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 20 Number 11 For the WORD QUALITY PDF VERSION click here ----------------------------------- http://www.Rashiyomi.com/h20n11.pdf ----------------------------------- Produced Dec 26th, 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 | |
Question | ANONYMOUS:Wild Rashi--brings in Asnath*1 | |
Principle | Illustrations of how Rashi uses MOOD OF TEXT | |
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*1 Gn43-34 states that Joseph gave Binyamin a five fold portion. Surprisingly Rashi states ------------------------------------ Here is an account of the 5 portions - Binyamin received his own portion - Joseph gave him his portion - Asnath, Josephs wife gave him his portion - Menasheh,Ephraim gave him their portions ------------------------------------ Where did Rashi get this This question will be answered (Thoroughly) in the next issue Volume 20 Number 11. A short answer is below |
(C) Dr Hendel, Jan-03 | |||
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VERSE | RULE | BRIEF DESCRIPTION | |
======== | =============== | ======================================= | |
Gn45-02a | ALIGNMENT | PHAROHS HOUSE=His staff;PLEASE=friendly | |
Gn45-04a | ALIGNMENT | PHAROHS HOUSE=His staff;PLEASE=friendly | |
Gn03-01c | STYLE-BROAD | Bible may require filling in text/laws | |
Gn43-30a | STYLE-BROAD | Bible may require filling in text/laws | |
Gn43-34b | STYLE-BROAD | Bible may require filling in text/laws | |
Ex21-19a | STYLE-BROAD | Bible may require filling in text/laws | |
--------- | ---------------- | ---------------------------------- |
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VERSE: Gn45-04a
RASHIS COVERED: Gn45-04a Gn45-02a
(C) Dr Hendel, Jan-03 | ||
SUCCINCT SUMMARY ---------------- Many Rashis derive their punch from comparisons and alignments with other verses EXAMPLE Gn45-02a ---------------- Joseph cried and -- EGYPT heard -- THE HOUSE OF PHAROH heard (Rashi) Just as EGYPT refers to the PEOPLE of Egypt, not the LAND OF EGYPT, so too HOUSE OF PHAROH refers to the HOUSEHOLD staff not to the physical house. EXAMPLE Gn45-04a ---------------- - Josephs typical order DO SUCH AND SUCH - Joseph at Gn45-05a states PLEASE COME NEAR TO ME The added word PLEASE shows a friendly atmosphere. Rashi gives an example of this friendliness: Joseph reaffirmed his religious values. | ||
ITEM | DETAIL | |
RASHI RULE CLASS: | ALIGNMENT | |
RASHI SUBRULE CLASS | MEANING | |
RASHI WORKBOOK PRINCIPLE | #12 | |
SEE BELOW | LIST343d | |
Alignment of | People who heard Joseph cry | |
--------------------- | ------------------------- | |
RASHI SUBRULE CLASS | 2 CASES | |
RASHI WORKBOOK PRINCIPLE | #10 | |
SEE BELOW | LIST313h | |
Alignment of | Orders of Joseph-Occurence of PLEASE |
(C) Dr Hendel, Jan-03 | ||||
Alignment of Orders of Joseph-Occurence of PLEASE | ||||
VERSE | PHRASE1 | PHRASE2 | PHRASE3 | |
Gn42-18 | Do this and live | His Brothers | ||
Gn44-01 | Fill their sacks with food | His Staff | ||
Gn44-04 | Pursue them | His Staff | ||
Gn45-01 | Remove all staff from me | His Staff | ||
Gn45-04a | Please | approach me | His brothers | |
Differs | *1 | *2 | *3 | |
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*1 The word PLEASE connotes a FRIENDLY atmosphere When Joseph finally revealed himself he was friendly*10 Prior to that he had been harsh on the brothers *2 Different orders *3 Orders to different people | ||||
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*10 Rashi goes into detail on this friendliness ---------------------------------------------- He showed his brothers that he was circumcised ---------------------------------------------- It sounds as if Rashi is saying that ------------------------------------------------------- He pulled down his trousers and showed his circumcision ------------------------------------------------------- Such an interpretation could even be supported by -------------------------------- Gn45-01 Remove all staff from me -------------------------------- So Joseph wanted the privacy so he could undress. But it is rediculous to assert that Joseph undressed in his office. Rather I would interpret the word SHOW in Rashi not as LITERALLY DISPLAYED but rather as DEMONSTRATED. I would interpret CIRCUMCISED to mean RELIGIOUS Hence the Rashi text --------------------------------------------- He SHOWED his brothers that he was CIRCUMCISED ---------------------------------------------- really means -------------------------------------------------------- He ASSERTED to this brothers that he was still RELIGIOUS -------------------------------------------------------- Further support for this interpretation can be found in the text --------------------------------- Gn45-03 I am Joseph your brother --------------------------------- In other words I am still religious How do we take this Rashi? More will be said about this in Posting Gn03-01c but now we note that we interpret this Rashi as a GOOD EXAMPLE OF JOSEPHS FRIENDLINESS. In other words - The simple meaning of the text is that JOSEPH ACTED FRIENDLY--we infer this from the ALIGNMENT which shows that the word PLEASE is used here - Rashi gives a GOOD EXAMPLE of how this FRIENDLINESS could have manifested itself. Joseph could have started discussing the family values and asserted he maintained them. Finally the Biblical text REMOVE ALL STAFF FROM ME is consistent with this interpretation--since PRIVACY is frequently associated with PERSONAL TALK |
(C) Dr Hendel, Jan-03 | ||||
Alignment of People who heard Joseph cry | ||||
VERSE | PHRASE1 | PHRASE2 | PHRASE3 | |
Gn45-02a | Joseph Cried | Egypt | Heard | |
Gn45-02a | ------------ | The House of Pharoh | Heard | |
Differs | *1 | *2 | *3 | |
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*1 The same in both verses (The phrase carries over elliptically) *2 (Rashi)Just as EGYPT refers to the Egyptian people not to the Egyptian land so too the HOUSE OF PHAROH refers to the people of his household not to the physical house *3 The same in both verses |
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VERSE: Gn03-01c
RASHIS COVERED: Gn03-01c Gn43-20a Gn43-34b Ex21-19a
(C) Dr Hendel, Jan-03 | ||
SUCCINCT SUMMARY ---------------- Rashi sometimes employs the STYLE methods of Rabbi Ishmael. Here a verse is interpreted either BROADLY or RESTRICTIVELY depending on INTERNAL CUES. EXAMPLE Ex21-19a ---------------- The Biblical text states -If a stricken person gets up and walks ON HIS CANE then -the striker can no longer be tried for a death penalty. (Rashi and Rambam Murder chapter 4) That is if the stricken person REGAINS HIS HEALTH and then dies then the original striker will not get a death penalty for the blows. Here, ON HIS CANE means REGAINS HIS HEALTH. That is, ON HIS CANE is interpreted BROADLY as an EXAMPLE of any REGAINING OF HEALTH (not being bedridden). The Rambam proves this using the following logic - Even dying people can walk ON THEIR CANE. Hence - the only reasonable interpretation of this verse - is that it refers to REGAINING OF HEALTH EXAMPLE Gn03-01c ---------------- Gn03-01c And the snake said: EVEN IF GOD said dont eat from the tree. The Radack (in his book Roots) cleverly points out that no one begins a conversation with the word EVEN. Concludes the RADACK: - Hence we must assume that this statement of the - snake was the CONCLUDING statement of the conversation. - The word EVEN justifies FILLING IN the conversation - that happened prior. Most probably the snake told - them how God hated man and they should eat from the tree. Here we interpret the phrase DONT EAT FROM THE TREE broadly as referring to a whole set of statements designed to undermine Gods authority. The Radacks novelty lies in applying the Rabbi Ishmael rule of BROAD interpretation to NARRATIVE as well as to LEGAL texts. The Radacks proof comes from the word EVEN which should not begin a conversation. EXAMPLE Gn43-20a ---------------- The Biblical text states - Joseph had goose-pimples for his brother and cried Rashi interprets this text broadly---there were emotionally triggering events that caused Joseph to cry. Rashi gives good examples of what these events might be: For example, Binyamin might have told Joseph how he named his 10 children over his missing brother. (OR Binyamin might have just told Joseph how he missed his brother...the important point is that we regard Rashi as giving a good example of the basic idea in the Biblical text). EXAMPLE Gn43-34b ---------------- The Biblical text states -Joseph gave Binyamin 5 times the presents he gave others Previous Biblical verses show Joseph acting friendly towards Binyamin and the brothers (eg He invited them to his house to eat--he blessed Binyamin). Rashi uses this context to interpret the text broadly and give good examples of this friendliness. E.G. If all members of Josephs family gave Binyamin a present then he would have received 5 presents(Joseph, Wife, 2 children and Binyamins original present) More will be said below on this GOOD-EXAMPLE-METHOD especially in the longer footnotes ACKNOWLEDGEMENT --------------- To Anonymous for bringing up this intriguing Rashi. The above Radack and Rambam are not well known but shed light on Biblical interpretation. More specifically they suggest applying the Rabbi Ishmael style rule of BROAD interpretation to NARRATIVE text as well as to ORDERS in LEGAL text | ||
ITEM | DETAIL | |
RASHI RULE CLASS: | STYLE | |
RASHI SUBRULE CLASS | BROAD | |
RASHI WORKBOOK PRINCIPLE | #23 | |
SEE BELOW | LIST401a | |
A List of Verses | Interpreted Broadly(Generalization) |
(C) Dr Hendel, Jan-03 | |||
The following verses are all interpreted broadly. eg Ex21-26 says PAY DISABILITY FOR BEDRIDDEN (torts). This is generalized to ANY disability(BEDRIDDEN or NOT) | |||
VERSE | TEXT OF VERSE | GENERALIZATION | |
Ex21-19a | Walk on Cane | Regain his health | |
Nu05-13g | She wasnt GRABBED | wasnt RAPED | |
Ex21-18b | Tort on BEDRIDDEN | DISABILITY | |
Ex21-26a | Free if TOOTH fell | VISIBLE ORGAN | |
Ex21-28a | Tort if OX gores | ANIMAL | |
Ex21-17a | Death:FEMALE witch | FEMALE or MALE | |
Ex22-30b | FIELD animal trayf | WOUNDED animal | |
Ex22-21a | dont hurt ORPHANS | ANGUISHED person | |
Dt22-23a | FIELD rape | HIDDEN place | |
Dt23-11a | NOCTURNAL emission | EMISSION | |
Dt13-07f | temps you PRIVATLY | PRIVATE|PUBLIC | |
Dt25-04a | Dont muzzle an OX | ANIMAL | |
------- | ----------------- | --------------- | |
Dt22-02a | Return lost items | People you know personally*1 | |
Ex21-25a | Pay for eye,burn.. | Pay for each damage type*2 | |
------- | ----------------- | ---------------- | |
Gn03-01c | Dont eat from tree | God hates you/prevents growth*3 | |
Gn43-20a | Cried for brother | Binyamin said he missed Josph*3 | |
Gn43-34b | Gave Ben 5-fold | Josephs whole family gave*3 | |
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*1 This is a generalization from two verses, as follows -Ex23-04 Return the lost article of your PERSONAL ENEMY -Dt22-01:03 Return the lost article of your PERSONAL FRIEND So you return ANY article whether of your PERSONAL ENEMY or your PERSONAL FRIEND--as you long as you know the person PERSONALLY. The law however exempts you from returning the article to a known thief (a non PERSONAL enemy) who might be guessing the lost objects signs*10 *2 Ex21-24 lists 4 types of ORGAN damage:Eye,tooth,arm,leg Ex21-25 lists 3 types of PAIN damage:burn,cut,inflammation Hence we infer that in paying damage you pay for EACH type of damage *11 *3 In these examples the principle of BROAD INTERPRETATION is applied to NARRATIVE vs LEGAL text. Thus DONT MUZZLE AN OX WHILE THRESHING is a LEGAL ORDER. We generalize and prohibit muzzling any WORK ANIMAL. Similarly - THE SNAKE SAID GOD PROHIBITED EATING FROM THE TREE is a narrative text that is generalized to mean that GOD HATES YOU AND DOESNT LET YOU EAT. For proof of applicability of the GENERALIZED RULE to Narrative see footnote *12 For a critical examination of Rashis and the GOOD-EXAMPLE method see footnote *13 | |||
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*10 Several points should be made here FIRST POINT: - Ex23-04 uses the word YOUR ENEMY - Dt22-01:03 uses the word BROTHER 5 times So the real generalization is from YOUR ENEMY & BROTHER So everyone FROM your enemy TO your brother gets articles returned. This would exclude people you dont really know who might be guessing signs. Jewish law goes into the subtlety of someone whom you dont know either as your BROTHER or ENEMY. 2nd POINT: We mention Rashis literal language ------------------------------------------ The verse says return the object AFTER YOUR BROTHER ASKS. But no would return it before they are asked for it So read the verse as follows; Return the objects until you ASK ABOUT YOUR BROTHER--investigate him ------------------------------------------- Thus it appears that Rashi is deriving the law from a pun. (ASK ABOUT YOUR BROTHER vs YOUR BROTHER ASKS) But the truth of the matter is that Rashi is deriving the law from the generalization and contrast of verses. Rashi as is his usual custom expresses this technical derivation in a PUNchy PUNny manner (so students will remember it). 3rd POINT The main point in Rashi is that the two verses have to be generalized. The details of how this generalization takes place are subject to Talmudic discussion. In this case the Talmud and Rashi take an obvious approach of excluding people (thiefs) who we would not expect the law to cater to. But the main thrust of Rashi is the generalization from two verses--the details must be inferred. *11 Already Rashi points out that CUTS involve both PAIN and ORGAN damage (removal of skin). One cannot derive the 5 categories of damage from this verse (The other 3 categories, disability, medical and embarassment are each inferred from separate verses *12 The Radack boldly asserts - The statement EVEN IF GOD SAID DONT EAT FROM TREE was the CONCLUDING statement of a long conversation. We are justified in filling it in. Radack justifies this approach because of the word EVEN which always occurs in the middle of a conversation Similarly Radack gives Jo02-24 as an example -BECAUSE God gave you this land Radack again notes that no one begins a conversation with the word BECAUSE. Therefore we are justified-- in fact, forced--to fill in the conversation. For details on HOW or WITH WHAT the conversation is to be filled see footnote *13 *13 In this footnote we explain how Rashi filled in missing conversation. We first explain the GOOD-EXAMPLE method. For the original source see http://www.RashiYomi.com/rashi.pdf The GOOD-EXAMPLE method posits that a Rashi or Midrashic text is not giving the WHOLE interpretation of a verse but just one GOOD EXAMPLE. Hence the reader (or other Exegetes) are justified in giving other good examples. Here is the original example from my article -Song of Songs Midrash Rabbah Chapter 4 Verse 1 - Text of verse: Wow--you-re beautiful--you-re beautiful - Midrash: You-re beautiful in Man-Man laws; Your beautiful in God-Man laws - COMMENT: The Midrash is NOT exhausting the meaning of the text in this one comment. Obviously the Biblical text--you-re beautiful you-re beautiful-- connotes INTENSE admiration of beauty. The Midrash gives but ONE GOOD EXAMPLE of this INTENSE admiration The reader is free to give other examples. Enough--let us examine how Rashi uses this principle - Gn03-01 The MAIN POINT OF THE BIBLICAL TEXT is that the snake was trying to get them to sin (EVEN IF GOD TOLD YOU NOT TO EAT). Rashi suggests that the snake saw Eve eating from the other trees; Radack suggests that Eve told the snake the prohibition of eating from tree of knowledge. The snake says--but you can eat from some trees..maybe you are wrong in what God commanded (the ARE-YOU-SURE argument) Thus Rashi uses this text as a springboard for discussing how people get other people to sin. - Gn43-20a The MAIN POINT OF THE BIBLICAL TEXT is that Joseph cried over meeting Binyamin. Rashi gives GOOD EXAMPLES of what could have happened -- Maybe Binyamin mentioned how he named all his children over his missing brother. Another good example (not given by Rashi!) is that Binyamin could simply mention that his older brother was the brother that was missing--and Binyamin missed him alot - Gn43-34b The MAIN POINT OF THE BIBLICAL TEXT is that after Josephs harshness to the brothers he acted friendly to Binyamin. He invited him to his house, dined with him and blessed him So when the Torah says he gave him a 5-FOLD portion Rashi gives a good example of how this could have happened-- maybe Josephs whole family each gave Binyamin a present Note that in Gn45-22 it says that Binyamin got a 5-fold amount of clothes. But Rashi does not explain this 5-fold amount!!!! Hence we are justified in seeing Rashis explanation of the 5-fold amount in Gn43-34b as a GOOD EXAMPLE not a general principle. To what can this be compared: If I give someone 18 dollars at a wedding. Wouldnt it be wrong to interpret the amount as due to the fact that eg the wedding happened on 18th street. In fact 18 dollars is a normal amount to give at weddings. Similarly with Joseph...there are many 5-folds -- Rashi only interprets only one of them...so he was only giving a good example |
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