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               Written by Dr Russell Jay Hendel

                     Volume 27 Number 1
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                     Produced August 18 th, 2005
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HELPFUL READING TIPS
(C) Dr Hendel, Jan-04

HOW MUCH TIME DO YOU HAVE WHAT SHOULD YOU READ SECTION COLOR
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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
COMMENTS
*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)
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VERSE: Dt12-17c
RASHIS COVERED: Dt12-17c Dt12-17d Dt13-07b Dt13-07d Dt13-07e
Dt12-17c
(C) Dr Hendel, Jan-04


SUCCINCT SUMMARY
----------------
The FORMATTING rule seeks to explain Rashis based on
the FORMATTING of the Biblical text. FORMATTING techniques
in modern writing include use of bold, italics,underline,
bullets, paragraph indentation and similar items. The Bible
indicated FORMATTING using its own techniques: For example
- the Bible indicates bold,italics, underline thru REPETITION
- the BIble indicates bulleting, thru REPEATING keywords
The Bible can also indicate formatting thru meaning without
any formal structure.

EXAMPLE Dt12-17c Dt12-17d
-------------------------
Verse Dt12-17 states
---------------------------------------------------
You cannot eat in ordinary cities[outside Jerusalem
- your tithes
- your first born animals
- vows and voluntary offerings
- raised items
---------------------------------------------------

The BULLETED list of examples suggests
CONTRASTIVE EMPHASIS. Rashi interprets the
BULLETS to reflect this contrast as follows
---------------------------------------------------
You cannot eat in ordinary cities[outside Jerusalem
- your tithes-------------------GRAIN HOLY ITEMS
- your first born animals-------PRIEST HOLY ITEMS
- vows and voluntary offerings--PERSONAL HOLY ITEMS
- raised items------------------1st FRUIT OFFERING
(vs animal offering)
---------------------------------------------------

What drives Rashi to this interpretation is not
the meaning of the words: Indeed RAISED ITEMS
normally refers to the TERUMAH eaten by the
priests. But rather because of the contrastive
emphasis of the bullets Rashi gives the items
as wide as an interpretation as possible: Hence
Rashi interprets RAISED ITEMS as referring to
FRUIT OFFERINGS vs ANIMAL OFFERINGS.

LIST107n below summarizes this argument.

EXAMPLE Dt13-07b Dt13-07c Dt13-07e
----------------------------------
Dt13-07 states
-----------------------------------
When pressure is placed on you by
- a brother
- the son of your mother
- OR a son
- OR a daughter
- OR your wife
- OR your friend
- [he who is] like your very self
in secret as follows: Worship idols
...Do not listen.
------------------------------------

Without the BULLET principle (indicated by the repeating
keyword OR) we would interpret this verse as follows
-----------------------------------
When pressure is placed on you by
- a brother the son of your mother
- OR a son
- OR a daughter
- OR your wife
- OR your friend like your very self
in secret as follows: Worship idols
...Do not listen.
------------------------------------

However BECAUSE of the BULLET principle, that BULLETS
connote contrastive emphasis, Rashi seeks as wide
and contrasting an interpretation as possible. Rashi
therefore translates the verse as follows

-----------------------------------
When pressure is placed on you by
- a brother [Rashi: From your FATHER]
- the son of your mother [Rashi: From your MOTHER]
- OR a son
- OR a daughter
- OR your wife
- OR your friend
- [he who is] like your very self [Rashi:Your FATHER]
in secret as follows: Worship idols
...Do not listen.
------------------------------------

LIST107O below summarizes this argument.
ITEM DETAIL
RASHI RULE CLASS: BULLET/PARAGRAPHS
RASHI SUBRULE CLASS PARAGRAPH STRUCTURE
RASHI WORKBOOK PRINCIPLE #26
SEE BELOW LIST107n
BULLETED structure of Dt12-17--Holy objects eat in Jerusalem
---------------------- ----------------------------
SEE BELOW LIST107O
BULLETED structure of Dt13-07--Any close relative
LIST107O
(C) Dr Hendel, Jan-04

BULLETED structure of    Dt13-07--Any close relative
Biblical Text:If PRESSURED by... CONTRAST IN BULLET
- a brother [Rashi: From your FATHER]*1
- the son of your mother [Rashi: From your MOTHER]*1
- OR a son
- OR a daughter
- OR your wife
- OR your friend
- [he who is] like your very self [Rashi:Your FATHER]*1
COMMENTS
*1 The WORDS of the Text do not require this
interpretation: But BECAUSE of the BULLET principle,
that BULLETS connote contrastive emphasis, Rashi
seeks as wide and contrasting an interpretation as
possible. Rashi therefore translates the verse as follows
LIST107n
(C) Dr Hendel, Jan-04

BULLETED structure of Dt12-17--Holy objects eat in Jerusalem
TEXT CROSS REFERENCE CONTRAST IN BULLET
TITHES Dt14-23*2 NON-ALTAR holy items
1st Born Dt15-19:20*2 PRIESTLY item *1
Vows Dt12-11*2 ALTAR holy items
Voluntary Dt12-11*2 ALTAR holy items
RAISED Dt26-02 (1st Fruit*1)*2 FRUIT vs ANIMAL offering
COMMENTS
*1 Rashi Dt12-17c Dt12-17d

*2 The CROSS REFERENCES explicitly state that these
items MUST be eaten in Jerusalem. That is, we
do not infer from these verses that consumption
must take place in Jerusalem. Rather, Rashi's point
is that RAISED refers to 1st FRUIT even though
the Hebrew word RAISED normally refers to TERUMAH
eaten by the Priest. The reason for Rashi's
interpretation using a non-standard meaning is
because the BULLETED list require a WIDE CONTRASTIVE
variety of situations.
*#*#*# (C) RashiYomi Inc., 2005, Dr. Hendel, President #*#*#*#*#
VERSE: Dt12-28c
RASHIS COVERED: Dt12-28c Dt12-28d Dt13-13b Ex35-04a
Nu12-13b Nu27-15b Ex35-04a Ex20-01c
Dt03-23c
Dt12-28c
(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.
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: Dt12-28b Dt12-28c
--------------------------
Rashis Dt12-28b Dt12-28c should ideally
be perceived as one Rashi: A nifty way
of understanding this Rashi is the
English expression: MORAL & PROPER
In this expression
- MORAL connotes SPIRITUALLY good behavior
- PROPER connotes SOCIALLY good behavior
Here Rashi sees the phrase
-----------------------------
- the GOOD and PROPER
-----------------------------
as a sort of IDIOM--that is a phrase
whose meaning transcends the meaning
of its individual words. The IDIOM
connotes ALL good behavior whether
SPIRITUAL or MORAL. We would therefore
translate Dt12-28 as follows
--------------------------------------
Observe all these items that I God command you
In order that it will be Good for you...
When you Do the MORAL & PROPER in the eyes of God
---------------------------------------

In summary: we can view this Rashi as EITHER
- uncovering the meaning of SYNONYMS
- uncovering the meaning of a new IDIOM
Since the word GOOD can refer to socially
good behavior (eg Gn26-29) we prefer to classify this
Rashi as clarifying the meaning of an IDIOM.

EXAMPLE 2: LAYMOR Nu12-13b Nu27-15b
-----------------------------------
The Hebrew word LAYMOR is the INFINITIVE of the root
AMR which means TO SAY. The word LAYMOR acquires
NEW MEANING, IDIOMATIC usage:
- LAYMOR means FOR RESPONSE (TO SAY back)
- LAYMOR means FOR TRANSMISSION (TO SAY over)
- LAYMOR means A RUMOR (Something TO BE SAID over and over)

EXAMPLE 2a:  Ex35-04a
---------------------
The often cited verse -
-----------------------------------
GOD SPOKE TO MOSES FOR TRANSMISSION
-----------------------------------
means that the instruction Moses heard was to be
transmitted to others. Similarly Rashi interprets
Ex35-04
-------------------------------------
...This is the commandment which
God commanded me TO TRANSMIT [to you]
--------------------------------------

EXAMPLE 2b1
-----------
In prayer and dialog LAYMOR can powerfully connote
a requested response. Dt03-23c states
------------------------------------------------
And I petitioned God [concerning the prohibition
of going to Israel] and DEMANDED A RESPONSE
[Interestingly Gods response is: ENOUGH]
------------------------------------------------

or Nu12-13b
-----------------------------------------------
And Moses pleaded with God and demanded a RESPONSE:
God please cure her
-----------------------------------------------

EXAMPLE2b2 Ex20-01c
-------------------
Ex20-01c states
-----------------------------------------------
God spoke to the ten commandments with REQUEST
FOR RESPONSE [Rashi: THe Jews were requested to
affirm they would observe the positive commandments
and not violate the negative commandments]
------------------------------------------------

EXAMPLE 2c Dt13-13b
-------------------
LAYMOR can connote a RUMOR said over and over
Dt13-13b states
---------------------------------------------
when you HEAR A RUMOR (said over and over)
in one of your cities [that people have gone
out and worshiped idols---then investigate]
---------------------------------------------

LIST854x below presents other examples of Biblical idioms.
LIST955m summarizes the idiomatic meanings of LAYMOR
ITEM DETAIL
RASHI RULE CLASS: WORD MEANINGS
RASHI SUBRULE CLASS NEW MEANINGS
RASHI WORKBOOK PRINCIPLE #7
SEE BELOW LIST854x
List of Biblical idioms(eg FROM DAYS DAYS=YEARLY)
---------------------- ---------------------------------------
SEE BELOW LIST955m
LIST of IDIOMATIC meanings of LAYMOR(rumor,...)
LIST955m
(C) Dr Hendel, Jan-04

LIST of IDIOMATIC meanings of LAYMOR(rumor,...)
VERSE BIBLICAL TEXT WHY LAYMOR MEANS THIS
Dt13-13b when you hear a RUMOR TO BE SAID over&over
Ex35-04a God commandsTo TRANSMIT TO BE SAID over
Nu12-13b Prayed/Demands RESPONSE TO BE SAID back
Nu27-15b Prayed/Demands RESPONSE TO BE SAID back
Ex20-01c God said:Asked RESPONSE TO BE SAID back*1
COMMENTS
*1 That is when God spoke the 10 commandments God
demanded that the Jews
- affirm they would keep the positive commandments
- affirm they wouldn't violate the negative
commandments
LIST854x
(C) Dr Hendel, Jan-04

List of Biblical idioms..eg FROM DAYS DAYS=YEARLY
LIST854x continues  LIST854d LIST854z LIST854y
VERSE BIBLICAL PHRASE TRANSLATION NOTES
------- ------------------- --------------------- -----
Dt13-13b when you hear a RUMOR TO BE SAID over&over *5
Ex35-04a God commandsTo TRANSMIT TO BE SAID over *5
Nu12-13b Prayed/Demands RESPONSE TO BE SAID back *5
Nu27-15b Prayed/Demands RESPONSE TO BE SAID back *5
Ex20-01c God said:Asked RESPONSE Affirm will keep *5
------- ------------------- --------------------- -----
Dt12-28b Do the MORAL & PROPER Spiritual/Social good *4
Dt12-28c Do the MORAL & PROPER Spiritual/Social good *4
------- ------------------- --------------------- -----
Nu26-54a MOUTH OF LOTTERY Closed Jar Lottery *3
Nu21-20c HEAD OF THE CLIFF TOP of the CLIFF *2
Nu13-20b DAYS OF GRAPE 1st FRUIT GRAPE HARVEST SEASON
Nu13-32a Land EATS INHABITANTS PLAGUE RIDDEN LAND
Lv25-23b Dont STICK THE SALE Dont sell PERMANANTLY No redeem
Lv26-17a PLACE FACE*1 Total attention/focus to punish
Lv13-12a HEAD to FOOT Whole bod y
Gn37-26b COVER BLOOD conceal MURDER
COMMENTS

*1 Rashi, Lv26-17h points out that the phrase
-------------
PLACE MY FACE
-------------
means
--------------
FULL ATTENTION
--------------
whether
- for good, to reward
- for bad, to punish.

*2 NOTE: The Hebrew word HEAD can mean both
- BEGINNING
- TOP
However in this verse
- the HEAD OF THE CLIFF contrasts with
- the VALLEY in MOAB
Hence HEAD means TOP

*3 A MOUTH LOTTERY refers to a lottery where you stick your
hand in and select an item WITHOUT BEING ABLE TO SEE THE
ITEMS (In an open-box lottery you can see what you are
picking even though you see backs of cards. In a MOUTH
LOTTERY the box is covered except for a small MOUTH).
The MOUTH LOTTERY is more secure and fairer.
Hence the Rashi

The name MOUTH LOTTERY is because the box has only
a small mouth preventing you from seeing what is
inside.
---------------------------------------------------
MOUTH LOTTERY means that the LOTTERY speaks and says
this belongs to so and so
---------------------------------------------------

Of course, Rashi did not believe that LOTTERIES speak.
Rather Rashi refers to the SECURITY and FAIRNESS of
the lottery. In other words
- MOUTH LOTTERY refers to a small MOUTH on LOTTERY box
(not to a physical voice on the box)
- Since the MOUTH LOTTERY is secure it is AS IF it
screams and points to a correct fair choice

*4 Rashi is NOT explaining the meaning of the INDIVIDUAL WORDS
- GOOD
- PROPER
Indeed, GOOD can mean SOCIALLY GOOD also (See Gn26-29)
Therefore we have interpreted this Rashi as an example
of the IDIOM method.

*5 These five examples show various idiomatic meanings of
the INFINITIVE of the verb TO SAY: TO SAY can mean
- TO SAY BACK: Request for response
- TO SAY OVER: To Transmit
- TO SAY OVER AND OVER: Rumor
See LIST955m for a separate summary
*#*#*# (C) RashiYomi Inc., 2005, Dr. Hendel, President #*#*#*#*#
LIGHTNING SUMMARIES
(C) Dr Hendel, Jan-04

Lightning summary of Rashis with emphasis on Rashi rules*10
# LIST BRIEF SUMMARY OF RASHI EMPHASIZING USE OF RASHI RULES
26 107O a) brother (Rashi:OF FATHER) b) son OF MOTHER....
26 107n IN JERUSALEM: a) TITHES b) 1st Born c) RAISED 1st FRUITS
7 854x Do the MORAL & PROPER (SPIRITUALLY moral; SOCIALLY proper)
7 955m TO SAY(LAYMOR)=a)RUMOR(said over & over),b)TRANSMIT c)RESPONSE
COMMENTS

LONGER FOOTNOTES

*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
Rashis covered in this issue
(C) Dr Hendel, Jan-04

VERSE RULE BRIEF DESCRIPTION
======== =============== ======================================
Dt12-17c BULLETS a)Brother(of FATHER) b)son of MOTHER
Dt12-17d BULLETS a)Brother(of FATHER) b)son of MOTHER
Dt13-07b BULLETS a)Brother(of FATHER) b)son of MOTHER
Dt13-07d BULLETS a)Brother(of FATHER) b)son of MOTHER
Dt13-07e BULLETS a)Brother(of FATHER) b)son of MOTHER
Dt12-28c NEW MEANINGS LAYMOR=a)Rumor b)Transmit c)Respond
Dt12-28d NEW MEANINGS LAYMOR=a)Rumor b)Transmit c)Respond
Dt13-13b NEW MEANINGS LAYMOR=a)Rumor b)Transmit c)Respond
Ex35-04a NEW MEANINGS LAYMOR=a)Rumor b)Transmit c)Respond
Nu12-13b NEW MEANINGS LAYMOR=a)Rumor b)Transmit c)Respond
Nu27-15b NEW MEANINGS LAYMOR=a)Rumor b)Transmit c)Respond
Ex35-04a NEW MEANINGS LAYMOR=a)Rumor b)Transmit c)Respond
Ex20-01c NEW MEANINGS LAYMOR=a)Rumor b)Transmit c)Respond
Dt03-23c NEW MEANINGS LAYMOR=a)Rumor b)Transmit c)Respond
--------- ---------------- ----------------------------------
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End of Rashi is Simple Digest
#*#*#*# (C) RashiYomi Inc., 2004, Dr. Hendel, President #*#*#*#*#