SUCCINCT SUMMARY
----------------
The ALIGNMENT method seeks to extract nuances from the minor differences in
the alignment of two almost identical verses. The contrast of the two almost
identical verses points to an emphasis in the minor aligned differences. The
use of alignment to emphasize nuances is similar in tone to the use of
footnotes to emphasize points in modern prose. The ALIGNMENT method can be
used either to infer MEANING, infer NUANCES, or contrast TWO CASES.

EXAMPLE Ex30-03a ALIGNMNET of COPPER vs GOLD altar
-------------------------------------------------
Ex27-01:08 contains the commandment to produce the copper altar.
Ex30-01:05 contains the commandment to produce the gold altar.
By comparing the items in the two chapters we can infer
- which items BOTH altars have
- which items ONLY one altar has.

A reading of Ex27-01:08 shows mention of
-height, width, length, horns, BELT,rings, carrying sticks,HOLLOW BOX form

A reading of Ex30-01:05 shows mention of
-height, width, length, horns, ----,rings, carrying stick, ROOF, CROWN

RASHI: As the capped words show, the GOLD ALTAR has a ROOF while the
COPPER ALTAR is a hollow box filled with dirt without roof.

In the SPIRIT of Rashi I would add,
- the COPPER altar has a BELT, the GOLD altar doesnt
- the GOLD altar has a CROWN, the COPPER altar doesnt

The best way of learning Rashi is taking the methods he uses
and applying it to new situations.

LIST313v below summarizes this alignment.

Align verses with        COPPER vs GOLD altar-which items belong to which

SUCCINCT SUMMARY:
-----------------
The WORD MEANING method seeks to present dictionary meaning.
Rashi uses 10 vehicles to infer word meaning. Rashi could very
simply indicate how words are named by their FORM or FUNCTION.
For example, the PENTAGON and U.N. are both protective agencies.
But the PENTAGON is named by its FORM, what it looks like, while
the U.N. is named by its PURPOSE and GOAL, to unite nations.

EXAMPLE Ex30-08a
----------------
The Biblical text speaks about RAISING A FLAME
Rashi explains that RAISING a flame means LIGHTING a flame.

Here the word for IGNITION is named by the FORM of the activity---
the lit flame tends to RISE. Hence RISE is a word for IGNITION.

EXAMPLE Ex28-33b
----------------
The word Pay-Ayin-Mem mea HAMMAR. However Pay-Ayin-Mem can
also mean the following items whose ACTIVITY FORM resembles
hammaring
- footstepping
- Ding-Dong-Bell

LIST813b below gives other examples of words named by the
FORM of their ACTIVITY

List of words            Named by the FORM of their activity

SUCCINCT SUMMARY
----------------
The WORD MEANING method seeks to present dictionary meaning.
Rashi uses 10 vehicles to infer word meaning. Many Biblical
word meanings follow the rule of METONOMY. METONOMY means that
a word can refer to a closely related item--for example AMERICA
DEFEATED IRAQ really means THE AMERICAN PEOPLE DEFEATED THE
IRAQUI PEOPLE. Here AMERICA metonomically means AMERICANS.

EXAMPLE Ex30-07b
----------------
The Bible frequently refers to the FLAMES OF CANDELLABRAH

Rashi: The word FLAME can either mean
- the actual lit flame
- the oil flames which hold the wicks (METONOMY)


EXAMPLE Ex27-20a
----------------
The Bible mentions CLEAR OIL

RASHI (Paraphrased): Technically CLEAR OIL could either refer to
- oil that is clear
- oil that produces a clear light (METONOMY)

Rashi explains that in Ex27-20a CLEAR OIL refers to literally
clear oil WITHOUT dregs. Rashi cites the Talmud which explains
the oil production process.

LIST871m below presents other examples of Biblical METONOMY

List of words which mean related items-METONOMY*10

SUCCINCT SUMMARY:
-----------------
The BULLET method seeks to rewrite Biblical verses in modern
typesetting layout. The Bible indicates a bulleted list by
repeating KEYWORDS. The BULLET method can also be applied to
POETRY or PARAGRAPH STRUCTURE.

EXAMPLE Ex30-06a
----------------
The Biblical text reads
------------------------------------
Place the altar
BEFORE the veil of the ark
BEFORE the cover of the ark
------------------------------------

RASHI (Paraphrased)
-------------------
Notice the repeated keyword BEFORE. This creates a bullet
effect. The verse in modern typsetting format would read
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Place the altar before
*                      the veil of the ark
*                      the cover of the ark
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
The bulleted list creates an emphasis on each bulleted item.
Hence we infer that
-LENGTHWISE: The Gold altar is before the veil of the ark.
----------  That is the ARK is in the holy of holies
----------  WHile the Gold altar is in the Holies
----------  The veil separates the holy from the holy of holies

- WIDTHWISE: The GOLD altar is CENTRALLY positioned
---------- opposite the ark.

LIST115a below summarizes this bulleted verse.

List of requirements for placement of Gold Altar

SUCCINCT SUMMARY
----------------
The STYLE method governs whether a verse is interpreted
literally or broadly. Many of the 13 exegetical rules
of Rabbi Ishmael are rules of STYLE. Certain styles require
strict literal interpretation of the text while certain styles
require broad interpretation of the text. The
THEME-DETAIL-THEME method perceives the Biblical text as a
paragraph--the DETAILS are perceived as examples, to be
generalized and interpreted like the THEME.


EXAMPLE Ex30-07:08
------------------
The Biblical text at Ex30-07:08 has the following form
-------------------------------------------------------
GENERAL Offer incense
DETAIL                    at menorah time in morn offer
DETAIL                    at menorah time in eve  offer
GENERAL continual incense
-------------------------------------------------------


Rashi (paraphrased)
-------------------
- THEME by itself -- offer incense --
would imply offer anytime of day

- DETAIL by itself -- offer at menorah time--
would imply RESTRICTIVELY that IF you offer
incense you can ONLY offer it by day

- THEME-DETAIL-THEME form indicates a paragraph:
OFFER INCENSE THE SAME WAY YOU DO MENORAH--
DO IT ONCE A DAY BUT ONLY IN THE MORNING

Here the THEME-DETAIL-THEME has broadened
the fully restrictive detail clause, offer
by morning and eve, but every  day

Still another way of looking at this is that
THEME-DETAIL-THEME form creates an analogy
-----------------------------------------
Incense is offered the same way the menorah
services are performed:
- Once a day
- at morn and evening
-----------------------------------------

THEME-DETAIL-THEME method in  Ex30-07:08-Offer incense daily

Lighting summary of Rashis with emphasis on Rashi rules*10