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 21
          For the WORD QUALITY HTML VERSION click here
               -----------------------------------
               http://www.Rashiyomi.com/h19n21.htm
               -----------------------------------
                    Produced Nov 6th, 2003

       WARNING: USE FIXED WIDTH FONTS (eg COURIER (NEW) 10)
#*#*# (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
QUESTION AMIEL NAIMAN finds grammar error in Rav Hirsch
DATABASE When does God say: I am with you
QUESTIONS Finally getting one question per issue*1
COMMENTS
*1 Keep the questions coming in. If you want anonymity just
ask. This is an email list. You are suppose to ask.
Rashis covered in this issue
(C) Dr Hendel, Jan-03

VERSE RULE BRIEF DESCRIPTION
======== =============== ========================================
Gn28-15a DATABASE I AM WITH YOU,promised by God when DNGER
Gn28-17b GRAMMARr REVERRED-rever;CHOSEN-chose;GRATED-grate
Ex12-16a GRAMMARr REVERRED-rever;CHOSEN-chose;GRATED-grate
Ex15-04b GRAMMARr REVERRED-rever;CHOSEN-chose;GRATED-grate
Ex30-25a GRAMMARr REVERRED-rever;CHOSEN-chose;GRATED-grate
Gn24-23b GRAMMARr REVERRED-rever;CHOSEN-chose;GRATED-grate
Gn49-04d GRAMMARr REVERRED-rever;CHOSEN-chose;GRATED-grate
Gn28-21b CLIMAX Protection-Food-Moral---RELIGIOUS
Gn28-22b OTHER VERSES Jacob promises to make HOUSE OF GOD
--------- ---------------- -----------------------------------
#*#*# (C) RashiYomi Inc.2003, Dr. Hendel, President #*#*#
VERSE: v110603a
Gn02-15
(C) Dr Hendel, Jan-03


ITEM DETAIL
From Amiel Naiman amiel.naiman@comcast.net*2
Date Sun, 26 Oct 2003 08:45:21 -0600
Subject Question on something you wrote earlier
To rjhendel@juno.com
COMMENTS

QUESTION
--------
Dear Dr. Hendel,
May I follow up with you on something you wrote a couple of
years ago on this week's parsha?

In your 9/11/01 e-mail on the source from Rav Hirsch for enjoying the
world, you quote the Rav who says that IT is feminine and, therefore,
couldn't be referring to the word GAN (Gen. 2-15) which is masculine.
The IT must be referring, instead, to the next word EDEN/PLEASURE -
hence the source for Rav Hirsch.  "Watch the pleasure and work the
pleasure".

I don't understand.  My dictionary says that the word EDEN/PLEASURE  is
also masculine - just like GAN is.  So how does that answer the
question?

Thanks,
Amiel Naiman

*2 Alternate email address
amiel.naiman@comcast.net

LONGER FOOTNOTES

*10

ANSWER
------
Amiel
Great question. First let me give the actual citation
from Rav Hirschs commentary, Gn02-15 Isaac Levy translation,1963
--------------------------------------------------------------
It must be noticed that, with one single exception, GAN is
always masculine, so that the feminine suffixes in this verse
are very striking. One can find an analogy for this in Song
of Songs 4-16. But perhaps the suffixes here refer to EYDEN
which, as an abstract noun, can well be feminine gender.

---------God transposed Adam to a garden
---------of delight or happiness, to serve
---------and to guard this happiness
-------------------------------------------------------------

After getting your email I followed the Rashi-is-Simple
philosophy and made grammatical lists. You can easily tell
the masculine from the feminine by the suffixes (YUD MEM is
masculine while VAV TAUV is feminine). I found as follows

MASCULINE PLURAL - Jo15-34 Jo19-21 Jo21-29 So04-15
FEMININE PLURAL -- Nu24-06 Is01-29 Is65-03 Jr29-05 Ec02-05

So GAN can be feminine or masculine..

Is then Rav Hirsch wrong?

I dont think so. For Rav Hirsch could still translate this
verse as follows

----------------------------------
---------God transposed Adam to a garden
---------of delight or happiness, to serve
---------and to guard this garden
----------------------------------

Thus the philosophical point (as developed by the Rav,
Rav Soloveitchick) is that man SHOULD enjoy happiness
and life--Judaism does not oppose happiness--rather
Judaism opposes impetuousness. As long as man controls
rather than responds to his urges Judaism encourages
it.

I was really happy to see original research on your
part on Rav Hirsch. That is real Talmud Torah.

Notice how the LIST METHODOLOGY enables us to solve this
problem objectively.

Also notice how we are able to patch up Rav Hirschs
basic idea.

Respectfully
Russell Jay Hendel; http://www.RashiYomi.com/
#*#*# (C) RashiYomi Inc.2003, Dr. Hendel, President #*#*#
VERSE: Gn28-15a
Gn28-15a
(C) Dr Hendel, Jan-03


SUCCINCT SUMMARY
----------------
An advanced method of Rashi is to use DATABASE methods to
query the Biblical text. These DATABASE QUERIES frequently
uncover PATTERNS which Rashi points out.

EXAMPLE
-------
The list below compactly exhibits several instances where
- God promises or asserts- I AM WITH YOU
- The assertion is made during a time of Danger
Hence the RASHI:
- RASHI: Gods promise of being with the person is to
counteract the fear of danger
ITEM DETAIL
RASHI RULE CLASS: DATABASE
RASHI SUBRULE CLASS DATABASE
RASHI WORKBOOK PRINCIPLE #27
SEE BELOW LIST605i
List of verses where God promises: I AM WITH YOU
LIST605i
(C) Dr Hendel, Jan-03


List of verses where God promises: I AM WITH YOU
These promises are seen as promises against fears of dangers
VERSE GOD WITH .... DANGER THAT PROMPTED GODS PROMISE
Gn15-01 God with Abraham After war with 4 Kings
Gn26-24 God with Isaac After dispute on well
Gn28-15a God with Jacob Fleeing from Esauv
Gn46-03 God with Jacob Going down to Egypt to Joseph
Gn48-21 God with Jews Stuck in Egypt
Ex03-06 God with Jews Subjugation in Egypt
*#*#*# (C) RashiYomi Inc., 2003, Dr. Hendel, President #*#*#*#*#
VERSE: Gn28-22b
Gn28-22b
(C) Dr Hendel, Jan-03


SUCCINCT SUMMARY
----------------
Rashi frequently illumines the meaning of one verse with
details from an OTHER VERSE.

EXAMPLE
-------
In Gn28-22 Jacob promises AND THIS STONE WHICH I MADE
FOR A MONUMENT WILL BE MADE INTO A HOUSE OF GOD. This
verse is further clarified in the chapter Gn35-01:08
which describes how Jacob returned, made an altar
and cleansed the staff accompanying him from idolatry.
ITEM DETAIL
RASHI RULE CLASS: OTHER VERSES
RASHI SUBRULE CLASS FURTHER DETAILS
RASHI WORKBOOK PRINCIPLE #1
SEE BELOW LIST210a
List of verse pairs with one verse illuminating an other
LIST210a
(C) Dr Hendel, Jan-03

We present a list of verses where
further details of the verse are presented
from other verses.

The classical example is the Passover Hagaddah
example: The verse Dt26-05d, ONLY A FEW JEWS
WENT DOWN TO EGYPT, is illumined by Gn46-27
which states that 70 PEOPLE WENT DOWN TO EGYPT.

Thus the technique of OTHER VERSES teaches
us that A FEW JEWS(Dt26-05d) means 70(Gn46-27)
VERSE TEXT OF VERSE OTHER VRSE DETAILS
Gn28-22b This willbe HOUSE OF GOD Gn35-01:08 altar;remove idols
Gn26-15a Philistines closed wells Ex01-10 Prevent inflows*7
Gn23-02a Abraham CAME Gn21-33:34 CAME from BeerShva
Gn23-02b Chevron=CITY OF 4 Ju01-10*12 City of 4 Giants
Gn23-09a Chevron=Cave of Doubles Gn49-29:31 Doubles=Couples*12
Gn23-15a $400 between US?So what? Gn23-06 Abe distinguishd*6
Gn18-04c Guests rest under TREE Gn21-33 Shady fruit tree*5
Dt32-12a Gd by himself gave peace Ju11-23*4 Conquest=gODS act
Dt32-12b No other gods with Him 2K18-33*4 Conquest=gODS act
Dt29-09b All Jews here, TRIBES,*3 Nu02-02 Each Jew has tribe
Lv01-12a the THANK YOU OFFERING Ps127-01 4 Thank Yous
Lv01-05a Slaughter Sacrifice 2Chr30-17 A Levite Can
Dt26-05d A FEW Jews came to Egypt Gn46-27 70 people came
Gn21-23b I treated you NICELY Gn20-15 I gave you LAND
Dt25-13b Dont have big STONES Lv19-36 Big STONE WEIGHTS
Gn26-05e because ABRAHAM OBEYED Gn22-18 He offered Isaac
Nu24-07c Jews greater than AGAG 1S15-33*2 AGAG,King Amalayk
Lv21-18a Blemish priests no-serve Mal01-08 It is disgusting*1
Ex13-17c Jews afraid of war Nu14-42 Defeat of Jews
Ex17-10b Chur 1Ch2-18:19 Kalevs son
Ex35-30a Chur 1Ch2-18:19 Kalevs son
Ex24-14c Chur 1Ch2-18:19 Kalevs son
COMMENTS
*1 Lv21-18 says
- Blemished priests dont serve BECAUSE blemished
- priests dont serve

Mal01-08 amplifies this
- Would you give a blemished animal to your governor?
- Would he like it? Would he grant your favor?

*2 Rashis approach to the verse is literal--Bilam was
a prophet and he foresaw the defeat of Amalayk by
the Jews.

Therefore the next phrase in the verse--
---------------------------------------
His(Jewish) Kingdom will be higher than AGAG
and his (Jewish) reign will go higher
---------------------------------------
This next phrase (GO HIGHER) would refer to
the Kings after Shaul--to David and Solomon
who had greater Kingdoms and greater victories
than Shaul*10

*3 So the point of the verse is that not only
were the nation of individual Jews there but
that each Jew had his/her very own tribe.

Already the Patriarch Jacob laid down the
modern idea that Jews must be able to live
with people they are compatable with.

In fact the layout of tribes given by
Jacob (Gn49) and Moses (Nu02) are basically
the same (See http://www.rashiyomi.com/gn50-13a.htm)
Thus Rashi borrowed the idea of JEWS BY TRIBE
and applied it to Dt29-09

*4 Thus we see these other verses as indicating
that reference to gOD should be interpreted as
CONQUEST BY gOD. Hence the verse reads
---------------------------------
God by Himself gave the Jews rest
There were no other gods
---------------------------------
In other words the Jews did not lose battles
and achieved prosperity without political
alliances.*11

*5 We could also refer to Gn18-01 THE HEAT OF THE DAY
Thus a requirement for guests was to have SHADY
trees where they could rest. Gn21-33 describes
Abrahams trees as being of the AYSHEL variety
which indicates peace and tranquility (from
adequate food and shade)

*6 Gn23-06 states about Abraham YOU ARE A PRINCE OF GOD
Gn23-10 states about Eprohn HE WAS ESTABLISHED IN THE CITY
So the two verses indicate that Both Eprohn and Abraham
were distinguished people. And it is normal when
distinguished people bargain that they make light of
large sums.

*7 Here is the point:
- If a land has OPEN wells then maurading troops would
be attracted to go thru that land. Hence the
Philistines closed the wells because of their
paranoic concerns

- Similarly Pharoh enslaved the Jews because they
were reproducing quickly; he was paranoically
worried about a takeover.

In both cases the good (of wells/people) was cancelled
by a paranoic concern.

LONGER FOOTNOTES

*10 It is also possible to have a poetic approach to
these verses. Thus
- AGAG from GAG would refer to the ROOF nations,
that is, nations who think that they are self
sufficient (Their own ROOF) and dont need God.

The ROOF nations include AMALAYK under King AGAG
They would also include the MAGOG kingdom under
king GOG (See Ez38) which the Jews will defeat
in Messianic times.

The second phrase in the verse
---------------------------------------
His(Jewish) Kingdom will be higher than AGAG
and his (Jewish) reign will go higher
---------------------------------------
would therefore refer to King Messiah

*11
The use of words to refer to RELATED ITEMS is
a literary device call SYNECHDOCHE or METONOMY

*12 Actually Ju01-10 and Nu13-22 speak about the 3 children
of THE GIANT. So Rashi suggests that the 3 children+
father=4 giants.

Rashi however cites Gn49-29:31 showing that 3 couples
were buried in Chevron (Abe-Sarah, Isaac-Rivkah,Jacob-Leah)
Rashi conjectures (reasonably) that Adam-Chava were also
buried there making the total 4.

How are we to take this second explanation of Rashi? After
all isnt the explicit reference to the 4 giants sufficient?

It would appear to me that the simplest explanation is
that
- The cities name was Chevron
- It was known for the 4 giants and was nicknamed DURING
THEIR LIFETIME as the CITY OF 4
- However (and this is Rashis point) there would be no
need to retain the name of CITY OF 4 after their death
- The fact that 4 important couples were buried there
facilitated keeping the name CITY OF 4

In summary
- CITY OF 4 was a sort of joke nickname because of 4 giants
- but the name CITY OF 4 LATER became an important name
because of the 4 couples

Additional support to this explanation is that the city
is also called the CAVE OF DOUBLES (referring to the
couples buried there).
*#*#*# (C) RashiYomi Inc., 2003, Dr. Hendel, President #*#*#*#*#
VERSE: Gn28-21b
Gn28-21b
(C) Dr Hendel, Jan-03


SUCCINCT SUMMARY
----------------
Rashi-s comments sometimes focus not on the meaning
of words or the nuances of grammar, but rather on
the overall structure of the chapter which shows a
CLIMACTIC DEVELOPMENT. This assumption of climactic
development is sufficent to justify reading meaning
into words. The rules of development are contained
in the Rabbi Ishmael style guidelines.

EXAMPLE
-------
Gn28-20:21 exhibits a THEME-DEVELOPMENT-THEME
structure
- THEME: God with me
- ------ DEVELOPMENT: God watch me            Protection
- ------ DEVELOPMENT  Give me food/clothing   Respectable job
- ------ DEVELOPMENT  Return in peace         MORALLY PURE
- THEME  God will be my God

Rashi interprets the Biblical phrase RETURN IN PEACE as
referring to MORAL PEACE (free from sin). Rashi so interprets
since the 1st phrase - GOD WATCH ME - clearly refers to
protection from danger. Hence, even though the language
RETURN IN PEACE naturally implies protection, nevertheless,
BECAUSE of the climactic nature of the passage, we are
forced to interpret the phrase RETURN IN PEACE as something
that happens AFTER protection and job -- hence the RASHI:
RETURN IN PEACE refers to MORAL perfection (Since only after
one is free from danger and has a descent job can one really
work on moral development).
ITEM DETAIL
RASHI RULE CLASS: RABBI ISHMAEL STYLE
RASHI SUBRULE CLASS GENERALIZED
RASHI WORKBOOK PRINCIPLE #25
SEE BELOW LIST450h
CLIMAX - Accepting God Gn28-20:21
LIST450h
(C) Dr Hendel, Jan-03

CLIMAX - Accepting God   Gn28-20:21
THEME DEVELOPMENT TEXT OF VERSES CLASS OF ITEM*1
THEME: ----------- GOD WITH ME -----------
------ DEVELOPMENT God watch me PROTECTION
------ DEVELOPMENT Give me food/clothing Respectable JOB
------ DEVELOPMENT Return in peace MORALLY PURE*2
THEME: ----------- GOD WILL BE MY GOD -----------
COMMENTS
*1 Note the intuitiveness of the climax. You cant really
worry about moral perfection UNTIL you have freedom
from danger and a respectable job. The three factors
- freedom from danger, a descent job, and moral purity -
lead to a good God-man relationship.

*2 Again we emphasize that
- the phrase MORALLY PURE by itself could eg mean PROTECTION
- However what DRIVES Rashi to interpret this phrase--
(RETURN IN PEACE) as meaning MORAL PERFECTION--is because
the DEVELOPMENTAL nature of the verses requires that
we have a progression. So, argues Rashi, the obvious item
after PROTECTION and JOB is MORAL PERFECTION.
*#*#*# (C) RashiYomi Inc., 2003, Dr. Hendel, President #*#*#*#*#
VERSE: Gn28-17b
RASHIS COVERED: Gn28-17b Ex12-16a Ex15-04b Ex30-25a
Gn28-17b
(C) Dr Hendel, Jan-03


SUCCINCT SUMMARY
----------------
One of Rashis goals is to teach grammar the same way
grammar is taught in modern grammar books. In todays
posting Rashi shows how identical or almost identical
forms can refer to either verbs or nouns/adjectives

EXAMPLE: NoRaH = REVERRED(an adjective);not REVER, the verb
EXAMPLE: MivChar = The CHOICEST(adjective); not CHOSE,the verb
EXAMPLE: ROkach = GROUND spices; not, GRIND the spices
EXAMPLE: MIKRAH=PROCLAIMED holy; not PROCLAIM holy
ITEM DETAIL
RASHI RULE CLASS: GRAMMARr
RASHI SUBRULE CLASS NOUN-VERB
RASHI WORKBOOK PRINCIPLE #9
SEE BELOW LIST050e
List of forms of several noun-adjective-forms
------------------------ ----------------------------------
RASHI SUBRULE CLASS SPECIAL WORDS
RASHI WORKBOOK PRINCIPLE #9
SEE BELOW LIST005g
List of verses where MAH means HOW MUCH
LIST050e
(C) Dr Hendel, Jan-03

List of forms of several noun-adjective-forms
VERSE WORD MEANS N,Adj SPELLING/FORM
Gn24-23b Inn Noun LAMED-chirik-YUD-NUN*1
Gn49-04d Fiz Adj PAY-patach-CHET-Patach-ZAYIN*2
Ex19-18a Smoke Noun AYIN-Kamatz-SHIN-Kamatz-NUN*2
Gn28-17b Reverred Adj NUN-VUV-cholam-RESH-komatz ALEPH*3
Ex30-25a Grated Adj RESH-Cholam-KUF-patach-CHET*4
Ex15-04b Choicest Adj MEM-chirik-BETH-CHET-Patach-RESH*5
Ex12-16a Proclaimed Adj MEM-chirik-KUPH-RESH-komatz-ALPH*5
COMMENTS
*1 Lamed yud nun refers to the NOUN (INN)
Lamed Vuv Nun refers to the VERB (TO INN,STAY OVER)
See e.g. Table 6 in Ibn Shoshan (1-Vav-3 roots)

*2 Pay-PATACH-chet-PATACH-zayin is the ADJECTIVE (fizzy)
Pay-KOMATZ-chet-PATACH-zayin is the VERB (To FIZ soda)
See Table 1 In Ibn Shoshan Volume 5

Similarly Ayin-KAMATZ-Shin-KAMATZ-nun is the NOUN, SMOKE
--------- Ayin-KAMATZ-Shin-PATACH-nun is the verb TO SMOKE

Note the small differences in form.

*3 Verb and Adjective have the same form.
So Rashi translates Gn28-17b as
--------------------------
HOW REVERRED IS THIS PLACE
--------------------------

*4 If the accent is on the LAST syllable it is a verb
If the accent is on the FIRST syllable it is a noun
(The shifting of accent may change certain vowels)
So Rashi translates this verse as
--------------------
Take GRATED perfumes
--------------------

*5 So Rashi translates these verses as
---------------------------------
these will be holidays--PROCLAIMED HOLY
---------------------------------
or
-----------------------------------
the CHOICEST of his army drowned at sea
-----------------------------------

The form does not resemble any verb form.
It does resemble other noun forms such as MIVNEH
See Ibn Shoshan Volume 5, noun forms 92,93,94,95,
208,209 etc.
LIST005h
(C) Dr Hendel, Jan-03

List of verses where     MAH means HOW MUCH
VERSE TEXT OF VERSE--Hebrew word MAH = HOW MUCH
Gn28-17b HOW awesome
P031-20 HOW much good you have saved for your righteous
So04-10 HOW much better your caresses than wine
P104-21 HOW great are your works, God
P036-08 HOW great is your lovingkindness
*#*#*# (C) RashiYomi Inc., 2003, Dr. Hendel, President #*#*#*#*#
End of Rashi is Simple Digest
#*#*#*# (C) RashiYomi Inc., 2003, Dr. Hendel, President #*#*#*#*#