*1 These verbs are in the passive mode

*2 Also see Nu32-30

*3 Also see Es01-06 (Overlayed utensils)

*4 Also see Gn26-26b. Rashi points out an additional
grammatical point
----------------------------------------------------
The terminal Tauv on a word need not indicate a
construct state
----------------------------------------------------
We have discussed this elsewhere and will not
repeat it here. For a reference see
http://www.Rashiyomi.com/gn01-01b.htm for examples
We will discuss this in future issues

*1 e.g. Certain laws are dependent on residency in Israel
or on statuses. The law that Priests MUST wear Priestly
clothes is ABSOLUTE and not dependent on anything. Hence
the Rashi
--------------------------------------------------
The law was effective IMMEDIATELY and for all
generations (i.e. not dependent on anything)
---------------------------------------------------

*2 There are two types of Passover laws
- those dealing with the Passover animal sacrifice itself
- other Passover sacrifice laws independent of animal
Chok refers to laws dealing with the animal itself
This is consistent with a CHOKs meaning of INTRINSIC
The CHOK refers to the animal itself, not the externals

*3 Perhaps an example will help. A law like charity is
DEPENDENT on POVERTY. If a person is poor I give
charity. Otherwise I dont. The more poor the person
is the more charity I give. Hence charity is not a
CHOK law. By contrast the prohibition of incest or
adultery is ABSOLUTE -- it applys in all circumstances -
even if it causes hardship. Hence the adultery laws are
ABSOLUTE and called CHOK. By contrast, laws like charity
which are dependent on reason are called MITZVAH.

Because these laws do not DEPENED on external factors
they are sometimes erroneously said to be laws WITHOUT
REASONS. However all laws have reasons. Rather the correct
statement is that the REASONS ARE ABSOLUTE and dont vary
the law like charity.

Rashi mentions that
-------------------------------------------------------
Because these laws are absolute the non Jews tease us:
- Why do you observe these laws--they dont have reasons
-------------------------------------------------------
This simply means that the laws aren't situational but
absolute and therefore the non Jews tease us. It does
not mean that the laws have no reason.

Finally Rav Hirsch cites Pr30-08
------------------------------------------------------
...Don't give me riches or poverty
...(rather) give me my (daily) NEEDED/INTRINSIC BREAD
------------------------------------------------------
Rav Hirsch points out that Chok clearly does not mean
irrational in this verse (My irrational bread) but
rather refers to ones basic intrinsic needs that dont
vary.

*1 TEXT OF QUESTION

How does Rashi derive that Joseph was a nazarite?
How does Rashi derive that the brothers were nazarites?

Various ideas were discussed including the idea that
Jacob was in mourning and couldnt have wine.

Jacob Zabludowski

*10

ANSWER
------
Jacob

Here is an overview of the answer. We will write this
up in a future issue. In passing this Rashi affords us
an excellent opportunity to review methodology.

* Not all commentaries on the Midrash Rabbah give
the source

* The Matnoth Kehunah and Maharzu explain that the
source is an explicit OTHER VERSE: JOSEPH IS CALLED
THE NAZARITE OF HIS BROTHERS (Gn49)

* Since Joseph is called NAZARITE we know he abstained
from wine.

* By contrasting two verses in Gn43
-- The brothers will eat BY me this afternoon
-- The brothers will eat WITH me this afternoon
we infer that Joseph had comradery with the brothers
and forced them to drink. From this we infer that
the brothers had abstained from wine till then.

* Note the Commentaries on the Midrash Rabbah simply
cite the verse THEY ATE AND DRANK WITH HIM. The
commentaries state: WITH HIM they drank but otherwise
they did not drink. However we think it punchier to
supplement the commentaries by contrasting the two
verses (Eat BY me vs Eat WITH me). These translations
(WITH ME) (BY ME) are due to Malbim.

More will be said in future issues.

Russell Jay Hendel http://www.RashiYomi.com/