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 24 Number 2 For the WORD QUALITY HTML VERSION click here ----------------------------------- http://www.Rashiyomi.com/h24n2.htm ----------------------------------- Produced Nov 24 th, 2004 |
(C) Dr Hendel, Jan-04 | |||
* USE FIXED WIDTH FONTS (eg COURIER (NEW) 10)*1 * * IF IN A RUSH--ONLY read the SUCCINCT SUMMARY SECTION * IF you have more time--READ THE LISTS OF EXAMPLES * IF YOU HAVE LOTS OF TIME--read all footnotes * * (UN)SUBSCRIBE/CONTACTS: RJHendel@Juno.com | |||
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Only 2-3 mintues | SUCCINT SUMMARY | BROWN | |
Only 5-8 minutes | LISTS | BROWN/BEIGE/BLUE | |
Maybe 20-30 minutes | BIG FOOTNOTE SECTION | GREEN SECTION | |
Time to do research | SUMMARY OVERVIEWS*2 | Newsletter Bottom | |
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*1 FIXED WIDTH FONTS are needed for the TEXT version For the HTML version you do not need to reset the browser For html or PDF version visit http://www.Rashiyomi.com/ris.htm *2 Each digest has two summary overviews - LIGHTNING SUMMARIES (List of lists in this issue) - OVERVIEW (List of Rashis covered in this issue) |
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VERSE: Gn35-02a
RASHIS COVERED: Gn35-02a Gn35-02b Gn35-02c
(C) Dr Hendel, Jan-04 | ||
SUCCINCT SUMMARY ---------------- Rashi frequently made inferences based on the Biblical STYLE. We call this the Rashi STYLE Rule. The Rashi STYLE RULE also includes applications of the powerful 13 STYLE rules of Rabbi Ishmael. A powerful style subrule was the painting of a verse in a CLIMACTIC DEVELOPMENT manner.We call this the RASHI SUBRULE of CLIMAX. EXAMPLE Gn35-02 REMOVAL OF IDOLS TO GO TO GOD --------------------------------------------- Gn35-02 states that Jacob requested of his household -------------------- - remove the IDOLS in your midst - PURIFY yourselves - change your CLOTHES - and we will GET UP - and we will GO UP to the HOUSE OF GOD - to the GOD who answered me when I prayed to him -------------------- Rashi explains as follows -------------------------------------------------------- - IDOLS refer to the IDOLS captured in the war on Schem - PURIFY oneself refers to RITUAL IMMERSION - CHANGE CLOTHES refers to the clothing of the idolaters -------------------------------------------------------- Thus Rashi interprets the verse using the principle of CLIMAX. The removal of IDOLS happens in 3 stages - FIRST we remove the PHYSICAL IDOLS - NEXT we RITUALLY IMMERSE ourselves We remove the DUST of the IDOLS and any rememberance - FINALLY we remove IDOL-related utensils such as clothes, or idol materials(eg gold) The climax of this sequence should be obvious since we remove - the PHYSICAL OBJECT (Idol itself) - effects on OUR BODY (Idol dust) - effects on our POSSESSIONS (Clothing, utensils) LIST450s below summarizes the CLIMACTIC development. On the RashiYomi LISTS page you can find other examples of CLIMAX in the LIST450 series. | ||
ITEM | DETAIL | |
RASHI RULE CLASS: | RABBI ISHMAEL STYLE | |
RASHI SUBRULE CLASS | CLIMAX | |
RASHI WORKBOOK PRINCIPLE | #25 | |
SEE BELOW | LIST450s | |
List of IDOL removal | REMOVE:a)idols b)idol dust c)idol utensils |
(C) Dr Hendel, Jan-04 | ||||
List of IDOL removal REMOVE:a)idols b)idol dust c)idol utensils | ||||
VERSE | Text of Verse | REMOVE.... | Climax Sequence | |
Gn35-02a | Remove idols Idols | Physical idol | the idol object*10 | |
Gn35-02b | Immerse yourself | Idol dust On our body | effect on body | |
Gn35-02c | Change clothes | clothing of idolaters | effect on possesions | |
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*10 Rashi states that these idols could have come from the war on Schem. Rashis reasoning is as follows -------------------------------------------------------- - Jacob did not suspect anyone having Labans idols as he curses those who stole it (Gn31-32) - People knew that Jacob believed in God (and not idols) - We know that capturing idols and idol-related utensils happens in war (Dt08-25:26) - we also know that the Bible prohibits any IDOL RELATED item (Dt08-25:26 and Dt13-17:18) -------------------------------------------------------- Hence Rashi conjectures that the idols could have come from the war on Schem. However Rashis mainpoint is that the verse is CLIMACTIC. The argument presented in this footnote illustrates the SPREADSHEET argument which involves making complicated inferences from a listing of verses. We will further augment the SPREADSHEET lists at the appropriate time in another posting. |
*#*#*# (C) RashiYomi Inc., 2004, Dr. Hendel, President #*#*#*#*#
VERSE: Gn35-01a
RASHIS COVERED: Gn35-01a Gn33-13c Gn33-14a Gn35-22a
(C) Dr Hendel, Jan-04 | ||
SUCCINCT SUMMARY ------------------ One of Rashis 6 main goals is to explain Grammar the same way modern textbooks do. We call this the Rashi rule of GRAMMAR Although a major part of GRAMMAR deals with the conjugation of verbs, there are other parts of GRAMMAR. One important GRAMMAR SUBRULE in the rule governing either - how PARAGRAPHS are ORGANIZED in an essay or - how SENTENCES are ORGANIZED in a paragraph That is, why does one sentence or paragraph come after another sentence or paragraph? Rashi knew 4 methods of connecting consecutive paragraphs or consecutive sentences - CAUSE - ENABLEMENT - CONTRAST - UNIFYING THEME EXAMPLE Gn35-01a ---------------- A rough summary of Gn31 - Gn35 is as follows -------------------------------------------- - Gn31 God orders Jacob to return to his fathers house - Gn32 But Jacob is afraid of Being with Brother Esauv - Gn33 Jacob journeys instead to Succoth - Gn34 Dinah gets raped - Gn35 God tells Jacob to return to BethEl ------------------------------------------- Rashi notes that ----------------------------- If Jacob had IMMEDIATELY fulfilled the order of Travelling to his fathers house he wouldnt have stayed in Succoth and his Daughter would not have gotten raped. ------------------------------ Thus Rashi sees a CAUSAL connection between the chapters. Dinah was raped because Jacob did not IMMEDIATELY fulfill the prophetic order. EXAMPLE Gn31-13c Gn31-13d ---------------- Gn31-13:15 states that ---------------------------------------------- Esauv requested of Jacob: Let us travel to father together. Jacob responds: But the children and cattle are young; [If] [I were to go with you] and the cattle are rushed even one day [then] the cattle could die. Jacob continues: Therefore you Esauv [by contrast with me], [go at your own pace even if you] leave me behind, and I will travel gently till I get to father. ---------------------------------------------- In translating these verses I have inserted bracketed expressions corresponding to the way Rashi interprets the text. The bracketed words inserted by Rashi emphasize both - the causal nature(rushed sheep lead to death) - the contrasting nature(I go gently;you normally) Thus Rashi is applying the PARAGRAPH CONNECTIVE PRINCIPLES of causality and contrast. Other Rashis illustrating causality and contrast are presented in LIST061a and LIST061b below. | ||
ITEM | DETAIL | |
RASHI RULE CLASS: | GRAMMAR | |
RASHI SUBRULE CLASS: | CONSECUTIVE CHAPTERS | |
RASHI WORKBOOK PRINCIPLE | #9 | |
SEE BELOW | LIST061a | |
A list of paragraphs | having CAUSAL connection | |
----------------------- | ------------------------------- | |
SEE BELOW | LIST061b | |
A list of paragraphs | having a CONTRASTING connection |
(C) Dr Hendel, Jan-04 | |||
A list of paragraphs having CAUSAL connection | |||
VERSE | TOPIC IN 1st CHAPTER | TOPIC IN 2nd CHAPTER | |
Gn35-01a | Dinah is raped | Prophetic order to leave*6 | |
Gn33-13c | Young Sheep | IF pushed they will die*7 | |
Gn29-01a | God WITH Jacob | Jacob travelled SMOOTHLY*5 | |
Nu06-02a | Adulterous wife rite | Nazaarite from wine*1 | |
Gn38-01a | Brothers sell Joseph | Judah leaves brothers*1 | |
Gn23-03c | Abraham offers Isaac | Sarah dies*1 | |
Gn02-20a | Adam Eve are Naked | Snake gives Eve Apple*2 | |
Lv10-02a | Non-allowed sac | Death of Aarons sons*3 | |
Lv10-02a | Death of Aarons sons | No wine to serving priest*3 | |
Lv10-03d | Death of Righteous | God honored*4 | |
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*1 Thus "whoever see the humiliating Adulterous wife rite" will be so shocked that he will abstain from wine Similarly "Judah advised his brothers to sell Joseph" and so when they regretted it they blaimed him and he had to "separate from them." Similarly "Sarah died" from the shock that "Abraham offered Isaac." *2 In other words because the snake saw Adam and Eve naked therefore he became Jealous and wanted Adam killed so he could marry Eve. ALthough this sounds a bit wild there is strong supporting evidence. Gn04-01 uses the past perfect form And Adam HAD BEEN FAMILIAR with his wife & they had a child" So the sequence of chapters is Adam was lonely God makes Eve Adam and Eve are naked ------------------------"Snake tempts Eve" Adam has a child with Eve Thus the sequence of chapters (Naked--->child) is clearly interrupted by the Snake story. *3 As explained above Rashi sees these two views as complementary - First they drank wine and got drunk - While drunk they thought it permissable to offer sacrifices which should not be offered Hence they died for both crimes *4 Rashi explains the Causal connection - when the masses see that God EVEN kills the righteous for sins - then they are aware how they must also observe Gods commandments - This leads to more honor for God *5 So GOOD NEWS facilitates/causes SMOOTH TRAVEL(Rashi) *6 The full sequence of chapters is as follows -------------------------------------------- - Gn31 God orders Jacob to return to his fathers house - Gn32 But Jacob is afraid of Being with Brother Esauv - Gn33 Jacob journeys instead to Succoth - Gn34 Dinah gets raped - Gn35 God tells Jacob to return to BethEl ------------------------------------------- Rashi notes that ----------------------------- If Jacob had IMMEDIATELY fulfilled the order of Travelling to his fathers house he wouldnt have stayed in Succoth and his Daughter would not have gotten raped. ------------------------------ Thus Rashi sees a CAUSAL connection between the chapters. Dinah was raped because Jacob did not IMMEDIATELY fulfill the prophetic order. Note Rashi expresses the same theme ------------------------------------------------- Because he delayed doing the prophecy immediately therefore he was punished that certain bad occurrences happened to him ------------------------------------------------- Rashi expresses this same theme on Gn35-22a where we find that Reuven inteferred with his fathers marital life. *7 Rashi can be better understood with the EXPORT-IMPORT LAW of logic. The EXPORT-IMPORT law states that ---------------------------------------------------- IF [it rains] then if [I go out] THEN [I will get wet] ---------------------------------------------------- has the same meaning as ---------------------------------------------------- IF [it rains] and [I go out] THEN [I will get wet] ---------------------------------------------------- In other words Rashi identifies the two sentence forms - IF p THEN IF q THEN r - IF p & q THEN r This identification of NESTED CONDITIONALS with a CONJUNCTIVE HYPOTHESIS is called the EXPORT-IMPORT law. The actual Biblical text reads --------------------------------------------- The cattle is young AND they will be pushed one day AND they will die --------------------------------------------- Rashi simply points out (Using EXPORT-IMPORT) that we can interpret this as either --------------------------------------------- [IF] The cattle is young AND they will be pushed one day THEN they will die --------------------------------------------- or --------------------------------------------- IF The cattle is young IF they will be pushed one day THEN they will die --------------------------------------------- The above two translations use the well known Biblical principle that the Hebrew letter VAV can refer to any connective. |
(C) Dr Hendel, Jan-04 | ||||
A list of paragraphs having a CONTRASTING connection | ||||
# | VERSE | TOPIC IN 1st CHAPTER | TOPIC IN 2nd CHAPTER | |
(09) | Lv26-01a | Being a slave to Non Jew | Prohibition of Idolatry*1 | |
(10) | Dt29-12a | Curses | We are before God*2 | |
(11) | Lv19-03c | Fear Parents | Watch Sabbaths*3 | |
(12) | Dt22-12a | No Shaatnez | Tzitzith*4 | |
(--) | Dt09, Dt10 | Jews rebel against God | But God still loves Jews*5 | |
(--) | Gn31-13d | I will go GENTLY | You will PASS ME*6 | |
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*1 Rashi not only connects 2 paragraphs. He also connects all Biblical paragraphs in this chapter. See footnote *10 for further details *2 Dt28 gives a long list of curses if the Jews violate the commandments. Dt29-12 says "You are all STANDING before God today" In other words despite the curses for disobediance you are still here before God(The implication being that no matter how angry God gets he will not destroy you) A further support for this theme can come from the General-particular-General form Dt28 GENERAL: Curses for disobediance Dt29-12 PARTICULAR: You are standing here before God Dt29-19 GENERAL: Curses for disobediance Thus the General-Particular-General form shows that Gods curses still allow us to "Stand before him"--in other words they are educative curses not punitive. *3 In other words (always) "Observe the Sabbaths" DESPITE a request to the contrary "By your parents" This can happen if eg your parents ask you to desecrate the Sabbath. You must observe the Sabbath even if your parents request to the contrary. And this can be generalized to all Torah laws(that they take precedence over your parents request) *4 Wear Tzitzith DESPITE the fact that they may have Shaatnez Wool and linen together (In the priestly garments made of Linen the Tzitzith were made of wool--thus the commandment of Tzitzith OVERRIDES the prohibtion of wearing wool and linen) *5 More specifically Rashi (Dt10-12a) states --------------------------------------------- Despite the 5 rebellions that the Jews did against God, nevertheless, God still loves the Jews. In fact Dt10-12 states that all the Jews need do to earn this love is to revere God --------------------------------------------- *6 Rashis point is that Jacob did not ask Esauv ---------------------------- Past me and leave me behind ---------------------------- Rather Jacob suggested contrast ------------------------------------------------ - I must go at a gentle pace - you go at a normal pace ------------------------------------------------ A logical consequence of this contrast is that Esauv would pass Jacob and leave him behind. | ||||
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*10 On a superficial level Rashi seems to be connecting 2 verses. Avoid idolatry DESPITE your being a slave to a non jew (who encourages its violation). Do not think "I will worship idols now and when I am free I will go back to believing in God" On a profound level Rashi sees a unifying theme to this whole chapter. The chapter encourages observing the shimitah laws which encourage abstaining from agriculture once every 7 years so that people can devote themselves to God and study. If one violates these laws he is progressively punished. Here is the sequence of punishments {LIST} {Paragraphs in BEHAR} ------------------------------------------------------- VERSE LAW ------------ ------------------------------------------ Lv25-01:12 Observe the 7 and 50 year Land sabbaticals Lv25-13:24 If not you will have to sell your MOVABLES Lv25-25:28 If not you will have to sell your LAND Lv25-29:34 If not you will have to sell your HOUSE Lv25-35:38 If not you will have to LOAN Lv25-39:46 If not you will have to become a SLAVE Lv25-47:54 If not you'll become a NONJEWISH SLAVE Lv26-01:03 If not you'll be tempted to IDOLATRY --------------------------------------------------------- Thus Rashi does not merely teach juxtaposition of verses but he also teaches juxtaposition of ALL paragraphs in the chapter. |
*#*#*# (C) RashiYomi Inc., 2004, Dr. Hendel, President #*#*#*#*#
(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 | |
25 | 450s | IDOL REMOVAL:a)actual idol b)idol dust on body c)idol utensils | |
9 | 061a | Dinah was raped BECAUSE Jacob didnt immediately follow prophecy | |
9 | 061a | VAV=IF/THEN/AND:Sheep are young;IF they are pushed,they will die | |
9 | 061b | CONTRAST: I(Jacob) will walk slowly;You walk normally(& pass me) | |
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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. All lists may be found at http://www.Rashiyomi.com/lists.htm |
(C) Dr Hendel, Jan-04 | |||
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VERSE | RULE | BRIEF DESCRIPTION | |
======== | =============== | ===================================== | |
Gn35-02a | CLIMAX | Remove a)idols b)idol dust c)utensils | |
Gn35-02b | CLIMAX | Remove a)idols b)idol dust c)utensils | |
Gn35-02c | CLIMAX | Remove a)idols b)idol dust c)utensils | |
Gn35-01a | GRAMMARr | Consecutive paragraphs:CAUSE/CONTRAST | |
Gn35-22a | GRAMMARr | Consecutive paragraphs:CAUSE/CONTRAST | |
Gn35-13c | GRAMMARr | Consecutive paragraphs:CAUSE/CONTRAST | |
Gn35-13d | GRAMMARr | Consecutive paragraphs:CAUSE/CONTRAST | |
--------- | ---------------- | ------------------------------------- |
*#*#*# (C) RashiYomi Inc., 2004, Dr. Hendel, President #*#*#*#*#