Rashi-Is-Simple Mailing List
                        (C) Dr Russell Jay Hendel, 1999
                        Http://www.Shamash.Org/Rashi/Index.Htm

                        Volume 1 Number 19
                        Prodcued Mar, 19 1999

Topics Discussed in This Issue
------------------------------
v0318--Administrivia
v2-25-35 Biblical Paragraph describing construction of the Candellabrah

#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*# (C) Dr Hendel, 1999 *#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*
v0318 Administrivia
Before leaving Exodus I wanted to present the description of the
Menorah.

We deviate from the usual form here...we explain many Rashis
together. This is because the whole paragraph must be studied
as a whole...you really can't understand the individual rashis
without reading the whole paragraph.

I have also included a simple diagram of the whole menorah as well
as indicating which verses indicate which items

Finally I have included as a side benefit a column indicating Rav
HIrsch's beautiful educational symbolism of the menorah (The 18
Handbreadths of the Menorah correspond to the 18 years of life
and describe educational progress....a total schooling system
is described)

Although readers are free to ignore this (the list is really
concerned with Pshat) I included this to show how to properly
translate the "cups, knobs and flowers" which Rav Hirsch
translates as "buds, fruits and flowers"
#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*# (C) Dr Hendel, 1999 *#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*

VERSE: v2a25-31 And you should make a menorah of pure gold..
------ v2b25-31 Candellabrah parts
       v2c25-31 will it be made
       v2d25-31 Candellabrah parts
       v2e25-31 Candellabrah parts
       v2f25-31 Candellabrah parts
       v2g25-31 Candellabrah parts
       v2h25-31 Candellabrah parts
       v2i25-31 ...shall come from it
       v2-25-32 ...6 shafts ..from its sides
       v2a25-33 Candellabrah parts
       v2a25-34 and IN the Menorah..
       v2-25-35 Overall Structure of menorah
       v2a25-37 Candellabrah parts
       v2b25-37 and raise its seven ...
       v2a25-38 Candellabrah parts
       v2b25-38 Candellabrah parts
       v2a25-39 one talent of gold..

RASHI TEXT:
----------
*
{LIST10} {POSITIONS of Objects in the Menorah with interpretation}

IN                                                            Rav
THIS                       BIBLICAL                           Hrsch
TFCH    THERE WAS THE      STATEMENT        VERSE   FOOTNOTE  GRADE
----    --------------     ---------        -----   --------  -----
0-1     Candellabrah legs  ..its leg        4-8-4
1-2     Candellabrah legs
2-3     The Menorah flower ..its flower     4-8-4    Footnote1 PreK
3-4
4-5
5-6     BUD--FRUIT--FLOWER Bud/Fruit/Flower 2-25-34  Footnote2 K-2
6-7
7-8
8-9          FRUIT         And a Fruit      2-25-35  Footnote2 3-4
9-10
10-11        FRUIT         And a Fruit      2-25-35  Footnote2 5-6
11-12
12-13        FRUIT         And a Fruit      2-25-35  Footnote2 7-8
13-14
14-15
15-16 3Buds                3 Buds           2-25-33  Footnote3 High
                                            2-25-34
16-17        FRUIT         Fruit & Flower   2-25-33            Scool
                                            2-25-34
17-18              FLOWER  Fruit & Flower   2-25-33
                                            2-25-34
To understand this list we present the following overview.

OVERALL DESCRIPTION
===================
Recall that the TFCh is a unit of measurement (about 3-4").
The chapter beginning with Verse 31 describes the Menorah as an
18 TFCh Candellabrah described in the Table above:{LIST10}

DESCRIPTION TABLE ILLUSTRATED
=============================
For example according to 4-8-4, the Menorah was "one solid unit even
to "its legs and its flower".  Thus we learn that the first 2 tfchs
had the legs on which the candellabrah stood and the 3rd tefach had
the "candellabrah flower".If you look at the first 3 rows of the
table you will see that it mentions the first 3 tefachim had LEGS
and a FLOWER and it mentions the Biblical statement from which this
is derived as well as the Biblical verse. The Footnotes clarify
this further.(Note that the POSITION of the objects is not
mentioned in the verses..only their EXISTENCE and QUANTITY)

SYMBOLISM
=========
Finally (just as an aid in understanding) I have appended one
column which contains Rav Hirsch's symbolism of the Menorah.
The Menorah symbolized the educational system of the young.
Recall that
        Light                   =       Knowledge

Rav Hirsch adds that
        TFchs of the Menorah    =       Years of a persons life
        3 parts of plants       =       3 parts of learning

Thus Rav Hirsch interprets that
        A flower at Tfch 3      =       Pre Kindergarten at age 3

        3 buds,fruit,flower
        at tfchs 15-18          =       Intensive learning in
                                        High School years

Rav Hirsch further shows the one to one correspondence between
plant and thinking functions
        In Plant           Function        In Thinking
        --------           --------        -----------
        The Bud            Gathers food    Learning phase
                           intensively     Gathering knowledge

        Fruit              Application of  Application phase
                           food in bud to  --taking of knowledge
                           create a new    and production of a
                           entity          new entity--an applicatn
                                           of the knowledge

        Flower             Beauty and      Skill competency--
                           adornment       something to admire
                           Something to
                           admire

The reader is free to ignore this since the goal of this list
is to give Pshat. Nevertheless I brought it because it sheds
light on the proper translation of BUD,FRUIT,FLOWER.

MENORAH DIAGRAM SHOWN
=====================
Moses was shown a diagram of the menorah (2-25-40). Hence the
written record is suppose to be a description of this diagram
which was seen.

In other words the real description of the menorah was thru
the diagram that Moses saw---the written record is just
notes to remind Moses of the various attributes.

NEW MEANINGS
============
I will now explain a very deep principle of language. Language
is not FIXED and ALREADY EXISTING but rather GROWING AND COMING
INTO BEING.

Hence when describing a new situation we very
often invest NEW MEANINGS to words. As long as prior diagrams
have been seen or as long as only a finite number of
possibilities exist there is no ambiguity in these new meanings.

For example, if I am describing a phone number WA-1-2345 I might
say Watermelon Apple 1 2345 and the listener would immediately
understand that I am investing new meanings to these words...
namely they now stand for their first letter...so that Apple
stands for "A" and watermelon stands for "w".

EXAMPLE OF NEW MEANING
======================
Similarly if I speak about the LEG of the Menorah
I am investing new meaning to LEG...namely that part
of an object that is at its bottom and split
into several parts to preserve balance
(And this is a new meaning since the function of the LEGS
is not only balance but also MOVEMENT) (Actually the Bible
uses the word THIGH)

NO NEED TO EXPLAIN
==================
Furthermore these new meanings do not have to be explicitly
explained by somebody. Indeed 50% of what we know in meaning
comes from inference in context and not from meaning.

CRITERIA FOR NON AMBIGUITY
==========================
The new meanings cannot be arbitrarily made but can only be
made if
        a) you are dealing with a new situation so that we
        don't already have words for it

        b) you are refering to one of only several possibilities
        (For example Apple and Watermelon refer to the 26
        letters of the alphabet and it is known that phone
        numbers have 2 letters and 5 numbers...similarly we
        might be referring to POSITIONS on the menorah and
        we borrow organs (leg, hands, head) that correspond
        to their respective positions.

Criteria b) is sometimes met by
        -showing a diagram or
        -by e.g listing all letters of the alphabet or
        -by some indication of the finite number of possibilities

RASHIS JOB ON MEANING
=====================
So Rashi's job here is to give an OVERALL VIEW of the menorah
and then explain the NEW MEANINGS of each of the words so
that that OVERALL VIEW can be understood.

COMMON ERROR
============
A common error is to object to new meaning--for example one can say
No no...it is an established meaning that LEG can refer to a
part of an object at its bottom"

Do not let such a thought enter your mind. Because AT THE TIME
THIS WAS WRITTEN leg meant a leg, and hard meant hard etc. This
MNRH description INVESTED LEG and HARD with new meanings...some
of the new meanings became accepted (like LEG for BOTTOM POSITION)
and some did not get accepted. Therefore to fully understand the
chapter we must use the principle of NEW MEANING

DOUBLE MEANING
==============
Finally along with NEW MEANINGS we have double meanings {LIST1}.
For example THE CANDELLABRAH can refer to the whole candellabrah
or to the main shaft. The SHAFTS of the menorah can refer to
ANY of the shafts or to the main one by itself. The FLOWER
of the MENORAH can refer to a main flower or to all its flowers.

CONTEXT
=======
Finally never forget the important principle that meaning can be
inferred from context. Very often one sentence will supply such
a new meaning...such lists are really MINI LISTS since they will
only contain 1-2 verses.

With the above in mind let us go on to explain the 2 dozen rashis
on this chapter which have as their SOLE GOAL to explain the
diagram or table listed below.



FOOTNOTES:
---------
FOOTNOTE 1: The MENORAH FLOWER can refer to a special flower or to
        general flowers (See {LIST1}--this will be explained in
        detail below)

FOOTNOTE 2:
        We explain below the association of the verses with
        the various parts.

        The word MENORAH in 2-25-34 refers to the MAIN
        SHAFT not to the whole menorah (LIST1)

        In terms of our translation (BUD, FRUIT, FLOWER) this
        follows Rav Hirsch--just as FLOWER is a botanical part
        and is translated literally, so too the other 2 ornaments
        are botanical parts and translated literally (for example
        BUDS look like oblong cups and FRUITS look like flattened
        spheres).  (THe usual translations are CUPS and KNOBS)

        Rav Hirsch notes the obvious fact that the whole menorah
        looks like a blossoming tree and this justifies use of
        botanical terms

        As noted, the EXISTENCE
        and QUANTITY of ornaments is mentioned in the Torah
        but not their POSITIONS

FOOTNOTE 3: It will be shown below that the verse says
        3 buds IN the Menorah (vs 3 buds ON the menorah).
        So the actual appearance was like that of a blossoming
        tree---buds followed by the fruit followed by the flower.
        The buds were ACTUALLY IN the menorah (vs being ornaments
        around it)

BRIEF BUT COMPLETE NARRATIVE EXPLANATION:
----------------------------------------
*
TEXT    RASHI
----    -----
HARD:   "HARD" (2-25-31)--The Menorah should not be made by
        SOLDERING several components together but rather should
        be SCULPTORED from one piece of Gold (Rashi)


        The proof that HARD means SCULPTORED vs SOLDERED comes
        from examination of context. We have as follows

        {LIST2} {Context meaning of Hard}

        VERSE   STATEMENT ON HOW MENORAH IS MADE
        -----   --------------------------------
        2-25-31 Hard
        2-25-31 all its parts come from it
        2-25-37 all its parts come from it, it is all hard

        This proves that HARD = SCULPTORED from one piece


HARD

        There is no word in Hebrew for "SCULPTORING" a menorah.
        To distinguish it from SOLDERING a menorah a NEW MEANING
        must be made up.

        The Chumash chose "HARD" to distinguish between SCULPTORED
        and SOLDERED.

        The Chumash uses the word "HARD"
        to distinguish between a SCULPTORED and SOLDERED menorah
        because a SOLDERED MENORAH is weak at its solderings
        while a SCULPTORED MENORAH is HARDER there.

        {NOTE: The first Rashi explains how we knew WHAT the
        meaning of HARD is while the second Rashi explains
        WHY this word, HARD, was chosen to convey this meaning}

IT WILL BE MADE

        {LIST3} {OF VERBS DESCRIBING MAKING THE MENORAH}

        VERSE   VERB    MODE            HEBREW
        -----   ----    ----            ------
        2-25-31 Make    Active          VeASiSah
        2-25-31 Make    Passive         TeyAseh
        2-25-39 Make    Active          YaASeH

        Again we have created a new meaning here.

        We just established that the Menorah should be SCULPTORED
        from one piece vs SOLDERED.

        A SOLDERED Menorah is totally MADE in an ACTIVE manner.
        The artisan does all the making. A SCULPTORED menorah
        has an element of passivity since the parts must "come"
        from the main element without being glued on.

        As {LIST4} shows Hebrew will sometimes take the basic
        Verb modes (Active, Passive, Causative} and combine
        them into hybrid tenses to convey a NEW MEANING of
        activity. Thus the skillful use of ACTIVE PASSIVE here
        conveys a process of activity that has a touch of
        passivity to it.


        In summary the active-passive use of the verb is to
        connote SCUPTORING vs SOULDERING and supports other
        such connotations.

        (NOTE: It is not necessary to interpret the Rashis
        miraculously ..that "the gold was thrown into the
        fire and the menorah came out"....rather the meaning
        is that you SOFTEN the Gold by heating it which
        allows SCULPTORING so that the parts appear to
        COME from the main part)


        Also note that the comment "Moses had difficulty
        understanding this" does not mean anything esoteric.
        Rather, just as most layman understand the art
        of soldering parts but wouldn't know how to sculptor
        so too Moses knew nothing about SCULPTORING and therefore
        had to be shown what would happen and what it would look
        like)

TEXT    RASHI
----    -----
Thigh   = Bottom part of the Menorah

        {LIST5} Supports the idea that BODY parts can connote
        POSITIONS of components of objects


SHAFT   This is one of the 3 words that has a DOUBLE MEANING.
        As {LIST1} shows SHAFT can connote
                -the main shaft of the menorah
                -any of the shafts branching from the menorah

TEXT    RASHI   {These 3 rashis explain the Biblical terms
----    -----    describing the Menorah ornaments...we have followd
                Rav Hirsh's translation in clarifying Rashi)

BUDS    A NEW MEANING. Buds look like OBLONG CUPS

FRUIT   Usually translated as knobs. We follow Rav Hirsch's
        excellent translation that the 3 parts here correspond
        to the 3 parts of a plant (since the whole menorah looks
        like a branched tree with buds, fruits and flowers).

        The standard fruit looks like a flattened sphere which
        is the way Rashi describes this.

        A standard principle of language is to let a word
        have a new meaning denoting the SHAPE of the object
        {LIST6}

FLOWERS Unlike BUDS and FRUIT which are sometimes translated
        as CUPS and KNOBS everyone translates FLOWERS as FLOWERS

        (The NEW MEANING of FLOWER here is that it refers to the
        FORM of a flower (even though it doesn't have the flowers
        function--see {LIST6}))

FROM IT See the Rashi on "HARD"---the verse is trying to
        distinguish between SCULPTORED vs SOLDERED

COME FROM ITS SIDES

        {LIST8} {Description of position of branches:Hor vs Diagonal

        VERSE   DESCRIPTION      COULD BE           OR
        -----   -----------      --------           --
        2-25-32 shafts from side (Like a "T")       Like a Y. The
                                 be horizontal      shafts branch
                                                    up diagonally

        2-25-37 And raise its                       Like a Y. The
                wicks until level                   shafts branch
                with the central                    up diagonally
                wick


        The Torah describes the branches going up diagonally
        by using two verses.

        (NOTE: Rashi does not really take sides whether the
        Menorah branches were diagonally upwards in a line or
        curved. Rashi's main point is that they are not
        horizontal.)

TEXT    RASHI
----    -----
3 BUDS  2-25-33. There are two possibilities:
        The BUDS (ie elongated cups) could be ornaments around the
        shaft or the BUD could simply be an enlargement of the
        shaft (To make it look like an actual BUD)

        Since the verse says "3 buds IN the shaft" rather than
        "3 buds ON the shaft" we infer that the shaft was
        enlarged to look like a bud (same as a plant..this is
        why we brought Rav Hirsch's symbolism in...it helps
        to understand the translations to the 3 mnorah ornaments)

FRUIT.. The verse should be interpreted using the principle
        of opposition with an elliptical WITH.

        "3 buds IN the central shaft (ALONG WITH) its buds & flowers

        See {LIST9} for comparable uses of opposition.

TEXT    RASHI
----    -----
BUDS    We have 2 verses here. 2-25-34 refers to 4 buds, 2 flowers
        and 2 fruits. While 2-25-35 refers to 3 fruits.The 2 verses
        are joined by an "AND" so we would translate as follows

        "On the main staff of the menorah there were 4 buds, 2
        flowers and 2 fruits BESIDE the fruit, the fruit...the
        fruit in the center staff"

        The 4 Buds refer to those in positions 5-6 and 15-16
        on the main shaft.

        The (2) flowers refer to those at positions 5-6 and 17-18
        The (2) Fruit refer to those at positions 5-6 and 16-17

        This is all shown above in {LIST10}

        (Note that menorah in verse 34 means "main part of menorah"
        MENORAH is one of the 3 words in the chapter which has
        a double meaning. As {LIST1} shows the MENORAH can refer
        to the WHOLE MENORAH or to the MAIN SHAFT.)

AND a fruit 2-25-35

       The fruit mentioned in           were at positions
       ----------------------           -----------------
       2-25-34                          5-6
                                        16-17

       2-25-35                          9-10
                                        11-12
                                        14-15

      As just explained Rashi learns this from the AND which
      joins the two verses 2-25-34 and 2-25-35.

      "In the main part of the menorah were 4 buds 2 fruits...
      besides the 3 fruits that were elsewhere in the menorah"


TEXT    RASHI {These Rashis simply explain MEANINGS OF WORDS}
----    ------
FLAMES  New meaning...it refers to WICKS whose function is
        to create FLAMES

ADJUSTORS New meaning...it refers to the prongs (from the root
         LKCH meaning PRONGS for a bonfire) by which you
         adjust wicks

CLEANERS New meaning. Utensils for cleaning up old wicks
        Comes from the verb ChTH--which refers to raking a fire

ONE TALENT OF GOLD
        The structure of the Menorah paragraph is as follows:

        * Make the menorah
        * It will have these parts
        * It will have these utensils
        * Make it from one talent of Gold

        Thus we conclude that BOTH the menorah (which is one
        connected unit) and the utensils (which are separate
        units) all come from one talent of Gold

        (If it had reversed the order as follows

        * Make the menorah
        * It will have these parts
        * Make it from one talent of Gold
        * It will have these utensils

        then I would think that the Menorah comes from one
        piece but not the utensils)

        Thus this Rashi comes from the priniple of PARAGRAPH
        STRUCTURE.


AND SEE As {LIST12}shows the Mnorah & Altar are the only utensils
        that Moses was SHOWN a diagram (of fire, in a prophetic
        vision). (Such a verse is absent at the table, cruvim..)

        We have already explained above at length that the
        construction of the menorah (by sculptoring vs soldering)
        involved new concepts which Moses had never seen. Hence
        he had to see a diagram.




COMMENTS ON RASHI'S FORM:
------------------------
* As already noted, Rashi, contrary to his usual terse style
describes the whole menorah in 2-25-35. He did this because
God showed Moses a Diagram of the Menorah.

Then in the remaining verses he describes the particular details.
Very often these involve new meanings. Rashi will support these
new meanings with
        -current meanings or
        -current usages of making candellabrahs or
        -he will cite a list of Posookim to confirm his suggestion,



LISTS {For ADVANCED students and for those with more time}:
----------------------------------------------------------
* {LIST1} {The 3 words with Double meanings in this chapter;
          They can refer to their ordinary meaning or to a
          MORE SPECIFIC or GENERAL meaning}

  WORD          VERSE-1 MEANING-1       VERSE-2         MEANING-2
  ----          ------- ---------       -------         ---------
  Candellabrah  2-25-31 Candellabrah    2-25-34         Main Shaft
  Shaft         2-25-31 MAIN Shaft      2-25-32         ANY Shaft
  Flower        4-8-4   MAIN flower     2-25-34         ANY Flower

  {LISTS 2,3 may be found above...they are mini lists}

  {LIST4} {Deliberate HYRIDAZATIONS of verb Forms and endings
          to create new meanings and nuances--note this list
          requires a lot more clarification..I just brought it
          here in terse form to show the phenomena though rare
          does happen}

           ROOT/
  VERSE    FORM      COULD BE        OR COULD BE      TOGETHER MEANS
  -----    ----      --------        -----------      --------------
  2-18-26  YShPooToo Active tense                     Juducial
                     Will Judge                       process has
                     TShPeToo                         active &
                                                      passive parts
                     Participle form                  Judge creates
                     Cause JUDGMENTS                  judgement but
                     Shfootay                         also just
                                                      lets it
                                                      happen (
                                                      following
                                                      what is right

           HODAH EL  Reflexive                        To be eligibl
                     He remembered                    for bringing
                     (Reflexive YDA                   a sin offerin
                     always uses EL                   there are
                                                      several ways
                                                      to find out
                     Causative                        about the
                     Someone told him (e.g. relative  accidental
                     HODIAH                           sin. Not if
                                                      outsiders
                                                      told you..but
                                                      you do bring
                                                      it if you
                                                      remembered
                                                      yourself
                                                      (reflexive)
                                                      or non
                                                      outsiders
                                                      told you
                                                      (Causative)
                                                      (like
                                                      servants,
                                                      relatives)
                     Passive
                     He found out from eg a maid servant
                     (See Malbim footnote 263 Lev 4
                     for a full explanation)

  Ruth2-8  ThaVoori Active tense                      Stay here
                    Don't go away                     no matter
                                                      what. I have
                    Participle form                   given orders
                    Don't let other                   that you
                    people drive                      shouldn't be
                    you away                          bothered(2-9)

  {LIST5} {Body parts can have new meaning--and refer to
           position            of an object}

  BODY PART     NEW MEANING                     VERSE
  ---------     -----------                     -----
  Head          Top of e.g. mountain            4-23-9
  Belly         Center                          Ez-38-12
  Thigh         Bottom                          3-1-11

  {LIST6} {Words can take on new meaning--a word can refer to
           anything with the same shape or a word denoting
           shape can refer to a specific object with specific
           functions with that shape}

  WORD          NEW MEANING             VERSE
  ----          -----------             -----
  Flower        Flower shaped           2-25-31
  Cup           Cup shaped (Bud?)       2-25-33
  Pentagon      Pentagon shaped
                building that houses
                US Military
  Circle        Trinkets that are
                circular                4-31-3

  {LIST 7 does not exist}
  {LISTS 8 can be found above--they are mini lists}

  {LIST9}  {Verses using the opposition style}

  VERSE    READS                           NON OPPOSITION FORM
  -----    -----                           -----------
  2-25-33  BUDS in each shaft--(with)      3 BUDS,FRUIT & FLOWER in
           FRUITS and FLOWERS              each shaft

  Is63-7   The KINDNESS OF GOD I will      The KINDENESS &PRAISES OF
           recall---(with) THE PRAISES     GOD I will recall
           OF GOD

  1-1-29   I have given TO YOU all         I have given TO YOU and
           vegetables to eat--AND (also    TO THE ANIMALS all
           given these) TO THE ANIMALS     vegetables to eat

  {LIST 10 is found at the beginning of the description}

  {LIST11} does not exist

  {LIST12} {Menorah & Altar are only utensils where God showed
                Moses a diagram}

  UTENSIL       VERSE           DID GOD SHOW MOSES DIAGRAM
  -------       -----           --------------------------
  Ark           2-25-10         NO
  CAPORETH      2-25-17         NO
  Table         2-25-23         NO
  Candellabrah  2-25-31         YES (2-25-9)
  Paroceth      2-26-31         NO
  ALTAR         2-27-1          YES (2-27-7)




CROSS REFERENCES:
----------------

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS:
----------------
* To Rav Hirsch for the symbolism that Menorah=Educational system
* Rav Hirsch also developed the NOTE theory of PSHAT used here with
the new meanings (See Rav Hirsch on introduction to 2-21..."It is
like students taking notes at a lecture...every stroke has some
special significance).

* Rav Hirsch (Botanical-Thinking explanation of Menorah)
*  Malbim (Footnote 101, Leviticus 20...He presents the
        whole controversy on meanings of VV..he cites
        several dozen talmudic passages)
*  Malbim Footnote 263 Leviticus 4---he shows that HODAH EL
        is a conjugation of 3 tenses

RULE CLASSIFICATION {See the web site for comparable examples}:
--------------------------------------------------------------
* NEW MEANINGS
* OTHER VERSES
* OVERALL STRUCTURE
* GRAMMAR
* USAGE

#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*# (C) Dr Hendel, 1999 *#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*

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--------------
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NOTATIONAL CONVENTIONS
----------------------
e.g. v5b2-1 means as follows:
        The "v"         means           verse
        The "5"         means           Deuteronomy--the 5th book
        The "2"         means           The 2nd chapter
        The "1"         means           The 1st verse
        The "b"         means           The second rashi on that
                                        verse ("we rounded mount
                                        Seir)

Similarly v5-2-1 would mean Dt 2:1 and probably refer to all
Rashis. (These conventions start with issue 14---beforehand
the notation is similar and will be updated retroactively
in the future)

Asterisks (*,#) in a list usually refer to footnotes that follow it
Parenthesis with the word List and a number--[LIST3] refers to
LISTS in the LIST section of each posting.

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------------
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OUR GOALS
---------
RASHI-IS-SIMPLE
* will provide logical explanations to all 8,000 Rashis on Chumash.
* the preferred vehicle of explanation is thru list of verses and exceptions
* These postings will be archived in Shamash in Quartuplet
        -- By Volume and Number
        -- By Verse
        -- By Grammatical Rule
        -- By quicky explanation
* Rashi-Is-Simple should prove useful to
        layman, scholars, rabbis, educators, and students
* Although this list is orthodox we welcome all logical
        --explanations
        --contributions
        --modifications
        --questions
        --problems
 provided they are defended with adequate examples.

BACKGROUND INFORMATION
----------------------
For further information on the character of this list
* read your welcome note from Shamash
* read PESHAT and DERASH: TRADITION, Winter 1980 by Russell Hendel

                End of Rashi-Is-Simple Digest

#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*# (C) Dr Hendel, 1999 *#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*