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 1: Lv21-01d
-------------------
The biblical text at Lv21-01d states
------------------------------------
GENERAL THEME:  Speak to the PRIESTS
DETAIL:         The SONS of AARON
------------------------------------

Note the THEME-DETAIL structure. Hence the Rashi
------------------------------------------------
The laws mentioned in Lv21-01d only apply to the
MALE PRIESTS (SONS of Priests) not to the female
priests
------------------------------------------------

To clarify: The phrase SONS OF AARON by itself would NOT
limit the law to the male priests since the phrase
SONS OF PRIESTS could be interpreted broadly to include
females. Rather, it is the GENERAL-DETAIL structure which
limits the law to only the male priests.

LIST490h below summarizes this argument

EXAMPLE 2: Lv19-29a
-------------------
The Biblical text at Lv19-29a states
------------------------------------------------
GENERAL THEME:     Dont DESCECRATE your daughter
DETAIL:            towards PROSTITUTION
------------------------------------------------

Notice the THEME-DETAIL structure. Hence the Rashi
--------------------------------------------------
The DESCECRATION mentioned in the verse refers to
SEXUAL DESCECRATION, for example,
letting people use your daughter sexually
--------------------------------------------------

In passing I believe this THEME-DETAIL approach explains
the Rambams position that
- premarital sex is ALWAYS classified as prostitution
and hence prohibited (Marriage-Chapter 1 Law 1)
- EVEN if the couple is permanant
- EVEN if the act happens once
- EVEN if the act happens without money.
This law appears strange (Why call a one-time fling
PROSTITUTION; why call a couple living together
PROSTITUTION). However I would argue that Rambam was
not changing the meaning of PROSTITUTION but rather
echoing the concerns of Lv19-29a which prohibit
DESCECRATION TOWARDS PROSTITUTION--hence
- ANY descecration-even one act
- even not for money
- even if they live together.

LIST490g below summarizes this argument

GENERAL-DETAIL form of   Lv19-29a-No DESCECRATE towards HARLOTRY

GENERAL-DETAIL form of   Lv21-01d-speak to PRIESTS-SONS AARON

SUCCINT SUMMARY:
----------------
One of Rashis 10 main goals is the explanation of grammar
similar to the explanations we find in modern textbooks. We
call this the Rashi rule of GRAMMAR.

In todays posting we deal with the grammatical rules
governing DEVELOPMENT in paragraphs and chapters: Given
a paragraph or chapter THEME, what types of sentences can
exist in that paragraph or chapter and what are their
relations to the central theme? We call this the rashi
subrule of CONSECUTIVE PARAGRAPHS.

Rashi knew 4 means of relating consecutive sentences or
consecutive paragraphs in a paragraph or chapter:
- CAUSE
- CONTRAST
- ENABLEMENT
- UNIFYING THEME.
Today we study the CONTRAST and UNIFYING THEME submethods.

EXAMPLE Lv19-30a
----------------
The Biblical text states
------------------------------------------------------
- Observe my Sabbaths
- [even when you] revere [building of] the Temple
------------------------------------------------------

Rashis comments are bracketed above
------------------------------------------------------
The verse clauses are contrastive:
- EVEN though you revere the temple and want to build it
- NEVERTHELESS you must ALWAYS observe the Sabbath
Hence the law: The building of the temple does not
override the observance of the Sabbath.
------------------------------------------------------

LIST061b below presents several Rashis exhibiting contrast
between verses.

Example Lv19-23:32
------------------
A powerful paragraph method is to have ONE THEME unifying
many disparate examples.  In such a case the UNIFYING
THEME sheds light and justifies reinterpretation or
modification of the examples. Such an approach is in fact
one of the Rabbi Ishmael rules: INFERRENCE FROM CONTEXT.

We illustrate this method with the paragraph Lv19-23:32.
The unifying theme is the folowing
--------------------- THEME --------------------------
ABSTENTION can paradoxically INCREASE YIELD/PRODUCTIVITY
------------------------------------------------------

Let us examine the 7 examples illustrating this Theme
-------------------- EXAMPLES ----------------------------
-1- Abstain 4 years from new fruit--increase fruit yield
-2- Abstain from blood=life source--increase nutrition
-3- Abstain from divining --        increase prediction
-4- Separate animal/human --        increase animality/human
-5- Abstain from early sex--        increase sexual awarenss
-6- Abstain from Sabbath work --    incresae productivity
-7- Abstain from seancing     --    Increase knowledge
----------------------------------------------------------

Hence the Rashis:
Lv19-26a The verse DONT EAT ON THE BLOOD means DONT EAT
while the animal is not completely dead (its BloOd flows)

Lv19-25a (Rashi) read the Biblical text with the following
bulleted structure
---------------------------------------------------------
-the first 3 years fruit [of new trees] is prohibited
-On the 4th year the fruit is Holy,dedicated to God
-On the fifth year you may eat the fruit
---[The above law is] in order to increase fruit yield
---------------------------------------------------------

Again the theme: Abstention increases productivity

List of verses of consecutive paragraphs with same theme

A list of paragraphs     having a CONTRASTING connection

SUCCINCT SUMMARY
----------------
Rashi frequently made inferences based on the Biblical STYLE. We
call this Rashi Rule the RABBI ISHMAEL STYLE rule.

A powerful style rule was the painting of a verse in a
CLIMACTIC DEVELOPMENT manner. We call this the RASHI SUBRULE of
CLIMAX

EXAMPLE 1: Lv19-31b
-------------------
The Biblical text at Lv19-31b states
---------------------------------
- Don-t TURN to seance ventriloquists
- Don-t SEEK to be defiled by them
---------------------------------

Rashi interprets this using the principle of CLIMAX
--------------------------------------------------
-1- Don-t ASK ADVICE from seance ventriloquists
-2- Don-t even LEARN their ways
--------------------------------------------------

LIST450x summarizes this climactic structure

Climactic structure of   Lv19-31b--Don-t DO or LEARN seancing

Lighting summary of Rashis with emphasis on Rashi rules*10