Rashi-Is-Simple Mailing List VISIT the RASHI DATABASE archives AT http://www.RashiYomi.com/ Surfing the Talmudic Seas (C) RashiYomi Incorporated, 2004 Written by Dr Russell Jay Hendel Volume 21 Number 22 For the WORD QUALITY HTML VERSION click here ----------------------------------- http://www.Rashiyomi.com/h21n22.htm ----------------------------------- Produced May 10-th, 2004 WARNING: USE FIXED WIDTH FONTS (eg COURIER (NEW) 10) |
(C) Dr Hendel, Jan-04 | ||
Whats new and hot in this issue? | ||
ITEM | WHATS NEW & HOT IN THIS ISSUE | |
Problem Solvd | Shamash software intercepted attempted virus*1 | |
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*1 Any posting coming from me has a subject VOLUME ## NUMBER ## (or VIRUS WARNING). Last week there was a message with subject THANK YOU. This was a virus. While the fraudulent message was going out, Shamash software was updated and disabled the message. THEREFORE only a few of you received this message. Shamash is the host that sends out the TEXT version of Rashi is Simple. Those who received the HTML version of Rashi is Simple were not affected by this. Those who wish to receive the HTML version should notify me. A typical html version may be found at http://www.Rashiyomi.com/h21n20.htm |
(C) Dr Hendel, Jan-04 | |||
Lighting summary of Rashis with emphasis on Rashi rules*10 | |||
# | LIST | BRIEF SUMMARY OF RASHI EMPHASIZING USE OF RASHI RULES | |
23 | 401a | Laws illustrated using typical examples;must be generalized | |
30 | 690i | Sale price of land is proportional to # years till Jubillee | |
17 | 570a | 6th year produce lasts THREE YEARS=3 PARTIAL YEARS of 6th-8th | |
11 | 307r | Land-worth by NUMBER PRODUCES/NUMBER PRODUCE YEARS-2 factors | |
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*10 The explanation of the list should be clear - The FIRST column gives the NUMBER of the RASHI RULE used All Rashi rules may be found with examples at http://wwww.Rashiyomi.com/workbook.htm - The SECOND column gives the LIST ID (eg LIST210z) which contains many examples of a particular Rashi technique and includes the example presented in the third column - The THIRD column gives a lightning summary of the Rashi with particular emphasis on the Rashi rule used. |
(C) Dr Hendel, Jan-04 | |||
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VERSE | RULE | BRIEF DESCRIPTION | |
======== | =============== | ===================================== | |
Lv25-14a | STYLE | Bible uses typical situations in laws | |
Lv25-25a | STYLE | Bible uses typical situations in laws | |
Lv25-16a | SpreadSHeets | Price proportional to years to Jubile | |
Lv25-16b | SpreadSheets | Price proportional to years to Jubile | |
Lv25-21a | Contradiction | Seed for 3 YEARS = 3 PARTIAL YEARS | |
Lv25-22a | Contradiction | Seed for 3 YEARS = 3 PARTIAL YEARS | |
Lv25-15a | Alignment | Sale by a)Produce seasons b) years | |
--------- | ---------------- | ------------------------------------- |
*#*#*# (C) RashiYomi Inc., 2004, Dr. Hendel, President #*#*#*#*#
VERSE: Lv25-14a
RASHIS COVERED: Lv25-14a Lv25-25a
(C) Dr Hendel, Jan-04 | ||
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 Lv25-14a ---------------- - When you sell something to your COLLEAGUE - Or When you buy something from your COLLEAGUE Rashi: The Torah indicates its laws with TYPICAL EXAMPLES which reflect daily practice. You should preferably sell and buy with fellow Jews. | ||
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-04 | |||
A List of Verses Interpreted Broadly(Generalization) | |||
VERSE | TEXT OF VERSE | GENERALIZATION | |
Lv25-14a | Buy from JEW | Buy from ANYBODY*14 | |
Lv25-25a | If POOR;sell land | If you EVER (poor/not)sell land | |
Ex21-19a | Walk on Cane | Regain his health | |
Nu05-13g | She wasnt GRABBED | wasnt RAPED | |
Ex21-18b | Tort on BEDRIDDEN | DISABILITY | |
Ex21-26b | Free if TOOTH fell | VISIBLE IRREPLACABLE organ*4 | |
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 *4 Rashi explains that EYE by itself subsumes organs organically born with the person while TOOTH by itself implies REPLACABLE organs (like the teeth of small children). By mentioning both EYE and TOOTH we include all IRREPLACABLE VISIBLE organs. | |||
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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 *14 Rashi introduces a new principle on the TYPICAL EXAMPLE style: Rashi had already explained that - the Torah indicates laws by REQUIRED GENERALIZATIONS that flow from Torah-indicated TYPICAL EXAMPLES - Rashi now further explains these TYPICAL EXAMPLES give PREFERRED PRACTICE. For example - Bible: If you sell TO YOUR COLLEAGUE Rashi: Preferred practice in commerce is to sell to fellow Jews - Bible: If when you are POOR you sell your land plot Rashi: Preferred practice in commerce is not to sell personal property till you are poor I would therefore think that this method applies to all examples in the above list. As a typical example Dt22-23a which speaks about a RAPE IN THE FIELD indicates preferred practice of rapists (They hang out in fields where no one is around) |
*#*#*# (C) RashiYomi Inc., 2004, Dr. Hendel, President #*#*#*#*#
VERSE: Lv25-16a
RASHIS COVERED: Lv25-16a Lv25-16b
(C) Dr Hendel, Jan-04 | ||
SUCCINT SUMMARY: ---------------- Rashi sometimes gathers a collection of verses, each with some numerical attribute, and does an accounting audit using spreadsheet methods. In the spreadsheet method we also include - Rashi description of complicated Geometric designs - Rashi description of multi-step procedures - Rashi description of algebraic dependent procedures EXAMPLE Lv25-16a Lv25-16b -------------------------- All land gets returned in the Jubillee year. Hence when one sells land one should discount the price according to how many years of produce the person will have it. Here is a simple example: So if the field produces $1000 per produce The sale of the field would be $1000 x Number of years plus administration and profit. Roughly then, - a 2 year sale would be $2000 - a 10 year sale would $10000 | ||
ITEM | DETAIL | |
RASHI RULE CLASS: | SPREADSHEETS | |
RASHI SUBRULE CLASS | ALGEBRA | |
RASHI WORKBOOK PRINCIPLE | #17 | |
SEE BELOW | LIST690i | |
Spreadsheet for | Sale of land by years of Produce |
(C) Dr Hendel, Jan-04 | ||
Spreadsheet for Sale of land by years of Produce | ||
VERSE | SPREADSHEET ITEM IN VERSE | |
Lv25-15 | Sell according to years since Jubillee | |
Lv25-15 | According to the NUMBER OF YEARS OF PRODUCE*1 | |
Lv25-16a | --------------------- For MANY years INCREASE price | |
Lv25-16b | --------------------- For FEWER years DECREASE price | |
Lv25-16 | Because You are selling him a NUMBER OF PRODUCES | |
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*1 So if the field produces $1000 per produce The sale of the field would be $1000 x Number of years plus administration and profit. Roughly then, - a 2 year sale would be $2000 - a 10 year sale would be $10000 |
*#*#*# (C) RashiYomi Inc., 2004, Dr. Hendel, President #*#*#*#*#
VERSE: Lv25-21a
RASHIS COVERED: Lv25-21a Lv25-22a
(C) Dr Hendel, Jan-04 | ||
SUCCINCT SUMMARY ---------------- One of Rashis 5 main goals was the resolution of contradiction Rashi had a variety of methods to resolve contradiction. EXAMPLE - RESOLUTION OF CONTRADICTION THRU BROAD MEANING -------------------------------------------------------- - Lv25-21a Sow seed 3 YEARS (Because no agriculture in 7th) - Lv25-22a Eat/use seeds from 6th year in 6th,7th,8th Rashi: The 3 YEARS OF USING SEED are 3 PARTIAL YEARS(the remainder of the 6th year, all of the 7th year and sowing seed for the 8th year till you get new produce) | ||
ITEM | DETAIL | |
RASHI RULE CLASS: | CONTRADICTION | |
RASHI SUBRULE CLASS | BROAD-LITERAL | |
RASHI WORKBOOK PRINCIPLE | #17 | |
SEE BELOW | LIST570a | |
List of verse pairs with | Contradiction resolved by broad meaning |
(C) Dr Hendel, Jan-04 | |||
List of verse pairs with Contradiction resolved by broad meaning | |||
VERSE-1 | VERSE-2 | RESOLUTION OF CONTRADICTION THRU broad MEANING | |
Lv25-21a | Lv25-22a | Sow seed 3 YEARS=3 PARTIAL YEARS=6th,7th,8th*1 | |
Dt15-17 | Lv25-10 | Slaves work FOREVER=A LONG TIME=TILL JUBILEE | |
Lv07-09 | Lv07-10 | The PRIEST=DIVSION OF PRIEST,gets sacrifice | |
Lv04-03 | Lv04-03 | A Young ADULT Bullock = BEGINNING ADULTHOOD | |
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*1 The land could not be sown in 7th year. Hence the seed of the 6th year lasted 3 years*10 as follows - for eating in 6th year from April thru September (The year began in September---Jewish New year) - for eating in 7th year all year - for seeding in 8th year (From September to April) The whole effect of 6th year seed ceased when the April harvest was gathered in September (=September of 9th year) | |||
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*10 Rashi points out that sometimes the Jubillee would come out during the 6th-8th year and hence there would be 4 years dependent on 6th year. Thus Rashi views the Biblical statement of 3 years dependence on 6th year as a TYPICAL (But not exhaustive) case. For other examples of TYPICAL CASES see LIST401a. |
*#*#*# (C) RashiYomi Inc., 2004, Dr. Hendel, President #*#*#*#*#
VERSE: Lv25-15a
(C) Dr Hendel, Jan-04 | ||
SUCCINCT SUMMARY ----------------- Most people think of DEFINITION and GRAMMAR when they mention COMMENTARY. However the function of commentaries is also to comment on relations with other verses. One powerful OTHER VERSE method is the ALIGNMENT method. In this posting we ALIGN TWO requirements in selling land EXAMPLE Lv25-15a Lv25-16 ------------------------ - Lv25-15 Sell according to the NUMBER OF YEARS of PRODUCE - Lv25-16 Sell according to the NUMBER OF -------- PRODUCES - Differs *1 *2 *3 As is clear from the extra words - YEARS OF - there are two factors in determining land worth. - The number of produce seasons for which the person has the land--so if each produce yields $1000, then 1 produce yields $1000, 2 produces yield $2000, 3 produces yield $3000 etc (By way of explanation: The field is ALWAYS returned in the Jubillee year....so if you sell the field in the 48th year the sale only lasts 2 years) - A minimum number of years of sale---that is, you shouldnt sell land for one year--rather the buyer should have the security of knowing that he has the land through at least 2 years and 2-3 produces. | ||
ITEM | DETAIL | |
RASHI RULE CLASS: | ALIGNMENT | |
RASHI SUBRULE CLASS | NUANCE | |
RASHI WORKBOOK PRINCIPLE | #11 | |
SEE BELOW | LIST307r | |
Alignments of 2 verses | Sell land by [YEARS] & PRODUCE SEASONS |
(C) Dr Hendel, Jan-04 | ||||
Alignments of 2 verses Sell land by [YEARS] & PRODUCE SEASONS | ||||
VERSE | PHRASE 1 | PHRASE 2 | PHRASE 1 | |
Lv25-15a | Sell according to the NUMBER OF | YEARS of | PRODUCE | |
Lv25-16 | Sell according to the NUMBER OF | -------- | PRODUCES | |
Differs | *1 | *2 | *1 | |
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*1 These are the same in both verses. So if a typical produce season yields $1000 then a sale for 5 years should reflect a purchase price that would yield $5000 *2 The emphasis on YEARS indicates that there is MIMIMUM residency requirement ( No sale should be for less than 2 years) |
*#*#*# (C) RashiYomi Inc., 2004, Dr. Hendel, President #*#*#*#*#