Abe,Sarah and servants) left The use of plural implies a joint effort. - Hence the emphasis that both Sarah and Abraham ACQUIRED staff*11 - The emphasis that the STAFF jointly left with Abraham implying they had adopted his way of life*11 *2 Rashi is NOT commenting on the singular (HE came to Egypt vs THEY came to Egypt). Rather Rashi is commenting on the contrast that - in the first part of the above list we use the plural (eg the servants THEY (Abe/Sarah) acquired) - in the later part of the above list we use the singular. This implies that the journeying activities were initiated by Abraham with Sarah staying behind*12 | |||
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*10 Radack gives the following examples ------------------------------------------- - Dt21-12 she FIXES her nails - Dt08-17 I ACQUIRED these assets by myself - Es07-02 Whatever you want shall be DONE ------------------------------------------- This illustrates 3 distinct meanings of the root Ayin-Sin-Hey *11 Rashi appears to say that -------------------------------------- The SIMPLE meaning of the Biblical text refers to - THE SOULS(Servants) THEY ACQUIRED The HOMILETIC meaning of the text refers to - THE SOULS (Servants) THEY MADE(Converted) -------------------------------------- But a fundamental principle in this list is that the simple and homiletic meaning are one and the same. How so? Rashi is really commenting on TWO aspects of the verse!!!! - The verse speaks about the THE SOULS THEY ACQUIRED - The repeated use of PLURAL implies that these servants adopted Abrahams way of life Since the plural implies that the servants converted we might as well re-interpret THE SOULS THEY ACQUIRED as THE SOULS THEY CONVERTED So when Rashi states THE SIMPLE MEANING he refers --------------------------------------------------- to the MEANING OF THE PHRASE without reference to the REST OF THE VERSE. --------------------------------------------------- However by examining the rest of the verse (which uses plural--THEY left- implying that the servants wanted to leave just like Abraham) we see that the servants adopted Abrahams way of life To recap - the word A-S-H does mean ACQUIRED - but the repeated plural implies ADOPTION OF RELIGIOUSITY Hence we can reinterpret A-S-H as ACQUIRED. In other words the reinterpretation of A-S-H as CONVERTED (vs ACQUIRED) comes NOT from the meanings of A-S-H but rather from the repeated use of plural in the verse Hence Rashi-is-Simple and the simple and homiletic meaning are one and the same -- Praise be Him who chose them and their learning -- *12 Rashi literally states -------------------------------------------- He hid Sarah in a chest--when the custom officials opened it they saw her and how beautiful she was -------------------------------------------- This of course is rediculous (No one hides his wife in a chest!). Rather it means that Abraham was in charge of Journeys and made Sarah the overseer of baggage. As such she appeared as just another servant (since she looked after baggage) and therefore no one payed attention to her. When however the custom officials investigated the contents of the baggage they had to enter into conversation with Sarah--it was then obvious that she was no servant and her beauty (of character, demeanor and presentation ) became obvious. (It was (ahem) also obvious why Abraham assigned her this task) |
#*#*# (C) RashiYomi Inc.2003, Dr. Hendel, President #*#*#
VERSE: Gn13-02a
(C) Dr Hendel, Jan-03 | ||
SUCCINCT SUMMARY ---------------- One of Rashis main tasks is to explain meaning the same way a dictionary explains meaning. Rashi had a variety of vehicles to explain meaning including the various figures of speech such as simile, metaphor, synechdoche and metonomy. EXAMPLE ------- Gn13-02 states that ABRAHAM WAS VERY HEAVY. Of course it is rediculous to interpret this as referring to Abrahams weight. Rather it refers to ABRAHAMS POSSESSIONS WHICH WERE VERY HEAVY (that is numerous). This interpretation (ABRAHAM=ABRAHAMS POSSESSIONS and HEAVY=NUMEROUS) illustrates the technique of identifying the WHOLE and PART or of identifying an ITEM with RELATED ITEMS. Here ABRAHAM is identified with his possessions and HEAVINESS is identified with LARGENESS. The technical names of identifying the whole and part or the object and its relations is METONOMY and SYNECHDOCHE. | ||
ITEM | DETAIL | |
RASHI RULE CLASS: | WORD MEANINGS | |
RASHI SUBRULE CLASS: | 8 METHODS OF NAMING | |
RASHI WORKBOOK PRINCIPLE | #7 | |
SEE BELOW | LIST871d | |
List of words which | identify items and related items |
(C) Dr Hendel, Jan-03 | |||
List of words which identify items and related items*1 | |||
VERSE | TEXT OF VERSE | METONOMY(ITEM means RELATED ITEM) | |
Ex30-13c | HOLY coins | Coins used in HOLY TEMPLE matters | |
Dt18-01c | FIRES of God | SACRIFICES offered on temple Fire | |
Dt29-19a | SMOKING anger | Anger that makes person HOT | |
Gn13-02a | Abraham HEAVY | Abraham-s assets NUMEROUS | |
Gn13-02a | ABRAHAM heavy | ABRAHAM-S ASSETS numerous | |
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*1 Many examples in this list come from previous list in the metonomy series (LIST871a, LIST871b, LIST871c) |
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VERSE: Gn13-09b
(C) Dr Hendel, Jan-03 | ||
SUCCINCT SUMMARY ---------------- Everyone is familiar with the idea that Hebrew is based on triliteral ROOTS. These triliteral roots can be CONJUGATED in a variety of forms. Each distinct conjugation gives rise to a distinct meaning. These conjugations can be looked up in any of several popular grammar books. Rashi frequently indicates rare forms EXAMPLE ------- Using the Ibn Shoshan grammatical tables-#10-we see that Yud-2-3 roots (Roots whose first letter is Yud) are conjugated in the causative mode using a CHOLAM (OH) sound. Rashi on Gn13-09b alerts us to an alternative conjugation using the TZARAY sound (AY sound) | ||
ITEM | DETAIL | |
RASHI RULE CLASS: | GRAMMARr | |
RASHI SUBRULE CLASS: | VERB CONJUGATIONS | |
RASHI WORKBOOK PRINCIPLE | #9 | |
SEE BELOW | LIST703d | |
Lists of roots with | Rare Causative form using Tzaray |
(C) Dr Hendel, Jan-03 | |||
Lists of roots with rare Causative form using Tzaray*1 | |||
VERSE | RARE CAUSATIVE FORM WITH TZARAY | ROOT | |
Pr02-15 | TayTiV | Y-T-B | |
Ex02-09 | HayLiChi | Y-L-K | |
Is14-31 | HayLiLi | Y-L-L | |
Gn13-09b | AyMiNa | Y-M-N | |
Gn21-07 | Haynikah | Y-N-K | |
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*1 Normally the causative form applied to roots beginning with a yud uses a cholam (OH) vs a Tzaray.*10 | |||
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*10 The above list comes from Al Silbermans Grammatical Form Konkordance. Al classifies these forms as BIZARE. However since so many roots (beginning with Yud) illustrate the form we prefer to classify it as a RARE form |
#*#*# (C) RashiYomi Inc.2003, Dr. Hendel, President #*#*#
VERSE: Gn12-08a
(C) Dr Hendel, Jan-03 | ||
SUCCINCT SUMMARY ---------------- Rashi frequently simply explains the dictionary meaning of words. Rashi explains meaning by a variety of vehicles including providing a UNIFYING THEME EXAMPLE ------- The root AYIN-TAUV-KUPH means to UPROOT and applies to - UPROOTING infants from breasts - UPROOTING mountains from their place - UPROOTING tents from their pitching - UPROOTING leaves from trees - UPROOTING words from a persons thoughts*1 | ||
ITEM | DETAIL | |
RASHI RULE CLASS: | WORD MEANINGS | |
RASHI SUBRULE CLASS | UNIFIED MEANING | |
RASHI WORKBOOK PRINCIPLE | #7 | |
SEE BELOW | LIST862e | |
List of verses with | Root Ayin-Tauv-Kuph = UPROOT | |
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*1 The noun form of Ayin-Tauv-Kuph means LOOT/BOOTY and refers to valuables UPROOTED from their owners or natural habitat |
(C) Dr Hendel, Jan-03 | ||
List of verses with Root Ayin-Tauv-Kuph = UPROOT | ||
VERSE | TEXT OF VERSE WITH uprooting | |
Jb14-18 | UPROOTING rocks from their place | |
Jb09-05 | UPROOTS mountains | |
Is28-09 | (infants) UPROOTED from (mothers) breasts | |
Jb22-16 | UPROOTED words from his friends *1 | |
Gn12-08a | UPROOTED (his tent)*2 | |
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*1 Note the double pun - Mem-Lamed-Lamed means both WORD and LEAF - Ayin-Tauv-Kuph means both WRITE and UPROOT In each case you are taking some items (words/ leaves) from some source (Trees/Ideas) LEAF-TREE:WORD-IDEAS::UPROOT:WRITE *2 The basic idea here is that objects that are strongly bonded - like rocks, mountains, infants to breats - are UPROOTED. Hence the tent which is pitched in the ground is so to speak UPROOTED For an alternative approach see footnote *10 | ||
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*10 We could use the method of metaphor contrasts cf The metaphor contrasts Pitch a tent = PLANT a tent Unpitch a tent = UPROOT a tent The actual word used for PITCHING a tent are - STRETCHING (Nun-Tet-Hey) the tent (Cf Gn12-08 Gn35-21) The root for PLANT/BRANCH is Nun-Tet-Ayin which obviously comes from Nun-Tet-Hey since a BRANCH is a STRETCHED item. |
*#*#*# (C) RashiYomi Inc., 2003, Dr. Hendel, President #*#*#*#*#
VERSE: Gn12-01e
(C) Dr Hendel, Jan-03 | ||
SUCCINCT SUMMARY ---------------- One of Rashis 5 main goals is to clarify matters of style In doing this Rashi uses the Rabbi Ishmael style rules. According to the methods developed in Rashi-is-Simple these style rules govern whether a verse is interpreted BROADLY or LITERALLY EXAMPLE ------- GENERAL:----- Leave your LAND DETAIL:------ Leave your FATHERS HOUSE RASHI ----- The main command was not one of travelling but rather of deserting the idolatrous ways of Abrahams father. As such Abraham had to leave his country which practiced idol worship--he also had to go far enough so that there was no idolatry (For only in such an environment could Abraham preach about a one God) EXPLANATION ----------- The GENERAL-DETAIL form indicates a RESTRICTIVE style--the emphasis is on the details. Hence Rashi emphasizes that Abrahams goal was to leave idolatry. | ||
ITEM | DETAIL | |
RASHI RULE CLASS: | STYLE | |
RASHI SUBRULE CLASS | RESTRICTIVE | |
RASHI WORKBOOK PRINCIPLE | #24 | |
SEE BELOW | LIST490c | |
GENERAL-DETAIL form of | Gn12-01 |
(C) Dr Hendel, Jan-03 | |||
General detail form of Gn12-01 | |||
GEN-DETAIL | Text of VERSE | Could mean | |
GENERAL | Leave your LAND | Travel | |
GENERAL | Leave your BIRTHPLACE | Travel | |
DETAIL | Leave your FATHERS HOUSEHOLD | Idolatry*1 | |
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*1 So the emphasis was that Abraham should leave his fathers ways and hence Abraham had to go far enough away from his country till idolatry was not a dominant religion/belief |
*#*#*# (C) RashiYomi Inc., 2003, Dr. Hendel, President #*#*#*#*#