Rashi-Is-Simple Mailing List VISIT the RASHI DATABASE archives AT http://www.RashiYomi.com/ Surfing the Talmudic Seas (C) RashiYomi Incorporated, 2005 Written by Dr Russell Jay Hendel Volume 25 Number 19 For the WORD QUALITY HTML VERSION click here ----------------------------------- http://www.Rashiyomi.com/h25n19.htm ----------------------------------- Produced Apr 18 th, 2005 |
(C) Dr Hendel, Jan-04 | |||
* --------------------------------------------------------- * H A P P Y P A S S O V E R H A P P Y P A S S O V E R * --------------------------------------------------------- * 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 | |||
HOW MUCH TIME DO YOU HAVE | WHAT SHOULD YOU READ | SECTION COLOR | |
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 on bottom: - LIGHTNING SUMMARIES (List of lists in this issue) - OVERVIEW (List of Rashis covered in this issue) |
*#*#*# (C) RashiYomi Inc., 2005, Dr. Hendel, President #*#*#*#*#
VERSE: Lv20-03a
RASHIS COVERED: Lv20-03a Lv20-13a Lv20-17a Lv19-27a
(C) Dr Hendel, Jan-04 | ||
SUCCINCT SUMMARY ---------------- One of Rashis 10 main goals is the explanation of meaning the same way a dictionary explains meaning. We call this the Rashi method of WORD MEANING. Rashi had 10 vehicles by which to explain words. Today we examine three submethods of meaning. EXAMPLE OF SUBMETHOD: IDIOMS / NEW MEANINGS ------------------------------------------- Rashi frequently explains not, word meaning, but rather phrase meaning. That is each particular word in the phrase may have a known meaning but the collection of words together form a NEW IDIOMATIC MEANING. We call this the NEW MEANING or the IDIOM SUBMETHOD. EXAMPLE: PLACE FACE ------------------- Lv17-10 states --------------------------------------- I, God, will PLACE MY FACE against the person eating blood and cut him off from my people --------------------------------------- Rashi comments ------------------------------------ The phrase PLACE MY FACE is an idiom meaning DEVOTE ALL MY ATTENTION/FOCUS ------------------------------------ An almost identical biblical phrase and Rashi occurs at Lv20-03a EXAMPLE Lv20-13 --------------- The Biblical text at Lv20-13 states ------------------------------------------------------ Dont sleep homosexually with men like SLEEPINGS WITH WOMEN ------------------------------------------------------ Rashi comments ------------------------------------------------- SLEEPINGS WITH WOMEN includes vaginal and anal sex [but excludes oral sex]. In other words there is no death penalty (just a prohibition) of oral sex between men ------------------------------------------------- LIST854y below gives further examples of Biblical idioms. EXAMPLE OF SUBMETHOD: UNIFIED MEANING ------------------------------------- The UNIFIED MEANING submethod seeks to find a UNIFIED MEANING to a root with disparate meanings. Todays example is particularly good and sheds light on several difficult verses. EXAMPLE: Cheth-Samach-Daleth means KINDNESS/FAVOR ------------------------------------------------- - Gn47-29 do me a FAVOR--dont bury me in Egypt - Gn40-14 do me a FAVOR--mention to the King I am in prison - Gn24-12 God, please do me a FAVOR--give him a charitable women ---------------------------------------------------------------- - Pr25-10 Dont insult; he might do you a FAVOR;its embarassing - Lv20-17a if a person sleeps with his sister-if she does a FAVOR ---------------------------------------------------------------- This last verse has evoked extreme controversy---why is incest called A FAVOR? Some claim that Cheth-Samech-Daleth could mean the opposite, SHAMEFUL. However the psychology of incest is well known and affords us a simpler explanation - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Most men are willing to take the risks of a sexual encounter Which requires sustaining a certain amount of tension. A person whose masculinity is so destroyed that he would only have sex with someone he trusts--like his sister--is not acting like an adult but receiving a FAVOR from someone he trusts (Despite this kindness/favor (vs lust) incest is universally prohibited) - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - This seems to be the simplest explanation of this unique verse and seems consistent with Rashi. At any rate the UNIFIED MEANING of Chest-Samech-Daleth is FAVOR/KINDNESS and this applies to Pr25-10 and Lv20-17a LIST863v below summarizes this unified meaning and arguments EXAMPLE OF SUBMETHOD: 8 METHODS OF NAMING ----------------------------------------- Rashi frequently identifies meaning by focusing on the FORM and FUNCTION of words. For example: Both the UNITED NATIONS and PENTAGON are institutions that protect but the PENTAGON is named by its FORM, while the UNITED NATIONS is named by its GOAL and PURPOSE to unite nations. (There are other methods of NAMING words -- for example by SUBSTANCE (iron, glasses) by FEEL (HARDSHIP) etc. EXAMPLE: Don-t CIRCLE your head ------------------------------- Lv19-27a states ---------------------- DONT CIRCLE YOUR HEAD ---------------------- Rashi comments: ------------------------------------------------------- Don't create the CIRCLE FORM on your head by shaving the sideburns (so that the hairline from ear to ear has the FORM of a SEMI-CIRCLE) ------------------------------------------------------- LIST813b below presents other words named by FORM. | ||
ITEM | DETAIL | |
RASHI RULE CLASS: | WORD MEANINGS | |
RASHI SUBRULE CLASS | NEW MEANINGS | |
RASHI WORKBOOK PRINCIPLE | #7 | |
SEE BELOW | LIST854y | |
List of | Biblical idioms(eg FROM DAYS DAYS=YEARLY) | |
----------------------- | ----------------------------------------- | |
RASHI SUBRULE CLASS | UNIFIED MEANING | |
SEE BELOW | LIST863v | |
List of verses with | Root Cheth-Samech-Dalet=FAVOR/KINDNESS | |
---------------------- | ---------------------------------------- | |
SEE BELOW | LIST813b | |
List of words | named by FORM(e.g. brain-STORMING) |
(C) Dr Hendel, Jan-04 | |||
List of words named by FORM(e.g. brain-STORMING) | |||
SOURCE | WORD | HOW WORD IS NAMED BY FORM OF ACTIVITY | |
Lv11-30a | TINSHEMETH mammal | Looks the same as the BAT(TINSHEMETH) | |
Ex30-34a | The DRIP PERFUME | Perfume DRIPPING from tree bark | |
Ex30-34b | The SHINY perfume | Perfume that is SHINY/SMOOTH | |
ENGLISH | FLYing | Performing the activity of the FLY | |
ENGLISH | SURFING the web | continuous light touching pages | |
ENGLISH | brain-STORMING | continuous bombardment of ideas | |
Gn14-20a | SHIELDED your enemies | BUNDLING up the enemies | |
Ex30-08a | RAISING flame | Igniting a flame--(Flame goes up) | |
Ex28-33b | Ding-Dong-Bell*1 | HAMMAR,BELL,FOOTSTEP all have same FRM | |
Lv19-27a | Don-t CIRCLE the head | no shave sideburns leaves SEMICIRCLE*2 | |
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*1 The root Pay-Ayin-Mem can equally refer to - hammaring - footstepping - ding-dong-bells *2 DONT CIRCLE YOUR HEAD is a prohibition against shaving the SIDEBURNS For if you shave your sideburns then from ear to ear you have the appearance and FORM of a semi-CIRCLE |
(C) Dr Hendel, Jan-04 | ||||
List of Biblical idioms..eg FROM DAYS DAYS=YEARLY LIST854y continues LIST854d LIST854y | ||||
VERSE | BIBLICAL PHRASE | TRANSLATION | NOTES | |
Lv20-03a | PLACE FACE | Total attention/focus | ||
Lv17-10b | PLACE FACE | Total attention/focus | ||
Lv13-12a | HEAD to FOOT Whole bod | y | ||
Lv11-03e | RAISES WINDPIPE | Chews cud(redigests) | *2 | |
Lv05-01a | VOICE OF CURSE/OATH | subpoena for evidence | ||
Lv04-12c | ASH SPILL | Place of ash remains | ||
Ex32-06b | STIFF NECK | Stubborn | *1 | |
Ex09-18a | LIKE THIS TIME TOMORROW | Same hour;next day | ||
Ex14-08b | HIGH HAND | Brazenly | ||
Nu15-30a | HIGH HAND | Intentionally | ||
Ex14-27b | TURN OF MORNING | Dawn | ||
Ex17-04a | A LITTLE MORE AND.. | I am afraid that | ||
Ex22-01b | HAS NO BLOOD | Is not a MURDERER | ||
Gn37-26b | COVER BLOOD | conceal MURDER | ||
Lv20-13 | SLEEPINGS WITH WOMEN | anal/vaginal-not oral | ||
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*1 Some other examples of this idiom occur at Ex32-09 Ex33-04 Ex33-05 Ex34-09 Dt09-06 Dt09-13 Pr29-01 *2 That is: The animal - chews - regurgitates the chewed material - redigests it Hence RAISES ITS WINDPIPE is a good idiom describing it |
(C) Dr Hendel, Jan-04 | ||
List of verses with Root Cheth-Samech-Dalet=FAVOR/KINDNESS | ||
VERSE | TEXT OF VERSE WITH ches-samech-daleth=KINDNESS | |
Gn47-29 | do me a FAVOR--dont bury me in Egypt | |
Gn40-14 | do me a FAVOR--mention to the King I am in prison | |
Gn24-12 | God, please do me a FAVOR--give him a charitable women | |
------- | -------------------------------------------------- | |
Pr25-10 | Dont insult; he might do you a FAVOR;its embarassing*1 | |
Lv20-17a | if a person sleeps with his sister-if she does a FAVOR*2 | |
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*1 This translation of the verse is consistent with the UNIFIED MEANING of Ches-Daleth-Samech-doing a FAVOR --------------------------------------------------- Dont be hasty to insult; perhaps the person will do you a FAVOR and you will then be embarassed --------------------------------------------------- *2 This last verse has evoked extreme controversy---why is incest called A FAVOR. (Some claim that Cheth-Samech-Daleth could mean the opposite, SHAMEFUL). However the psychology of incest is well known and affords us a simpler explanation - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Most men are willing to take the risks of a sexual encounter Which requires sustaining a certain amount of tension. A person whose masculinity is so destroyed that he would only have sex with someone he trusts--like his sister--is not acting like an adult but receiving a FAVOR from someone he trusts (Despite this kindness/favor (vs lust) incest is universally prohibited) - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - This seems to be the simplest explanation of this unique verse and seems consistent with Rashi. At any rate the UNIFIED MEANING of Chest-Samech-Daleth is FAVOR/KINDNESS and this applies to Pr25-10 and Lv20-17a*10 | ||
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*10 Rashi states -------------------------------------------------- Sleeping with ones sister is called Kindness since Kain and Abel married sisters and this was a kindness that God allowed -------------------------------------------------- To understand this please review my article http://www.Rashiyomi.com/gen-1.htm Adam, Kain and Abel were not the only humans around Indeed they were the only prophets around. But there were many non-prophets. Adam in fact had a non-prophet female companion nicknamed, TheNightOne (because she knew nothing about the lights of prophecy). Technically Kain and Abel SHOULD have been required to take the risks of converting a non-prophet person to prophetic status. But such a risk and tension would have been too great. Hence God allowed the FAVOR of marrying their sisters. We could say more but this suffices for the present. |
*#*#*# (C) RashiYomi Inc., 2005, Dr. Hendel, President #*#*#*#*#
VERSE: Lv19-22a
RASHIS COVERED: Lv19-22a Lv20-09a
(C) Dr Hendel, Jan-04 | ||
SUCCINCT SUMMARY ---------------- All languages have a variety of methods to indicate EMPHASIS and SIMILARLITY. Modern typesetting methods use BOLD and ITALICS to indicate EMPHASIS. Modern typesetting methods use BULLETS to indicate SIMILARITY. The Bible did not have BOLD and ITALICS. Rather the Bible used REPETITION to indicate emphasis. This emphasis could in turn either indicate BROADENING or RESTRICTION of meaning. EXAMPLE 1: Lv19-22a ---------------- The Biblical text at Lv19-22a states --------------------------------------------- If a person sleeps with an unredeemed maid servant ...and he will bring his GUILT OFFERING to God ...and he will be forgiven from the SIN HE SINNED --------------------------------------------- Rashi comments ------------------------------------------------- Notice the repeated phrase: - the SIN HE SINNED The repetition creates emphasis--he is forgiven whether he sinned WILLFULLY or INADVERTENTLY ------------------------------------------------- EXAMPLE 2: Lv20-09a ------------------- The Biblical text at Lv19-20 states --------------------------------------------- When a person curses HIS MOTHER OR FATHER he must die HIS MOTHER OR FATHER he curse and his blood is on him --------------------------------------------- Rashi comments --------------------------------------------------- Notice the repeated prhase - HIS MOTHER OR FATHER The repetition creates emphasis--he is put to death WHETHER he cursed his parents DURING THEIR LIFETIME or AFTER THEIR DEATH --------------------------------------------------- LIST150a below gives other examples where REPETITION creates broad emphasis. | ||
ITEM | DETAIL | |
RASHI RULE CLASS: | REPETITION | |
RASHI SUBRULE CLASS | BROAD | |
RASHI WORKBOOK PRINCIPLE | #20 | |
SEE BELOW | LIST150a | |
List of verses with | REPEATED words interpreted broadly |
(C) Dr Hendel, Jan-04 | |||
List of verses with REPEATED words interpreted broadly | |||
VERSE | TEXT OF VERSE | EMPHASIS...DO IT... | |
Lv20-09a | PARENTS...PARENTS | EVEN after death | |
Lv19-22a | the SIN HE SINNED | WHETHER willful or inadvertent | |
Dt13-16a | HIT HIT by sword | EVEN by Fire | |
Dt15-08b | GIVE GIVE charity | EVEN by loaning | |
Dt16-20a | PURSUE PURSUE Justice | EVEN for mistaken aquitals | |
Ex12-09c | COOK COOK in water | EVEN in other liquids | |
Lv13-35a | SPREAD SPREAD after OK | EVEN if SPREAD while impure | |
Lv17-13a | HUNT A HUNT*10 | EVEN for a non-hunted animal | |
------- | --------------------- | ----------------------------- | |
Lv20-02b | EXECUTE EXECUTE | EVEN by the masses*1 | |
Lv07-19b | MEAT:all MEAT eatable | Even if PART of organ bad*3 | |
Lv05-15b | TRESPASS TRESPASS tmpl | Not only eating;any benefit*2 | |
Lv13-44a | DECLARE DECLARE impure | EVEN if not a head leprosy*4 | |
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*1 Supported by Dt17-06:07 which states -------------------------------------- ..first the witnesses execute...then the people execute -------------------------------------- *2 See http://www.Rashiyomi.com/lv05-02a.htm for a full discussion of the three Rashi methods connected with this verse. *3 e.g. If PART of meat fell outside temple (and is thereby impure) then you can still eat the part of the meat that remained inside the temple (even though the two parts are connected) *4 The text of Lv13-32:45 is as follows ---------------------------------------------------- If on his baldness there is pinkish affiction then leprosy is sprouting in his baldness; the priest reviews and confirms the pinkish affliction in his baldness just like skin leprosy...[then] this person is leprousand is ritually impure; the priest shall DECLARE DECLARE him impure and the lepor with the affliction: his garments shall be rent and his head left wild.... ----------------------------------------------------- The words DECLARE DECLARE encourage a BROAD interpretation of this chapter: The requirements of declaration, garment renting and head left wild apply not only to the subject of the chapter---a bald person with leprosy---but apply to ANY lepor | |||
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*10 Rashi citing the Talmud asks ------------------------------------------------ But if the law applies to HUNTED or DOMISTICATED (non-hunted) animals why does the bible use the phrase HUNT alltogether? ANSWER: The Bible speaks about a TYPICAL SITUATION: One normally should not eat meat except on special occassions and after significant work like a hunt ------------------------------------------------ |
*#*#*# (C) RashiYomi Inc., 2005, 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 | |
7 | 854y | PLACE FACE=entire focus/attention;SLEEPINGS OF WOMEN=anal,vagnal | |
7 | 863v | Ches-Daleth-Samech=Do a FAVOR;sister incest=no risk taking=favor | |
7 | 813b | Don't shave sideburns so that remaining hairline is semicircle | |
20 | 150a | SIN HE SINNED=willful or inadvertent; | |
20 | 150a | CURSE PARENTS PARENTS-alive or dead | |
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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 | |
======== | =============== | ===================================== | |
Lv20-03a | NEW MEANINGS | PLACE FACE=all attention/focus;... | |
Lv20-13a | NEW MEANINGS | PLACE FACE=all attention/focus;... | |
Lv20-17a | NEW MEANINGS | PLACE FACE=all attention/focus;... | |
Lv19-27a | NEW MEANINGS | PLACE FACE=all attention/focus;... | |
Lv19-22a | REPETITION | sin sinned(willful/accident);... | |
Lv20-09a | REPETITION | sin sinned(willful/accident);... | |
--------- | ---------------- | ----------------------------------- |
*#*#*# (C) RashiYomi Inc., 2005, Dr. Hendel, President #*#*#*#*#