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 *#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#* COMMUNICATIONS -------------- Send via email SUBMISSIONS/responses/contributions to rashi-is-simple@shamash.org If you want your communication published anonomously (without mentioning your name) simply say so (and your wishes will be respected). All other submissions (whether thru Shamash or ANY of my email addresses are made with the understanding that they can be published as is or with editing) 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. THE WEB SITE ------------ To review all past issues as well as to see all principles go to the web site HTTP://WWW.Shamash.Org/Rashi/Index.Htm. You can download all past issues from this website. 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