*1 Meat could just be grabbed without bending down or exertion
A punchy description of obese people who want to grab meat
without doing any work or exercise.

*2 It is common in commerce to show the poor goods first (to
try and get a good bid from the buyer...then you show him
the really good material)

*3 We suggest that Rashis Nu25-14a and Nu25-14b form one long
Rashi in which two comments are made---the last one is
the point we have cited above about metonomy. The two
Rashis together would read
----------------------------------------------------
Point 1) The Biblical text mentions the tribe of
Shimon since Shimon murdered a whole city and therefore
his descendants misbehaved;

A 2nd Point) They mention the PRINCE OF SHIMON to
show how fearless PINCHAS was, that without hesitation
he killed a leader [In other words the verse statement
HE KILLED A SHIMONI LEADER really means in context
PINCHAS WAS BRAVE IN KILLING OFFENDERS EVEN THOUGH
THEY WERE LEADERS
-----------------------------------------------------

*4 People who see someone hanged, particularly drunks and
low lifes might curse God and religion 'for having
created such a monstrosity.' This leads to an
atmosphere of disgrace for the Divine presence.*10

*10 Rashi literally says
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
The Hebrew QLL (curse) means DESPISEMENT.
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
But a simple glance at the Konkordance shows
that QLL in most cases means ACTUAL CURSING.

Hence I prefer to interpret Rashi metonomically:
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Curse means [OR IS RELATED TO] Despisement
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

That is I interpret Rashi's use of the word MEAN
to refer to RELATED ITEMS: Indeed, CURSE does not
mean despisement but is related to it.

*1 The repeated Keyword, ON, creates a BULLET like effect
There are two bullets and hence two items are being
mentioned.
- You had just left Egypt where you were slaves
- You were still 'on the road'--not in a settled state

In other words both
- your PAST (Egyptian slavery)
- and PRESENT (on the road-not settled)
made you vulnerable.

*1 This is a generalization from two verses, as follows

-Ex23-04 Return the lost article of your PERSONAL ENEMY
-Dt22-01:03 Return the lost article of your PERSONAL FRIEND

So you return ANY article whether of your PERSONAL
ENEMY or your PERSONAL FRIEND--as you long as you
know the person PERSONALLY. The law however exempts
you from returning the article to a known thief (a
non PERSONAL enemy) who might be guessing the lost
objects signs*10

*2 Ex21-24 lists 4 types of ORGAN damage:Eye,tooth,arm,leg
Ex21-25 lists 3 types of PAIN damage:burn,cut,inflammation
Hence we infer that in paying damage you pay for
EACH type of damage *11

*3 In these examples the principle of BROAD INTERPRETATION
is applied to NARRATIVE vs LEGAL text. Thus DONT MUZZLE
AN OX WHILE THRESHING is a LEGAL ORDER. We generalize
and prohibit muzzling any WORK ANIMAL.

Similarly
- THE SNAKE SAID GOD PROHIBITED EATING FROM THE TREE
is a narrative text that is generalized to mean that
GOD HATES YOU AND DOESNT LET YOU EAT.

For proof of applicability of the GENERALIZED RULE
to Narrative see footnote *12

For a critical examination of Rashis and the GOOD-EXAMPLE
method see footnote *13

*4 Rashi explains that EYE by itself subsumes organs
organically born with the person while TOOTH by
itself implies REPLACABLE organs (like the teeth
of small children). By mentioning both EYE and TOOTH
we include all IRREPLACABLE VISIBLE organs.

*5 The idea is that
- nocturnal emissions are frequent in an army
situation because of the stress there*15
- nocturnal emissions are a common source of
ritual impurity.
But this Biblical law prohibiting a nocturnal emitter
from entering the Temple/Levite camp applies
- EVEN for impurities caused by other causes
- EVEN for impure states outside an army situation

*10 Several points should be made here
FIRST POINT:
- Ex23-04 uses the word YOUR ENEMY
- Dt22-01:03 uses the word BROTHER 5 times
So the real generalization is from YOUR ENEMY & BROTHER

So everyone FROM your enemy TO your brother gets
articles returned. This would exclude people you
dont really know who might be guessing signs.

Jewish law goes into the subtlety of someone whom
you dont know either as your BROTHER or ENEMY.

2nd POINT: We mention Rashis literal language
------------------------------------------
The verse says return the object AFTER YOUR BROTHER ASKS.
But no would return it before they are asked for it

So read the verse as follows; Return the objects
until you ASK ABOUT YOUR BROTHER--investigate him
-------------------------------------------

Thus it appears that Rashi is deriving the law
from a pun. (ASK ABOUT YOUR BROTHER vs YOUR
BROTHER ASKS) But the truth of the matter is that
Rashi is deriving the law from the generalization
and contrast of verses. Rashi as is his usual custom
expresses this technical derivation in a PUNchy
PUNny manner (so students will remember it).

3rd POINT
The main point in Rashi is that the two verses
have to be generalized. The details of how
this generalization takes place are subject to
Talmudic discussion. In this case the Talmud
and Rashi take an obvious approach of excluding
people (thiefs) who we would not expect the law
to cater to. But the main thrust of Rashi is
the generalization from two verses--the details
must be inferred.

*11 Already Rashi points out that CUTS involve both
PAIN and ORGAN damage (removal of skin).

One cannot derive the 5 categories of damage
from this verse (The other 3 categories,
disability, medical and embarassment are each
inferred from separate verses

*12 The Radack boldly asserts
- The statement EVEN IF GOD SAID DONT EAT FROM TREE
was the CONCLUDING statement of a long conversation.
We are justified in filling it in.

Radack justifies this approach because of the word
EVEN which always occurs in the middle of a conversation

Similarly Radack gives Jo02-24 as an example
-BECAUSE God gave you this land
Radack again notes that no one begins a conversation
with the word BECAUSE. Therefore we are justified--
in fact, forced--to fill in the conversation.

For details on HOW or WITH WHAT the conversation is
to be filled see footnote *13

*13 In this footnote we explain how Rashi filled in
missing conversation. We first explain the GOOD-EXAMPLE
method. For the original source see
http://www.RashiYomi.com/rashi.pdf

The GOOD-EXAMPLE method posits that a Rashi or Midrashic
text is not giving the WHOLE interpretation of a verse
but just one GOOD EXAMPLE. Hence the reader (or other
Exegetes) are justified in giving other good examples.
Here is the original example from my article

-Song of Songs Midrash Rabbah Chapter 4 Verse 1
- Text of verse
---------------------------------------
Wow--you-re beautiful--you-re beautiful
---------------------------------------
- Midrash: You-re beautiful in Man-Man laws; Your beautiful
in God-Man laws
- COMMENT: The Midrash is NOT exhausting the meaning
of the text in this one comment. Obviously the
Biblical text--you-re beautiful you-re beautiful--
connotes INTENSE admiration of beauty. The Midrash
gives but ONE GOOD EXAMPLE of this INTENSE admiration
The reader is free to give other examples.

Enough--let us examine how Rashi uses this principle

- Gn03-01
The MAIN POINT OF THE BIBLICAL TEXT is that the
snake was trying to get them to sin (EVEN IF GOD
TOLD YOU NOT TO EAT). Rashi suggests that the snake
saw Eve eating from the other trees; Radack suggests
that Eve told the snake the prohibition of eating
from tree of knowledge. The snake says--but you can
eat from some trees..maybe you are wrong in what
God commanded (the ARE-YOU-SURE argument) Thus Rashi
uses this text as a springboard for discussing
how people get other people to sin.

- Gn43-20a
The MAIN POINT OF THE BIBLICAL TEXT is that Joseph
cried over meeting Binyamin. Rashi gives GOOD EXAMPLES
of what could have happened -- Maybe Binyamin mentioned
how he named all his children over his missing brother.
Another good example (not given by Rashi!) is that
Binyamin could simply mention that his older brother
was the brother that was missing--and Binyamin missed
him alot

- Gn43-34b
The MAIN POINT OF THE BIBLICAL TEXT is that after Josephs
harshness to the brothers he acted friendly to Binyamin.
He invited him to his house, dined with him and blessed him
So when the Torah says he gave him a 5-FOLD portion Rashi
gives a good example of how this could have happened--
maybe Josephs whole family each gave Binyamin a present

Note that in Gn45-22 it says that Binyamin got a 5-fold
amount of clothes. But Rashi does not explain this
5-fold amount!!!! Hence we are justified in seeing Rashis
explanation of the 5-fold amount in Gn43-34b as a GOOD
EXAMPLE not a general principle.

To what can this be compared: If I give someone 18 dollars
at a wedding. Wouldnt it be wrong to interpret the amount
as due to the fact that eg the wedding happened on 18th
street. In fact 18 dollars is a normal amount to give
at weddings. Similarly with Joseph...there are many 5-folds
-- Rashi only interprets only one of them...so he was
only giving a good example

*14 Rashi introduces a new principle on the TYPICAL EXAMPLE
style: Rashi had already explained that

- the Torah indicates laws by REQUIRED GENERALIZATIONS
that flow from Torah-indicated TYPICAL EXAMPLES

- Rashi now further explains these TYPICAL EXAMPLES
give PREFERRED PRACTICE.

For example
- Bible: If you sell TO YOUR COLLEAGUE
Rashi: Preferred practice in commerce is to sell
to fellow Jews

- Bible: If when you are POOR you sell your land plot
Rashi: Preferred practice in commerce is not
to sell personal property till you are poor

I would therefore think that this method applies
to all examples in the above list. As a typical
example Dt22-23a which speaks about a RAPE IN THE FIELD
indicates preferred practice of rapists (They hang
out in fields where no one is around)

*15 The literal verse is
---------------------------------
Learn Gods law when
- you sit in your HOUSE
- you walk on the ROAD
- you SLEEP
- you AWAKE
---------------------------------

Generalizing the 4 CAPPED examples (HOUSE, ROAD, SLEEP,
AWAKE) I would say simply:
------------------------------------
Learn in ALL FACETS of your life
------------------------------------

This would establish a Biblical requirement of learning
no matter what your circumstances. This is consistent
with Rambam, Laws of Learning 1:8
-----------------------------------------
ALL are obligated to learn--whether you
are old, young, infirmed, ....
-----------------------------------------
This paragraph in Rambam is therefore seen as a simple
translation of the Biblical verse.

However this Biblical verse BESIDES BEING SEEN AS THE
SOURCE FOR THE OBLIGATION TO LEARN is also seen as the
SOURCE for the RECITAL of the SHMA prayer.

The SHMA prayer need only be said TWICE daily(Morning
and EVENING). Rashi seems to be speaking about the
Shma when he says
-------------------------------------------------
SAY SHMA WHEN YOU SLEEP--even if you take a midday
nap? (Would you be obligated to say shma when you
get up)? No! Because the verse says WHEN YOU SIT
AND WALK--the verse speaks about the normal facets
of human life.
-------------------------------------------------

The matter is further complicated by the strange
fact that RECITAL OF SHMA is considered a fulfillment
of LEARNING.

I would therefore say that Rashi (following the Talmud)
is using the method of OTHER VERSES. Jo01-08 contains
the statement LEARN DAY AND NIGHT.

Combining Jo01-08 with Dt06-07 I would say
- one is MINIMALLY obligated to LEARN ONCE A DAY AND NIGHT
This is derived from Joshua and is the reason we are
required to say SHMA twice (in morning and evening)

- one is obligated to learn in ALL CIRCUMSTANCES of
life such as TRIPS, SICKNESS etc (In other words
one cannot put off ones learning to a later date)
This law corresponds to the paragraph cited from
the Rambam above.

Finally, there is room for further analysis here
since the requirement of SHMA has additional
elements besides LEARNING. I believe the above
Rambam laws and the use of two verses Jo01-08
and Dt06-07 shed considerable light on these
complex laws.

*16 Rashi's literal language is that
--------------------------------------
Satan incites in times of danger
--------------------------------------

I think we can all relate to the idea that
--------------------------------
Sexual fantasies are a common
response to dangerous situations
--------------------------------

*1 Rashi also makes  comments on the  deliberate
misspelling of this word. MISSPELLING is a Biblical
technique. The technical name is METAPLASMUS. Examples
may be found in LIST080a which includes Ex04-02a

*2 Gn15-12:14 ....As the sun set a coma fell on Abraham and
all of a sudden a fear, great darkness, fell on him
and God said...Surely know that your descendants will
be foreigners in a land that doesnt belong to them---
and they will be enslaved -- and they will torture
them 400 years--and also the nation they serve I
will judge and then they will leave with a big reward

Thus THIS night of redemption refers to the redemption
mentioned in the above prophecy (Perhaps there is
also a pun on the darkness)

*3 See LIST210c below

*4 In other words the word THIS makes the contents of the
chapter SPECIFIC and FOCUSED...the  exact language
in the chapter must be used in freeing people from
vows (Normally Biblical language are generalized)

For further details see footnote *10

*5 Thus Rivkah had been praying for children....yet
when she experienced the infants fighting each other
in the womb she asked WHY AM I THIS (That is WHY AM
I PRAYING FOR CHILDREN if I go thru this) and the
answer came back that they would be great nations.

*6 Rashi infers from this that in a court case both litigants
must be present when allegations are stated.

*10
Rashi also makes another point: Moses used the
language THIS IS WHAT GOD SAID while other
prophets used the language THUS SAID GOD (THIS
is more specific than THUS).

For a database layout of introductory prophetic phrases
used by MOSES vs OTHER  PROPHETS see LIST605f & LIST605g

It is clear from this list that this rule is only approximate
and not absolute. Hence we believe  that Rashi rejected
this explanation.

In general we believe that Rashis 1st explanation (when
there are 2 explanations) can be refuted and should not
be accepted

*1 Also Rashi Dt11-25b. It seems reasonable that
- P-Ch-D comes from Poh-Chad - SHARP and would refer to
e.g. getting GOOSE PIMPLES (Sharpnesses in skin) from
fear

- MoRaH comes from Y-R-A = vision = LONG TERM
apprehension over the future.*10


*2 - YOREH seems to comes from HRH to make pregnant. It
would look at the rain as ENABLING the seeds to grow

- MALKOSH seesm to come from LKSH - TO THE HARD(KSH)
GRAIN and would refer to a final softening rain
before the produce. See LIST910i *11


*3 It is hard to absolutely prove that
- A-V-H means FANTASIZE vs
- Ch-M-D means DESIRE ACQUISITION

The verses show that
- A-V-H is an act of the HEART while
- Ch-M-D is focused on ACQUIRING OBJECTS
See LIST955h for further details
(Also see Rashi Gn27-15a Gn03-06c Gn03-06d)

*4 On Dt19-16a Rashi gives an example of REMOVED/FABRICATED
Testimony--when eg witnesses testify to a murder in NY
and other witnesses come stating that the 1st witnesses
were with them in Chicago at the time of witnessing--thus
the murder testimony is totally removed from the real word

*5 Undoubtedly there is probably a subtle difference between
ANIH/SFINH but it is not possible to determine this from
verses. An interesting statistical note is the following
- SFINH occurs ONCE in the  Bible
- ANIH occurs 3 dozen times in the Bible
- But in Biblical times the frequencies were reversed
Hence, Rashi, in explaining the more frequently occurring
ANIH was responding to the rarity of this word IN HIS TIME

*6 - GRASS can refer to MANY or SINGULAR grass
- MEADOW only refers to a WHOLE MEADOW of GRASS


*7 TWK verses Beth (CENTRALLY IN vs IN)
explains several Rashis:
Nu17-21a Gn02-09b Ex24-1a Lv24-10c
Gn01-06b Nu35-34a See LIST955j

*8 Hence
- Ex28-28c TIGHTEN the AYFOD garment
- P031-21  Save me from GANGS(people TIGHTELY together)
- Is40-04  God will smooth the TIGHT mountains
(Rashi explains that TIGHT MOUNTAINS are mountains
close together with deep georges between them)*12

*10 The reader need NOT believe the above etymologies
For frequently Rashi explains synonyms without
reference to etymologies and even without reference
to verses. However some of the above etymologies seem
reasonable and may enrich our appreciation of the
synonyms.


*11 Rashi gives another etymology from the Aramaic.
However in this list we advocate the 2nd explanation
of Rashi over the 1st. Furthermore in this
particular case the 2nd explanation comes internally
from Hebrew while the 1st Rashi explanation INFERS
usage from Aramaic but does not EXPLAIN it.


*12 Rashi translates RKS as UNITE.
I have examined the verses and think the nuances
of TIGHTEN-which is a particular form of tightening
is more precise

Rashi and my analysis apparently override the
RADACK who translates (from context) RKS as meaning
HIGH. Compare
- RAISE the AYFOD (By tightening it)
- Save me from HAUGHTY people
- God will smooth the HIGH mountains


*13 Rashi brings several distinctions on the nuances
between VOWS vs DONATIONS

- VOWS are PERSONAL (eg I will bring...)
- DONATIONS are OBJECT oriented
(eg This material is to Tmpl)

- VOWS come for OFFERINGS
- DONATIONS come for TEMPLE repairs

- VOWS come for personal EXPIATION
- DONATIONS do not come personal EXPIATION

Rashi in fact notes that the word FOR EXPIATION
(Resh-Tzade-Hey) does occur in Lv22-23. However
this is just an accident. The main Rashi point comes
from the VOW:DONATION difference---in English also
- VOW has personal connotation (I undertake..) while
- DONATION has object connotation (this item goes to..)

*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://www.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