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               Written by Dr Russell Jay Hendel

                     Volume 22 Number 21
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                    Produced July 28-th, 2004

       WARNING: USE FIXED WIDTH FONTS (eg COURIER (NEW) 10)
#*#*# (C) RashiYomi Inc.2004, Dr. Hendel, President #*#*#*#
OVERVIEW OF HILIGHTS IN THIS ISSUE
(C) Dr Hendel, Jan-04

Whats new and hot in this issue?
ITEM WHATS NEW & HOT IN THIS ISSUE
COMING SOON The FAQ will be posted on website soon
STYLE RULES This Digest devoted to RabbiIshmael style rules
LIGHTNING SUMMARIES
(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 Learn at HOME, on ROAD, SLEEP,AWAKE = Learn in ALL life facets
24 490f Dt06-05: LOVE GOD-a)Emotionally;even in b)discomfort c)in loss
COMMENTS

LONGER FOOTNOTES

*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.
Rashis covered in this issue
(C) Dr Hendel, Jan-04

VERSE RULE BRIEF DESCRIPTION
======== =============== =====================================
Dt06-14a STYLE Learn at HOME.ROAD=in all life FACETS
Dt06-07d STYLE Learn at HOME.ROAD=in all life FACETS
Dt06-05a STYLE Love God:emotion,even discomfort-loss
Dt06-05b STYLE Love God:emotion,even discomfort-loss
Dt06-05c STYLE Love God:emotion,even discomfort-loss
Dt06-05d STYLE Love God:emotion,even discomfort-loss
--------- ---------------- -------------------------------------
*#*#*# (C) RashiYomi Inc., 2004, Dr. Hendel, President #*#*#*#*#
VERSE: Dt06-14a
RASHIS COVERED: Dt06-14a Dt06-07d
Dt06-14a
(C) Dr Hendel, Jan-04


SUCCINCT SUMMARY
----------------
Rashi sometimes employs the STYLE methods of Rabbi Ishmael.
A basic rule is that BIBLICAL examples should always be
GENERALIZED (unless some restrictive feature exists in
the verse)

EXAMPLE Dt06-14a
----------------
- Dont walk after the gods NEAR YOU
This generalizes to
- Dont walk after ANY gods
The Bible stylistically simply took common examples.

EXAMPLE Dt06-07d
----------------
- LEARN when you SIT at home; TRAVEL on the road,
SLEEP, and WAKE.
This generalizes to
- LEARN no matter what your circumstances are in
life--whether you are SICK, OLD, POOR, etc. (This
translation is in fact part of Jewish law and occurs
in Rambam LEARNING, 1:8
ITEM DETAIL
RASHI RULE CLASS: STYLE
RASHI SUBRULE CLASS BROAD
RASHI WORKBOOK PRINCIPLE #23
SEE BELOW LIST401a
A List of Verses Interpreted Broadly(Generalization)
LIST401a
(C) Dr Hendel, Jan-04

A List of Verses         Interpreted Broadly(Generalization)
VERSE TEXT OF VERSE GENERALIZATION
Dt06-14a gods NEAR YOU ALL gods (whether near or far)
Dt06-07d House,road,sleep.. All facets of life*15
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
COMMENTS
*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.

LONGER FOOTNOTES

*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)

*15 The literal verse is
---------------------------------
Learn Gods law when
- you sit in your HOUSE
- you walk on the ROAD
- you SLEEP
- you AWAKE
---------------------------------

Generalizing the 4 CAPPED examples (HOUSE, ROAD, SLEEP,
AWAKE) I would say simply:
------------------------------------
Learn in ALL FACETS of your life
------------------------------------

This would establish a Biblical requirement of learning
no matter what your circumstances. This is consistent
with Rambam, Laws of Learning 1:8
-----------------------------------------
ALL are obligated to learn--whether you
are old, young, infirmed, ....
-----------------------------------------
This paragraph in Rambam is therefore seen as a simple
translation of the Biblical verse.

However this Biblical verse BESIDES BEING SEEN AS THE
SOURCE FOR THE OBLIGATION TO LEARN is also seen as the
SOURCE for the RECITAL of the SHMA prayer.

The SHMA prayer need only be said TWICE daily(Morning
and EVENING). Rashi seems to be speaking about the
Shma when he says
-------------------------------------------------
SAY SHMA WHEN YOU SLEEP--even if you take a midday
nap? (Would you be obligated to say shma when you
get up)? No! Because the verse says WHEN YOU SIT
AND WALK--the verse speaks about the normal facets
of human life.
-------------------------------------------------

The matter is further complicated by the strange
fact that RECITAL OF SHMA is considered a fulfillment
of LEARNING.

I would therefore say that Rashi (following the Talmud)
is using the method of OTHER VERSES. Jo01-08 contains
the statement LEARN DAY AND NIGHT.

Combining Jo01-08 with Dt06-07 I would say
- one is MINIMALLY obligated to LEARN ONCE A DAY AND NIGHT
This is derived from Joshua and is the reason we are
required to say SHMA twice (in morning and evening)

- one is obligated to learn in ALL CIRCUMSTANCES of
life such as TRIPS, SICKNESS etc (In other words
one cannot put off ones learning to a later date)
This law corresponds to the paragraph cited from
the Rambam above.

Finally, there is room for further analysis here
since the requirement of SHMA has additional
elements besides LEARNING. I believe the above
Rambam laws and the use of two verses Jo01-08
and Dt06-07 shed considerable light on these
complex laws.
*#*#*# (C) RashiYomi Inc., 2004, Dr. Hendel, President #*#*#*#*#
VERSE: Dt06-05a
RASHIS COVERED: Dt06-05a Dt06-05b Dt06-05c Dt06-05d
Dt06-05a
(C) Dr Hendel, Jan-04


SUCCINCT SUMMARY
----------------
One of Rashis 5 main goals is to describe STYLE. We have
introduced the idea that The GENERAL-DETAIL style is a
PARAGRAPH style; the GENERAL THEME is stated at the
beginning and then it is DEVELOPED with DETAILS. According
to the Rabbi Ishmael STYLE rules, the GENERAL THEME
meaning is EXHAUSTED and COMPLETELY EXPLAINED by the
DETAILS presented.

EXAMPLE Dt06-05
---------------
GENERAL THEME:  LOVE GOD
--
DETAIL #1: Love God with your EMOTIONS
DETAIL #2: Love God even if you endure DISCOMFORT
DETAIL #3: Love God even with all things VERY IMPORTANT
to you.

This development shows a standard progression in
religion. Religion starts with service of God thru
EMOTIONAL DISCIPLINE. At the next higher level one
must learn to endure DISCOMFORT to serve God. Finally
one must be prepare to lose things VERY IMPORTANT to
you to serve God.
ITEM DETAIL
RASHI RULE CLASS: STYLE
RASHI SUBRULE CLASS RESTRICTIVE
RASHI WORKBOOK PRINCIPLE #24
SEE BELOW LIST490f
GENERAL-DETAIL form of Dt06-05(Love God:with passions..)
LIST490f
(C) Dr Hendel, Jan-04

GENERAL-DETAIL form of   Dt06-05(Love God:with passions..)
GENERAL-DETAIL TEXT OF VERSE RELIGION THEMES
GENERAL LOVE GOD Love God*1
--------- ---------------- -----------------------
DETAILS With your PASSIONS Serve God EMOTIONALLY*2
DETAILS With your COMFORTS Serve even if DISCOMFORT*3
DETAILS With your VERYs Serve even if LOSS*4
COMMENTS
*1 Rashi gives general comments that service from LOVE is
different/superior than service from FEAR or REVERENCE
This general idea of LOVING GOD is now developed thru
standard religious doctrines
-- all religions demand EMOTIONAL discipline
-- a 2nd stage is serving God even in DISCOMFORT
-- a 3rd stage is serving God even if one loses things
VERY IMPORTANT to one.

*2 Rashi: Love God with both your passions (Physical/social)
---------------------------------------------------------
Simply: Both the PHYSICAL as well the SOCIAL passions
should be used to serve God.

e.g. The SOCIAL HONORS one seeks should be religious
(like charity honors). Simarly the PHYSICAL pleasures
one seeks should be religious (eg KOSHER FOOD)


*3 Rashi: Love God even if God takes your LIFE
-------------------------------------------

Such an interpretation is anti-climactic. I would prefer

------------------------------------------------
Rashi: Love God even if he takes your COMFORTS
------------------------------------------------

This is consistent with the Biblical translation of
N-F-Sh as SPACIOUSNESS/COMFORT

*4 I would suggest that Rashi coins an IDIOM. The
Hebrew MEOD means VERY. Thus we can speak about
the VERYs of life---that is, the things that are
VERY IMPORTANT to one. See footnote *11 for
a more complete discussion.

LONGER FOOTNOTES

*10 It appears to me that Rashi here is making TWO
comments on TWO aspects of the verse
- How do you love God with your PASSIONS
- What does the word ALL mean in Love God with
ALL your passions

We have already discussed the five meanings of ALL
in the ALL series located either at
http://www.Rashiyomi.com/all-18.htm or
http://www.Rashiyomi.com/words.htm

When we revisit this again we will include this
Rashi. The basic idea is that ALL can mean NO
EXCEPTIONS. Hence the Rashi comment

--------------------------------------------------
Rashi: No aspect of your heart should cast doubt
on Gods Divine Providence
--------------------------------------------------

*11 A literal translation of Rashi is as follows
-------------------------------------------------
Rashi: Love God with your money; because there are
people who prefer to Forgo money over their life
A second interpretation is love God in all things
visited on you
-------------------------------------------------

I would suggest as follows. The first clause in
Rashi is interpreted
---------------------------------------------
Love God with your money; because there are
people who prefer to Forgo MONEY rather than
their COMFORTS
---------------------------------------------

Such an interpretation is consistent with the
Hebrew and principles of climax and the verse
- Love God EMOTIONALLY
- Love God even if you have DISCOMFORT
- Love God even if you LOSE MONEY
Notice how this FEELS SUPERIOR to a translation
of LOVE GOD EVEN IF HE TAKES YOUR LIFE. My suggested
translation is not a contradiction on Rashi but rather
a contradiction on how Rashi is translated (NFSh means
COMFORT rather than LIFE)

There is a deeper problem with this Rashi. The
word MEOD means VERY--it does not mean MONEY.

Hence I would assume that Rashi coined an idiom:
The VERYs of a person are those things that are
VERY IMPORTANT to him (e.g. MONEY is a VERY; but
happy/tragic occasions can also be VERYs (eg a
new job; loss of friend etc). The point here is
that one should love God with things that are
VERY important to you (whether you gain them
or lose them).

Taken as a whole the verse then has a natural
climax
- Love God with your passions (Standard religion)
- Love God even if it causes discomfort
- Love God even if you lose/Gain a VERY of yours

Such a translation is consistent with Rashi the
Hebrew and the principle of climax
*#*#*# (C) RashiYomi Inc., 2004, Dr. Hendel, President #*#*#*#*#
End of Rashi is Simple Digest
#*#*#*# (C) RashiYomi Inc., 2004, Dr. Hendel, President #*#*#*#*#