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 22 Number 3 For the WORD QUALITY HTML VERSION click here ----------------------------------- http://www.Rashiyomi.com/h22n3.htm ----------------------------------- Produced May 29-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 | |
Intro FAQ | We continue a month project on an INTRO FAQ*1 | |
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*1 Several people have asked me for a website FAQ telling people where to go for various things. Accordingly I am going to do one Q&A (Question and Answer) per issue until the FAQ is ready. IF DURING THIS PROCESS YOU WOULD LIKE A PARTICULAR ISSUE ADDRESSED (eg How do I...) FEEL FREE TO EMAIL ME AT rjhendel@Juno.com. (The question will be published in your name unless you ask me to preserve anonymity) Todays Q&A may be found in the green footnote section in footnote *10 | ||
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*10 QUESTION: Isnt SYMBOLISM subjective. Why list it as a RULE? ANSWER: Good question. The answer is as follows. Many people are unaware of a very deep 100 page essay by the master of symbolism, Rabbi Samson Raphael Hirsch, The essay GROUNDLINES FOR JEWISH SYMBOLISM discusses the following issues - Can we dare say that a passage MUST be interpreted symbolically - What are the (mechanical) rules that require this - Even if something is symbolic HOW do we interpret the symbol - What are the rules used for INTERPRETATION. This doesnt mean that everyone will agree on symbol interpretation Rather it means that symbolic interpretation is not totally arbitrary. A succinct, comprehensive and lucid summary of Rav Hirsch's symbolic methods may be found in my 10 page essay GENESIS ONE SPEAKS ABOUT THE CREATION OF PROPHECY NOT THE CREATION OF THE WORLD. It may be found at http://www.Rashiyomi.com/gen-1.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 | |
9 | 703h | Lamed+Hifil is e.g. LaNChoTham vs LeHaNChoTham | |
9 | 901e | Ayin-Lamed-Hey: In ACTIVE mode means GoUp;In PASSIVE=WITHDRAW | |
29 | 975k | ADULTERESS SAC:BRAN+CLAY = Poverty;Her sin = She sought HIGHs | |
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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 | |
======== | =============== | ===================================== | |
Nu05-22a | GRAMMARr | Lamed+Hifil =e.g.=LaNChoTham | |
Ex13-21a | GRAMMARr | Lamed+Hifil =e.g.=LaNChoTham | |
Dt01-33a | GRAMMARr | Lamed+Hifil =e.g.=LaNChoTham | |
Nu09-17a | ROOT+PREPOSITIO | ALH=Go Up; NaAlah=Remove from | |
Nu05-15a | SYMBOLISM | Poverty causes adultery (look for hi) | |
Nu05-15b | SYMBOLISM | Poverty causes adultery (look for hi) | |
Nu05-17b | SYMBOLISM | Poverty causes adultery (look for hi) | |
--------- | ---------------- | ------------------------------------- |
*#*#*# (C) RashiYomi Inc., 2003, Dr. Hendel, President #*#*#*#*#
VERSE: Nu05-22a
RASHIS COVERED: Nu05-22a Ex13-21a Dt01-33a
(C) Dr Hendel, Jan-04 | ||
SUCCINCT SUMMARY ---------------- One of Rashis 5 main goals is the teaching of grammar the same way grammar books teach grammar. Sometimes Rashi will simply teach the straightforward rules of verb conjugation as taught in modern grammar books EXAMPLE ------- The HIFIL (Causative mode) means to CAUSE some activity. The HIFIL is traditionally indicated by beginning with a HEY. The LAMED prefix means TO. Together---LAMED+HIFIL---means TO CAUSE SOME ACTIVITY. Normally this would be written as LAMED+HIFIL However the LAMED +INITIAL HEY are contracted into one letter (LAH vs LeHA). EXAMPLE Nu05-22a ---------------- Nu05-22a LaNPiL vs LeHaNPil TO CAUSE TO COLLAPSE Nu05-22a LaTzBoth vs LeHatzBoth TO CAUSE TO BLOAT Ex13-31a LaNChoTham vs LeHanChoTham TO GUIDE Dt01-33a LaROtheChem vs LeHaROtheChem TO SHOW(CAUSE TO SEE) | ||
ITEM | DETAIL | |
RASHI RULE CLASS: | GRAMMARr | |
RASHI SUBRULE CLASS | VERB CONJUGATIONS | |
RASHI WORKBOOK PRINCIPLE | #9 | |
SEE BELOW | LIST703h | |
List of verses with | Lamed+Hifil=e.g.=LaNChoTham vs LeHaNChoTham |
(C) Dr Hendel, Jan-04 | |||
List of verses with Lamed+Hifil=e.g.=LaNChoTham vs LeHaNChoTham | |||
VERSE | Lamed+Hifil | Brief Text of Verse (Lamed+Hifil CAPPED) | |
Nu05-22a | LaNPiL | ....TO CAUSE COLLAPSE to your thigh | |
Nu05-22a | LaTzBoth | ,,,,TO CAUSE BLOATING to your belly | |
Dt01-33a | LaROthChem | God...TO SHOW(CAUSE THEM TO SEE) the way | |
P026-07 | LaShMiAh | TO ANNOUNCE (CAUSE TO HEAR) in joy | |
------ | ----------- | ------------------------------------------- | |
2K09-15 | LaGiD | ...to go TO TELL the story*1 | |
Ex13-21a | LaNChoTham | Fire Cloud TO GUIDE THEM*1 | |
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*1 These two verbs are in the traditional causative mode even though they are not translated causatively |
*#*#*# (C) RashiYomi Inc., 2004, Dr. Hendel, President #*#*#*#*#
VERSE: Nu09-17a
(C) Dr Hendel, Jan-04 | ||
SUCCINCT SUMMARY ---------------- One of Rashis 5 main goals is the teaching of grammar the same way grammar books teach grammar. Rashi will sometimes show how the verb root in different MODES can mean different things. Here, Rashi can be aided by skillful use of PREPOSITIONAL connectives. EXAMPLE Nu09-17a ---------------- The root Ayin-Lamed-Hey means - TO GO UP (in the active grammatical mode) - TO WITHDRAW FROM or REMOVE FROM (in the passive mode) Thus Nu09-17 should be translated -------------------------------------------- ...the Divine Cloud WITHDREW from the Temple -------------------------------------------- | ||
ITEM | DETAIL | |
RASHI RULE CLASS: | GRAMMARr | |
RASHI SUBRULE CLASS | ROOT+PREPOSITION | |
RASHI WORKBOOK PRINCIPLE | #9 | |
SEE BELOW | LIST901e | |
List of verses with | Ayin-Lamed-Hey = GoUp;N-A-L-H = Withdraw |
(C) Dr Hendel, Jan-04 | ||||
List of verses with Ayin-Lamed-Hey = GoUp;N-A-L-H = WITHDRAW*10 | ||||
VERSE | MODE | PREP | TEXT OF VERSE(with translation of ALH capped) | |
P068-19 | ACTIVE | TO | You have GONE UP TO heaven | |
Ez19-03 | ACTIVE | -- | One of the lion-s cubs WENT UP | |
Gn32-27 | ACTIVE | -- | The dawn HAS COME UP | |
------ | -------- | -- | -------------------------------------- | |
Nu09-11a | PASSIVE | FROM | The Divine Cloud WITHDREW from the Temple | |
Nu16-27 | PASSIVE | FROM | WITHDRAW FROM the Korach crowd | |
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*10 There are verses with BOTH the active mode and the preposition FROM as in Gn17-22 God WENT UP FROM Abraham or Gn49-09 My Son, You are WITHDRAWN (ABOVE) Booty. Several solutions are possible SOLUTION 1: The active can mean EITHER go up or withdraw while the passive can ONLY mean WITHDRAW SOLUTION 2: Poetic license should be used in verses with ACTIVE + FROM. Thus Gn17-22 should read that GOD WENT UP TO HEAVEN (EVEN THOUGH HE WENT AWAY) FROM ABRAHAM (In other words Abraham would carry on Gods mission on earth). Similarly Gn49-09 could mean that MY SON YOU ARE WITHDRAWN (REMOVED) FROM MERE BOOTY. The reason the verse uses the ACTIVE mode is for poetic license--it indicates that Judah wasnt PASSIVE in not getting involved in fabricating Josephs murder but rather he ACTIVELY sought to be removed from the plot of the brothers. |
*#*#*# (C) RashiYomi Inc., 2004, Dr. Hendel, President #*#*#*#*#
VERSE: Nu05-15a
RASHIS COVERED: Nu05-15a Nu05-15b Nu05-17b
(C) Dr Hendel, Jan-04 | ||
SUCCINCT SUMMARY ---------------- A major component of Biblical commentary is to indicate SYMBOLIC meaning (when the text requires it). For a full comprehensive discussion of SYMBOLISM--when is it required and how is it to be interpreted--see my symbolism article at http://www.Rashiyomi.com/gen-1.htm EXAMPLE Nu05-15:17 ------------------ - All other MINCHAH offerings used FINE flour - The adulteress MINCHAH used BRAN flour - All other OFFERINGS used GOLD/SILVER/COPPER utensils - The adulteress MINCHAH used EARTHENWARE utensils Clearly BRAN and EARTHEWARE symbolize POVERTY. Recall that the MINCHAH offering symbolizes affirmation of content with ones material lot (ones FLOUR(=food),OIL(=luxury), and HAPPINESS(=Frankincense)). So the idea seems to be the following: - The adulteress typically lives a life of poverty(BRAN and - EARTHEWARE). She is typically NOT CONTENT (No Minchah) She - therefore seeks HIGHs and excitement--sometimes thru the - material values (FLOUR and GOLD) of others. Her adultery - sin is a sin of seeking HIGHS. Therefore part of her rebuke - or atonement is to affirm satisfaction in her lot | ||
ITEM | DETAIL | |
RASHI RULE CLASS: | SYMBOLISM | |
RASHI SUBRULE CLASS | SYMBOLISM | |
RASHI WORKBOOK PRINCIPLE | #29 | |
SEE BELOW | LIST975k | |
List of | Items in Adulteress sac(Symbolize poverty) |
(C) Dr Hendel, Jan-04 | |||||||
List of Items in Adulteress sac(Symbolize poverty) | |||||||
ITEM | USUAL | SYMBOLIZES | VERSE | ADULTERESS | SYMBOL | VERSE | |
MINCHAH*1 | FLOUR | Good life | Lv02-01 | Bran*3 | Poor life | Nu05-15:17 | |
Utensil | Gold | Good life | *2 | Clay*3 | Poor life | Nu05-15:17 | |
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*1 The MINCHAH offering symbolized SATISFACTION with ones material life. More specifically it symbolized - satisfaction with ones food (FLOUR component) - satisfaction with ones luxuries (OIL component) - satisfaction with ones joys/happiness(FRANKINCENSE) *2 e.g. Ex25-29 (Gold utensils for TABLE) Ex25-39 (Gold utensils for CANDELLABRAH) Ex27-03 (Copper utensils for ALTAR) Nu07-13 (Silver bowls for Prince dedication) Nu07-14 (Gold spoons for Prince dedication) Thus all utensils were made from GOLD, COPPER and SILVER We never find any Temple utensils made from EARTHENWARE *3 The idea seems to be the following: - The adulteress is poor (BRAN vs FLOUR, CLAY vs SILVER-GOLD) - Hence she seeks HIGHS and excitement from wealthier people - This led to her (possible) sin of adultery - To atone/be Rebuked for her sin she needs to AFFIRM that she should be content (MINCHAH OFFERING) with her POOR ENVIRONMENT (Bran and Clay)*10 | |||||||
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*10 Rashi does not exactly put it this way but I do believe this is his intent. Rashis exact language is ------------------------------------------------------- She sought to pour for her lover in GOLDEN vessels; Therefore she brings an offering in CLAY vessels She performed an ANIMAL sin; Therefore her offering uses ANIMAL food (Bran) ------------------------------------------------------- However Rashi is simply putting the ideas in a PUNNY fashion to emphasize the contrast. We have taken Rashis idea ----------------------------------------------- ..tried to pour for her lover in Golden vessels .. therefore she brings offerings in clay vessels ----------------------------------------------- and have simply added that SHE IS USED TO CLAY/POVERTY and seeks happiness throught what she doesnt have(GOLD). Similarly we accept Rashis idea that ----------------------------------- ...she performed an ANIMAL soon and ...her offering is from ANIMAL food ----------------------------------- We have simply added the idea of CAUSALITY. This -- the life of poverty -- is the way she is and THEREFORE she sinned (in order to taste RICHES) |
*#*#*# (C) RashiYomi Inc., 2004, Dr. Hendel, President #*#*#*#*#