Rashi-Is-Simple Mailing List VISIT the RASHI DATABASE archives AT http://www.RashiYomi.com/ Surfing the Talmudic Seas (C) RashiYomi Incorporated, 2006 Written by Dr Russell Jay Hendel Volume 30 Number 21 For the WORD QUALITY HTML VERSION click here ----------------------------------- http://www.Rashiyomi.com/h30n21.htm ----------------------------------- Produced September 6 th, 2006 |
(C) Dr Hendel, Jan-04 | |||
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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., 2006, Dr. Hendel, President #*#*#*#*#
VERSE: Dt28-53a
RASHIS COVERED: Dt28-53a Dt23-08a Dt23-08b Dt24-05a Dt28-54a
(C) Dr Hendel, Jan-04 | ||
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 3 means of relating consecutive sentences or consecutive paragraphs in a paragraph or chapter: - CAUSE, ENABLEMENT - CONTRAST - UNIFYING THEME. Today we study the CAUSAL and CONTRASTIVE submethod. EXAMPLE 1 Dt28-53a ------------------ (Rashi) Dt28-53a shows a clear CAUSAL connection between the two parts of the sentence ------------------------------------------ - (A) You will eat your children for food - (B) BECAUSE - (C) of the straights God will impose on you ------------------------------------------ Rashi --------------------------------------- The Hebrew letter BETH is translated as BECAUSE and clearly indicates that you will eat your children because of the famine and straights God imposes on you ---------------------------------------- LIST061a summarizes this argument and brings further examples of CAUSAL connection. EXAMPLE Dt28-54a ---------------- Dt28-54a:55 shows a CONTRASTIVE development of its sentence subparts ------------------------------------------------- - (A) The SOFT / DAINTY person - (B) [WILL NEVERTHELESS] - (C) be STINGY towards his wife and brothers from giving them leftover food of their children which they will eat because of the straights God brings on you ------------------------------------------------- Rashi ----------------------------------------- The Hebrew word used which LITERALLY translates as SOFT / DAINTY seem to refer (as in the English idiom) to a SOFT HEARTED person who indulges in DAINTINESS and ELEGANCE, always GIVING to people. NEVERTHELESS this soft hearted person will not give leftover child-meat to even his wife and brothers because of the great famine and he will herd the food for himself ------------------------------------------- We could have classified this using the WORD TRANSLATION method since it appears as a NEW IDIOM. But Rashi's main point is the CONTRAST not the definition. EXAMPLE Dt24-05a ----------------- Dt24-01:05 contains two Biblical paragraphs. It states as follows --------------------------------------------- If man M1 marries woman W1, gets divorced and W1 marries man M2 who then divorces her. M1 cannot remarry W1. If man M3 marries a NEW WOMAN W2 then he is exempt from the military .... --------------------------------------------- Rashi explains the phrase NEW WOMAN by CONTRASTING the two paragraphs --------------------------------------------- Paragraph 1 spoke about a remarriage to ones former divorcee (M1 remarrying W1) which is permissable unless she married someone else inbetween. Therefore Paragraph 2 which speaks about marrying a NEW WOMAN must, by CONTRAST, refer to marrying a non-former divorcee -------------------------------------------- Here Rashi exhausts the meaning of the phrase NEW WOMAN using the PARAGRAPH CONTRAST method. NEW WOMAN in the 2nd paragraph contrasts with REMARRIAGE OF A FORMER DIVORCEE in paragraph 1. Note we do not use the IDIOM, NEW MEANING method here. For Rashi is not asserting that IN GENERAL the Hebrew phrase NEW WOMAN means a NON-FORMER- divorcee. Rather Rashi is asserting that in this particular verse NEW WOMAN means non-former-divorcee. ----------------------------------------- EXAMPLE Dt23-08a Dt23-08b ------------------------- Dt23-04:07 Dt23-08:09 are two Biblical paragraphs ---------------------------------------------------------- -(A) Amonites and Moabite converts cannot intermarry EVER even after 10 GENERATIONS -(B) Don't DESPISE Egyptians/Edomites..even though they hurt you they treated you nicely and you can intermarry with their converts AFTER 3 GENERATIONS ---------------------------------------------------------- Rashi notes the obvious CONTRAST between the two paragraphs ----------------------------------------------------------- - Amonites/Moabite converts CAN NEVER intermarry Jews - Egyptians/Edomite converts CAN intermarry after 3 generations (The given reason is that even though the Egyptians mistreated you they nevertheless housed us while we were slaves) Hence from this contrast we infer that the phrase - - - - - - - - - - - - Don't DESPISE Egyptians - - - - - - - - - - - - means - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Don't DESPISE Egyptians FOREVER - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - ----------------------------------------------------------- Rashi also notes that the verse-given reasons support the contrastive paragraphs ----------------------------------------------- - The Amonites and Moabites hurt you - and did nothing nice to you - The Egypitans and Edomites also hurt you - But the Egyptians provided shelter to you as slaves and the Edomites are your brothers Therefore there should be a CONTRAST-- - Amonites are hated without remedy - Edomites are hated with remedy ----------------------------------------------- LIST061b below summarizes these Rashi and presents other examples of CONTRASTIVE SENTENCE development. | ||
ITEM | DETAIL | |
RASHI RULE CLASS: | GRAMMAR | |
RASHI SUBRULE CLASS: | CONSECUTIVE CHAPTERS | |
RASHI WORKBOOK PRINCIPLE | #9 | |
SEE BELOW | LIST061b | |
A list of paragraphs | having a CONTRASTING connection | |
---------------------- | ----------------------------------- | |
SEE BELOW | LIST061a | |
A list of paragraphs | having a CAUSAL connection |
(C) Dr Hendel, Jan-04 | |||
A list of paragraphs having CAUSAL connection | |||
VERSE | TOPIC IN 1st CHAPTER | TOPIC IN 2nd CHAPTER | |
Dt28-53a | Fierce FAMINE | You-ll eat children | |
Nu12-10a | Prophecy cloud goes | Miryam punished;leprosy*13 | |
Nu08-19b | Levites help priests | No death to Jews*14 | |
Ex33-08b | pitches tent outside | when he went outside | |
Gn41-48a | Stored city food | Stored it near its city*12 | |
Gn41-44a | I am Pharoh King | Hence I grant you power | |
Gn24-29a | Laban saw BRACELETS | Laban ran to get servant*11 | |
Gn20-01a | Lot incests daughters | Abraham runs away from there | |
------- | -------------------- | -------------------------- | |
Gn13-14a | Lot / Abe separate | God promises Abe Israel*9 | |
Gn13-07a | Fight of Abe-Lot | Canaanites still in Israel*9 | |
------- | -------------------- | -------------------------- | |
Dt14-01a | Jews=Gods children | No self multilation on death | |
Dt01-42a | God not with you | Hence:defeat;therefore:no go | |
Nu30-16b | Annuls after AFFIRM | He bears punishment of sin*8 | |
Ex14-25a | Remove wheel | Heavy driving--God fights | |
Ex14-25b | Heavy Driving | God fights*10 | |
Ex13-17b | Avoid NEAR-ROUTE | Nearness facilitates return | |
Gn35-01a | Dinah is raped | Prophetic order to leave*6 | |
Gn33-13c | Young Sheep | IF pushed they will die*7 | |
Gn29-01a | God WITH Jacob | Jacob travelled SMOOTHLY*5 | |
Nu06-02a | Adulterous wife rite | Nazaarite from wine*1 | |
Gn38-01a | Brothers sell Joseph | Judah leaves brothers*1 | |
Gn23-03c | Abraham offers Isaac | Sarah dies*1 | |
Gn02-20a | Adam Eve are Naked | Snake gives Eve Apple*2 | |
Lv10-02a | Non-allowed sac | Death of Aarons sons*3 | |
Lv10-02a | Death of Aarons sons | No wine to serving priest*3 | |
Lv10-03d | Death of Righteous | God honored*4 | |
Lv22-15a | Dont eat Terumah | Dont DESCECRATE holies | |
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*1 Thus "whoever see the humiliating Adulterous wife rite" will be so shocked that he will abstain from wine Similarly "Judah advised his brothers to sell Joseph" and so when they regretted it they blaimed him and he had to "separate from them." Similarly "Sarah died" from the shock that "Abraham offered Isaac." *2 In other words because the snake saw Adam and Eve naked therefore he became Jealous and wanted Adam killed so he could marry Eve. ALthough this sounds a bit wild there is strong supporting evidence. Gn04-01 uses the past perfect form And Adam HAD BEEN FAMILIAR with his wife & they had a child" So the sequence of chapters is Adam was lonely God makes Eve Adam and Eve are naked ------------------------"Snake tempts Eve" Adam has a child with Eve Thus the sequence of chapters (Naked--->child) is clearly interrupted by the Snake story. *3 As explained above Rashi sees these two views as complementary - First they drank wine and got drunk - While drunk they thought it permissable to offer sacrifices which should not be offered Hence they died for both crimes *4 Rashi explains the Causal connection - when the masses see that God EVEN kills the righteous for sins - then they are aware how they must also observe Gods commandments - This leads to more honor for God *5 So GOOD NEWS facilitates/causes SMOOTH TRAVEL(Rashi) *6 The full sequence of chapters is as follows -------------------------------------------- - Gn31 God orders Jacob to return to his fathers house - Gn32 But Jacob is afraid of Being with Brother Esauv - Gn33 Jacob journeys instead to Succoth - Gn34 Dinah gets raped - Gn35 God tells Jacob to return to BethEl ------------------------------------------- Rashi notes that ----------------------------- If Jacob had IMMEDIATELY fulfilled the order of Travelling to his fathers house he wouldnt have stayed in Succoth and his Daughter would not have gotten raped. ------------------------------ Thus Rashi sees a CAUSAL connection between the chapters. Dinah was raped because Jacob did not IMMEDIATELY fulfill the prophetic order. Note Rashi expresses the same theme ------------------------------------------------- Because he delayed doing the prophecy immediately therefore he was punished that certain bad occurrences happened to him ------------------------------------------------- Rashi expresses this same theme on Gn35-22a where we find that Reuven inteferred with his fathers marital life. *7 Rashi can be better understood with the EXPORT-IMPORT LAW of logic. The EXPORT-IMPORT law states that ---------------------------------------------------- IF [it rains] then if [I go out] THEN [I will get wet] ---------------------------------------------------- has the same meaning as ---------------------------------------------------- IF [it rains] and [I go out] THEN [I will get wet] ---------------------------------------------------- In other words Rashi identifies the two sentence forms - IF p THEN IF q THEN r - IF p & q THEN r This identification of NESTED CONDITIONALS with a CONJUNCTIVE HYPOTHESIS is called the EXPORT-IMPORT law. The actual Biblical text reads --------------------------------------------- The cattle is young AND they will be pushed one day AND they will die --------------------------------------------- Rashi simply points out (Using EXPORT-IMPORT) that we can interpret this as either --------------------------------------------- [IF] The cattle is young AND they will be pushed one day THEN they will die --------------------------------------------- or --------------------------------------------- IF The cattle is young IF they will be pushed one day THEN they will die --------------------------------------------- The above two translations use the well known Biblical principle that the Hebrew letter VAV can refer to any connective. *8 In other words he - 1st affirmed a vow of his wife - then annuled it (which he had no right to) - If she now sins (Because she was mislead into thinking the vow is annuled) - then HE bears the sin/punishment In other words BECAUSE he misled her he must pay for the sin. *9 The causality of these verses reinforce each other - Gn13-14 EXPLICITLY states that God promised Abe Israel AFTER Lot separated from him - Gn13-07 states that Abe and Lot faught WHILE the Canaanites were still in the land. So Rashi simply puts the two verses together - Lot felt HE COULD USE ISRAEL land even though the CANAANITES still owned it. Lot felt this way because the land was promised to Abraham eventually. By contrast Abraham refused to use the land UNTIL it was actually given to him. | |||
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*10 Rashi also states -------------------------------------------------- The HEAVY DRIVING (that God made the Egyptians do by removing chariot wheel) was a punishment for their making HEAVY their hearts -------------------------------------------------- I would strengthen these associations -------------------------------------------------- The HEAVY DRIVING is a punishment for the HEAVY work that the Egyptians placed on the Jews -------------------------------------------------- These comments of Rashi or me also indicate -- HEAVY DRIVING causes/facilitated -- Egyptians seeing that God was fighting for them Indeed: We know that one of the way God fights is to punish people according to what they have done (See Rashi on Ex18-11- Jethro said: Now I know that God is the true God because He returns to people what they have done) Hence this particular punishment (making the Egyptians drive heavy vs killing them) showed the Egyptians (CAUSED them to be aware) that God was fighting. *11 Hence the Rashi - Laban was interested in the possibility of becoming rich from Abraham. *12 Presumably each city had its own method of preserving food (e.g. use natural nutrients in the fields). Hence the second sentence of the verse HE STORED EACH CITIES FOOD NEAR IT is seen as ENABLING the first sentence HE STORED THE FOOD OF THE SEVEN YEARS *13 (Rashi) "And the cloud departed from off the Tent"ENABLES and ALLOWS "and behold Miriam had become leprous." An analogy would be King angry at one of his subjects. The King would leave the room BEFORE punishment began since it is disrespectful to degrade a subject of the King in his presence. Similarly God, the King, had to depart ("The cloud departed")before Miryam could be punished. *14 BECAUSE the Levites do the Temple work there will be no need for Jews to enter the Temple. This prevents a plague But if they did enter the temple they would be liable to a death penalty at the hands of heaven. [See Nu18-07 for an explicit statement that "strangers [non levites/priests] coming near to the Temple die at the hands of heaven.] -------------------------------------------------- |
(C) Dr Hendel, Jan-04 | ||||
A list of paragraphs having a CONTRASTING connection | ||||
# | VERSE | TOPIC IN 1st CHAPTER | TOPIC IN 2nd CHAPTER | |
(--) | Dt23-08a | Amon NEVER intermarries | Egypt DOES in3 generations | |
(--) | Dt23-08b | Amon NEVER intermarries | Egypt DOES in3 generations | |
(--) | Dt24-05a | ...your former divorcee | NEW WIFE-no former divorce | |
(--) | Dt28-54a | SOFT HEARTED person... | STINGY because of famine | |
(--) | Dt04-41a | Moses will die | Moses sets 3 refuge cities | |
(--) | Dt05-04a | Parents didnt see God | You personally heard God | |
(--) | Gn41-44b | I am Pharoh=King | You are Vice-King | |
(--) | Gn25-23a | Esauv HUNTER,in FIELD*11 | Jacob SIMPLE,TENTS charity | |
(--) | Nu31-03a | War Midyan;THEN DIE | Eager to go to war*0 | |
(--) | Lv19-30a | Observe SABBATH | [Even when]BUILDING TEMPLE | |
(--) | Ex18-05a | Jethro comes to DESERT | comes to Mount of GOD | |
(--) | Ex04-11a | Moses cant speak | Moses did speak-Ex02-11:14 | |
(--) | Ex04-11b | Moses afraid of Pharoh | God protected Mshe-Ex02-15 | |
(--) | Gn47-25a*8 | 20% Tax:80% Yours | Thank you...Good deal | |
(--) | Gn42-10a | JOE: You are spies | BROTHERS:NO-we are not.*7 | |
(09) | Lv26-01a | Being a slave to Non Jew | Prohibition of Idolatry*1 | |
(10) | Dt29-12a | Curses | We are before God*2 | |
(11) | Lv19-03c | Fear Parents | Watch Sabbaths*3 | |
(12) | Dt22-12a | No Shaatnez | Tzitzith*4 | |
(--) | Dt09, Dt10 | Jews rebel against God | But God still loves Jews*5 | |
(--) | Gn31-13d | I will go GENTLY | You will PASS ME*6 | |
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*1 Rashi not only connects 2 paragraphs. He also connects all Biblical paragraphs in this chapter. See footnote *10 for further details *2 Dt28 gives a long list of curses if the Jews violate the commandments. Dt29-12 says "You are all STANDING before God today" In other words despite the curses for disobediance you are still here before God(The implication being that no matter how angry God gets he will not destroy you) A further support for this theme can come from the General-particular-General form Dt28 GENERAL: Curses for disobediance Dt29-12 PARTICULAR: You are standing here before God Dt29-19 GENERAL: Curses for disobediance Thus the General-Particular-General form shows that Gods curses still allow us to "Stand before him"--in other words they are educative curses not punitive. *3 In other words (always) "Observe the Sabbaths" DESPITE a request to the contrary "By your parents" This can happen if eg your parents ask you to desecrate the Sabbath. You must observe the Sabbath even if your parents request to the contrary. And this can be generalized to all Torah laws(that they take precedence over your parents request) *4 Wear Tzitzith DESPITE the fact that they may have Shaatnez Wool and linen together (In the priestly garments made of Linen the Tzitzith were made of wool--thus the commandment of Tzitzith OVERRIDES the prohibtion of wearing wool and linen) *5 More specifically Rashi (Dt10-12a) states --------------------------------------------- Despite the 5 rebellions that the Jews did against God, nevertheless, God still loves the Jews. In fact Dt10-12 states that all the Jews need do to earn this love is to revere God --------------------------------------------- *6 Rashis point is that Jacob did not ask Esauv ---------------------------- Past me and leave me behind ---------------------------- Rather Jacob suggested contrast ------------------------------------------------ - I must go at a gentle pace - you go at a normal pace ------------------------------------------------ A logical consequence of this contrast is that Esauv would pass Jacob and leave him behind. *7 The full Biblical text shows two rounds of dialogs between Moses and Joseph The Biblical text states as follows ---------------------------------------------------- Gn42-09 1 JOE: You are Spies Gn42-10:11 1 BROHTERS: NO(Contrast)--We are simple people Gn42-12 2 JOE: NO(Contrast) you are spies Gn42-13 2 BROTHERS: We are 12 sons;we came for food ---------------------------------------------------- *8 Gn47-25b and Gn47-25a both deal with the contrast of offer vs Thank you. *9 Rashi makes a point of the contrast ---------------------------------------- Even though he was going to die after the war nevertheless he was eager to perform the war -------------------------------------------- | ||||
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*10 On a superficial level Rashi seems to be connecting 2 verses. Avoid idolatry DESPITE your being a slave to a non jew (who encourages its violation). Do not think "I will worship idols now and when I am free I will go back to believing in God" On a profound level Rashi sees a unifying theme to this whole chapter. The chapter encourages observing the shimitah laws which encourage abstaining from agriculture once every 7 years so that people can devote themselves to God and study. If one violates these laws he is progressively punished. Here is the sequence of punishments {LIST} {Paragraphs in BEHAR} ------------------------------------------------------- VERSE LAW ------------ ------------------------------------------ Lv25-01:12 Observe the 7 and 50 year Land sabbaticals Lv25-13:24 If not you will have to sell your MOVABLES Lv25-25:28 If not you will have to sell your LAND Lv25-29:34 If not you will have to sell your HOUSE Lv25-35:38 If not you will have to LOAN Lv25-39:46 If not you will have to become a SLAVE Lv25-47:54 If not you'll become a NONJEWISH SLAVE Lv26-01:03 If not you'll be tempted to IDOLATRY --------------------------------------------------------- Thus Rashi does not merely teach juxtaposition of verses but he also teaches juxtaposition of ALL paragraphs in the chapter. *11 Rashi comments ------------------------------------------------------ The verse CLEARLY contrasts HUNTER vs SIMPLE and FIELDS vs TENTS. Thus the SITTING IN TENTS spoken about here is not e.g. the tents of hunters but rather the tents of scholars (or charity givers) ------------------------------------------------------ I have added the explanatory words [or charity givers] to show that Rashi's point is one of CONTRAST not one of IDENTIFICATION. Rashi literally says ------------------------------------- TENTS refers to the tents of Shaym alluded to in the verse Gn09-27 - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - God will give beauty to Yefeth and Yefeth will dwell in the TENTS OF SHAYM - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - ------------------------------------- Presumably these are tents of either scholars or tents of charity givers. Rashi's main point is not the identification of WHOSE tents Jacob dwells in but rather the TYPES of tents that Jacob dwells in-- charity or learning tents vs hunter tents. *12 Rashi cites Gn41-40 to support this interpretation ------------------------------------------------- Pharoh said to Joseph; I give you power over all Egypt But my throne shall surpass your power ------------------------------------------------- *13 - The 6 refuge cities became operational as a unit - That is, no refuge city gave asylum till all did - Hence if Moses was dying his setting aside 3 cities did not have any effect We conclude that Moses set aside the cities simply because of religiousity and his love of performance |
#*#*#*# (C) RashiYomi Inc., 2006, 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 | |
9 | 061a | You will eat your children BECAUSE of the famine | |
9 | 061b | ..your former divorcee...If you marry NON FORMER DIVORCEE then.. | |
9 | 061b | SOFT HEARTED people WITH NEVERTHELESS be stingy on giving food | |
9 | 061b | Amonites NEVER intermarry;Egyptians DO after 3 generations | |
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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 | |
======== | =============== | ===================================== | |
Dt28-53a | GRAMMARr | BECAUSE of famine,you-ll eat children | |
Dt23-08a | GRAMMARr | BECAUSE of famine,you-ll eat children | |
Dt23-08b | GRAMMARr | BECAUSE of famine,you-ll eat children | |
Dt24-05a | GRAMMARr | BECAUSE of famine,you-ll eat children | |
Dt28-54a | GRAMMARr | BECAUSE of famine,you-ll eat children | |
--------- | ---------------- | ----------------------------------- |
*#*#*# (C) RashiYomi Inc., 2006, Dr. Hendel, President #*#*#*#*#