Rashi-Is-Simple Mailing List
(C) Dr Russell Jay Hendel, 1999
http://www.shamash.org/rashi
Volume 3 Number 20
Produced Oct, 05 1999
Topics Discussed in This Issue
------------------------------
v1q51-2 Question from David Bradd on WHO IS RDQ
v1q26-11 Question/Point from Dan Feldman on Avimelech/Pharoh
v1q51-3 Suggestion from Gilbert Issard
v5z19-3 Comment on Golden Series by Avi@BigFoot.Com
v1q42-22 Question from Dan Feldman on Yaakovs Mourning
v1q14-15 Question from John Loike on a Gematria in Rashi
v1q11-32 Question from Bert Miller on NUN HAFUCHAH in Rashi
v5z21-12 Comment from Avi Parnes on explanation of ASH
v1z51-2 Answer to David Bradd on RDK
v1a1-20 NFSH CHAYAH=Alive; NISHMATH CHAYIIM=Soul
v1b11-32 Nun=Alot of (eg PAMON(Bell claver)=Hammers(PAM) alot(N)
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***************************
*** READING TIPS ***
***************************
IF YOU ARE IN A HURRY WE RECOMMEND THE FOLLOWING SECTIONS:
* VERSE:
* RASHI TEXT:
* BRIEF BUT COMPLETE NARRATIVE EXPLANATION:
"HOW DO I FIND QUICKLY A SPECIFIC SECTION?"
ANSWER: Use your FIND menu
For example: FIND VERSE:
takes you to the beginning of the next section.
Similarly
FIND NARRATIVE EXPLANATION:
takes you to the brief explanation of Rashi.
"IS THERE AN EASY WAY TO GO TO EACH VERSE AND POSTING?"
Yes. Use your FIND menu.
"FIND #*#*#*#" takes you to the next posting
#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*# (C) Dr Hendel, 1999 *#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*
VERSE: v1q51-2
Date: Tue, 7 Sep 1999 17:21:17 -0400 (EST)
From: David Bradd
To: rashi-is-simple@shamash.org
Subject: RDQ
Dr. Hendel,
I study your postings closely. I am new at this so some of your
remarks go over my head.
For example, you have refered to The Book of Roots, by RDQ. I have
used the search engine at Amazon.com and I come up with nothing.
Can you tell me something about this title or author that will help
me get dialed into this source?
Keep up the good work.
#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*# (C) Dr Hendel, 1999 *#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*
VERSE: v1q26-11
Date: Thu, 9 Sep 1999 09:25:59 -0400 (EST)
From: "4 gzntr8"
To: rashi-is-simple@shamash.org
Subject: Re: RASHI-IS-SIMPLE digest 65
Russel:
Avimelech only agreed not to molest Isaac & wife (1-26-9:11)
I understand that there is a disagreement
as to whether this is the same
Avimelech. It could have been a title such as "Pharoh"
Shanah Tovah,
Dan
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VERSE: v1q51-3
Date: Wed, 15 Sep 1999 08:24:55 -0400 (EST)
From: "Gilbert ISSARD"
To: rashi-is-simple@shamash.org
Subject: Suggestions
Russell,
I want to make a few suggestions on
this list for this year 5760. It is
not too long or too short, keep it
as it is. The onlly thing is : what
about posting a queestion for those
willing to work it out by themselves ?
You could give the answers in the
following posting. It could be : working
a Rashi using the rule you have
just explained to develop one's ability to
understand Rashi by himself or
letting some details of the explanation
unfinished and ask us to finish it.
Since you give the answer on the
following week those who do not want
or have time could simply wait for
the following posting.
regards,
Ktiva vegomar chatima tova
Gilbert
[Moderator: If others are interested in this
approach please Email me]
#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*# (C) Dr Hendel, 1999 *#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*
VERSE: v5z19-3
Date: Fri, 13 Aug 1999 11:39:14 -0400
To: rhendel@mcs.drexel.edu (Russell Hendel)
From: Avi
Subject: Re: RASHI-IS-SIMPLE digest 57
>
> RASHI-IS-SIMPLE Digest 57
>
>Topics covered in this issue include:
>
>......snip.....
>
>
>
> ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
> ^^ THE GOLDEN ^^
> ^^ Rambam Rashi Series ^^
> vv Gold series #1 vv
> vvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvv
>
>Topics Discussed in This Issue
>------------------------------
>v5a19-3 Gold-Rambam-Rashi series #1. Murder 8. Refuge cities
>
>...snip...
>
>VERSE: v5a19-3
>
> v5a19-3 When God destroys the nations you are inheriting..
> then you should separate 3 cities in your land...
> prepare the highway..
>...snip...
BEAUTIFUL!!!!
-Avi
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VERSE: v1q42-22
From: "4 gzntr8"
To: rhendel@mcs.drexel.edu
Subject: RE Rashi #61
Date: Fri, 27 Aug 1999 10:14:37 EDT
'& ALSO his blood is being avenged [Rashi points
out that the ALSO refers BOTH to Josephs' blood
and to Jacob's blood (since Jacob sat in constant
mourning and had become like a dead person)]
Russel:
This is a "side" to the above...
If I understand current halacha correctly,
one is not allowed to mourn for
someone who is safek dead. If I also
understand the Chuamsh correctly,
Ya'aqov actually mourned, i.e. sackcloth,
etc. for the full time (22 years).
How was this "allowed"?
Shabbat Shalom,
Daniel
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VERSE: v1q14-15
You claim that all Rashis are Simple. How then do
you explain the exotic Rashi on 1-14-14
>Abram took 318 men
>318 in Gematria is Eliezer
>This teaches that Abram defeated the kings with Eliezer
Now how is that Pshat?
Furthermore as eg the LIST of census figures in Number 1:2 shows
it is not the nature of the Torah to use non rounded numbers.
Therefore the specificity of the number teaches us that it
must be for a gematria--in this case Eliezer.
Dr Prof John Loike
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VERSE: v1q11-32
You claim that all Rashis are simple without any Derush.
Then how do you explain the Rashi on v1b11-31 talking
about the death of CHARAN
> There is an upside down nun teaching us
> that until ABRAM there was severe anger
> from God
First of all there are no Torah Texts with upside
down nuns.
Secondly how does an upside down nun indicate
the severe wrath of God
I obtained this question from Rabbi Dr S. Leiman
Bert Miller
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VERSE: v5z21-12
Date: Tue, 17 Aug 1999 13:05:12 -0400 (EST)
From: "Avraham (avi) and pnina parnes"
To: rashi-is-simple@shamash.org
Subject: a.s.h.
1) I think that your fifth explanation "squeeze"
is from the root Ayin
Samech Hay with the samech turning
into a sin. Modern Hebrew has this
root as a massage or in rabbinic Hebrew
to make a dough which also
involves squeezing.The eben Ezra on
Psalms 139 15 indeed puts Vaasotem
reshaim (with a Samech) together with
Ezekial 23 3 issu (with a sin) and
says that ussayti with a sin in psalms
is from a different root.
2) I am not sure that Rashi in Psalms
is explaining ussati as squeeze as
you posted. He writes betashmish -
through conjugal relations - and may
be explaining why a person is MADE
(ussati) in hiding due to relations
being a private hidden thing.So there
is no dispute between Rashi and
your way of understanding usatu.
Avi
#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*# (C) Dr Hendel, 1999 *#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*
VERSE: v5z51-2
From: Russell J Hendel
To: davidbradd@yahoo.com
Date: Tue, 7 Sep 1999 21:41:42 -0400
Subject: Who is RDQ
David
Thank you for your note.
The RDQ was a mideval commentary like Rashi.
The RDQ lived towards the end of the period of people like Rashi.
Hence he wrote many SUMMARY works. This includes
---his book of HEBREW ROOTS, which is the forerunner of
many books on Hebrew today
---his work on Hebrew grammar.
You can get these from Book Stores but I don't believe they have
been translated into English.
I quote the RDQ because he is like an Encylopedia---he summarizes
many previous works.
He wrote a commentary on Every Biblical book
Have A Pleasant and Happy New Year
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Russell Hendel
#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*# (C) Dr Hendel, 1999 *#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*
VERSE: v1a1-20
v1a1-20 LIFE FORCE (NFSH CHAYAH)
v1b1-21 LIFE FORCE (NFSH CHAYAH)
v1b1-24 LIFE FORCE (NFSH CHAYAH)
v1d2-7 SOUL OF LIFE...LIFE FORCE
RASHI TEXT:
v1a1-20 NFSH CHAYAH means LIFE FORCE
v1b1-21 NFSH CHAYAH means LIFE FORCE
v1b1-24 NFSH CHAYAH means LIFE FORCE
v1d2-7 Animals and man have LIFE FORCE. Man also has
SOUL OF LIFE because he can talk & understand
BRIEF BUT COMPLETE NARRATIVE EXPLANATION:
Rashi is simply giving the meaning here. There is however
a subtlety. Usually when a term is coined from two words the
new word pair has a meaning equal to the sum of its two
components. For example
>Electric Opener = A Can Opener that is electrically run
However in certain cases the two words form an intrinsically new
concept which is not the sum of its two parts. Linguists have
fancy names for such phenomena--the simplest example is
>Toy Gun = A Toy that LOOKS like a Gun
The point being that a toy gun is NOT a gun but just looks like
a gun. By contrast, an electric opener is really an opener.
Other examples with a variety of different emphasii are presented
in {LIST1}. For example a SKYSCRAPER is not a building which
touches clouds but rather a tall building that is closer to the
clouds than most buildings. Similarly you do not say that you
FAST every night but nevertheless BREAKFAST is that meal that
comes after the longest abstention from food (It is the meal
that BREAKS the FAST). As a final example a BATHROOM does not
have to have a BATH---rather a bathroom is the room used for
activities done when naked.
Returning to our verses NFSH CHAYAH does NOT mean
>the SOUL of a LIVING creature
since animals do not have souls.
Rather NFSH CHAYAH is an INTRINSICALLY new term whose meaning
is not the sum of its components. The best translation would
be
>NFSH CHAYAH = Life Force (ie Living)
By the creation of man, we see, by comparing verses that man
has TWO items
>NFSH CHAYAH
>NISHMATH CHAYIIM
Man is the ONLY being where NISHMATH CHAYIIM is mentioned.
Hence Rashi is Simple and we therefore feel justified in translating
>NFSH CHAYAH = Life Force (ie life, alive)
>NISHMATH CHAYIIM = Soul of Life (ie Soul)
COMMENTS ON RASHI'S FORM:
Just some quick comments on commentaries on Rashi that are not
the custom in this email list.
--SMALL CHANGES IN LANGUAGE
---------------------------
Rashi has minute changes in language in his description of
>NFSH CHAYAH = LIFE FORCE
So for example the SIFSAY CHACHAMIM comments on this. We
do not believe this wrong but we also have not seen enough
evidence to feel it justified.
The belief of this email group is that Rashi is
>meticulous on details of LISTS and CONCEPTS
>not that careful on other pharseology matters
--PHILOSOPHICAL IMPLICATIONS OF RASHI
-------------------------------------
Rashi emphasizes man's uniqueness from the animal in
>speech
>knowledge(understanding)
There are many people who see extreme significance in these
choices.
We do not deny the value of such analysis. But the main focus
in this email group is the explanation of Chumash via Rashi
thru the use of LISTS. Since LISTS do not justify Rashi's choice
of
>speech
>knowledge
we do not feel it appropriate to make further comment
LISTS {For ADVANCED students and for those with more time}:
{LIST1} {New phrases combined from several words. Sometimes
the new phrase's meaning is simply the sum of its
two component word meanings (eg ELECTRIC OPENER=
an opener that is electric) while sometimes the
two words form a new phrase (eg TOY GUN is not
a gun but a toy that looks like a gun)}
NEW PHRASE DOES NOT MEAN DOES MEAN
=============== ===================== =============================
Toy Gun Not a Gun Toy that LOOKS like a Gun
BreakFast Need not fast Meal after longest abstention
BathRoom Need not have a bath Room for NAKED activities
SkyScraper Need not be in clouds Building CLOSER to sky
Electric opener An opener that is electric
{LIST2} {Comparison of terms indicating LIFE used by animals
vs man. Note how BOTH man and animal have NFSH CHAYAH
while only man has NISHMATH CHAYIIM. This list helps
justify the assertion that NISHMATH CHAYIIM = SOUL
while NFSH CHAYAH = ALIVE}
VERSE NFSH CHAYAH NISHMATH CHAYIIM
======= ======================== ================
v1a1-20 NFSH CHAYAH (LIFE FORCE)
v1b1-21 NFSH CHAYAH (LIFE FORCE)
v1b1-24 NFSH CHAYAH (LIFE FORCE)
v1d2-7 NFSH CHAYAH NISHMATH CHAYIIM
CROSS REFERENCES:
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS:
RULE CLASSIFICATION {See the web site for comparable examples}:
NEW MEANINGS
NEW MEANINGS
NEW MEANINGS
DOUBLE PARSHAS
SQL {Database query comments for those who know Database theory}:
SELECT verse FROM Bible WHERE Verse Has 'LIFE FORCE'
#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*# (C) Dr Hendel, 1999 *#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*
VERSE: v1b11-32
v1b11-32 ...and Terach died in CHARAN
v1-2-13 ...and the name of the 2nd river was GICHON
v1-2-11 ...and the name of the river was PISHON
RASHI TEXT:
v1b11-32 ...the Word CHARAN ends with a RAGIN NUN.
This teaches us that till Abraham there was
raging wrath (CHRH) of God in the world
v1-2-13 GICHON = Much (N) Goring noise (NGCH)
v1-2-11 PISHON = Either MUCH (N) overflow(PSH) or
PISHON = Produces MUCH (N) Flax (PS)
The reference is to the Nile river. Note
that FLAX was Egypts main crop (Isa19-9)
BRIEF BUT COMPLETE NARRATIVE EXPLANATION:
This is one of those Rashis where the Rashi is simple but
it is the FORM in which Rashi expresses the idea that is
difficult.
Quite simply Rashi's principle is that
>roots/words ending in NUN can indicate intensity/alot
A simple example is PAAMON, the BELL CLAVER which HAMMERS
(PAAM) the bell ALOT (N). In other words
>PAAMON (Bell Claver) = Hammers (PAAM) Alot (NUN)
Similarly ZChRON(Memorial) = Intense (N) Memory (ZCR) and
KRBN(Sacrifice)= Intense(N) Closeness (even for the sinner).
See {LIST1} for a large set of examples.
Returning to the 3 Rashis we are studying we see that
>GICHON (Raging Rapids) = Alot (N) of Goring Noise(NUN)
>PiShON (The Nile)= Alot (N) of OVERFLOW (PSH)
>PISHON (The nile)= ALot (N) of FLax (PST)
>ChRN = ALot (N) of Anger (Chrh)
Two comments are in order--
--Pishon has two possible derivations (ALOT of OVERFLOW or
ALOT OF FLAX)---Since all Rivers overflow anyway Rashi presented
the 2nd etymology which emphasizes FLAX, Egypts main
crop (cf Isa19-9 or 2-9-31)
--The point behind the etymology of ChRN is that many evil
nations were called CR (without the N) (eg 5-2-12). By calling
ChRN ChRN vs ChR there was an emphasis on INTENSE (N) anger
which stopped at the time of Abraham (In the list of generations
in 1-11 Abraham was the first generation after TERACH who
died in CHRN).
Rashi, here followed the standard Biblical practice of allowing
the name to reflect the SITUATION OF PEOPLE AT THAT TIME--that
is the name could be an attribute of the PEOPLE in GENERAL but not
of the PARTICULAR person named (See eg 1-5-29 for an example of
this practice; the name reflected how the PEOPLE IN GENERAL
were behaving and not necessarily the attributes of that person).
To summarize Rashi's point is that
>A terminal NUN means ALOT OF/INTENSITY
To communicate this idea Rashi coined the term
>NUN HAPHUCHAH (the raging Nun)
Because some people were unaware of this grammatical principle
and because there are two upside down Nuns in the Torah which
are called OVERTURNED NUNS (NUN HAPHUCHAH), some people
erroneously were led to the belief that Rashi had a Sefer Torah
with extra upside down nuns.
This is absurd. Rashi could have had such a text but we have
no such mauscripts available. There is therefore no reason to
assume that Rashi was referring to such an unknown text.
Rather the simple explanation is that Rashi was
referring to a grammatical principle not
to new Torah notation. If people had not been ignorant of this
grammatical principle they wouldn't have erred in interpreting
the Rashi to refer to different notation.
COMMENTS ON RASHI'S FORM:
We make 3 comments on Rashis form
TWO EXPLANATIONS IN RASHI (The 2nd is preferred)
------------------------------------------------
--Rashi gave two explanations of PISHON (The NILE is known for
>Alot of OVERFLOW or for
>producing Alot of FLAX
since PSTH can mean both OVERFLOW and FLAX.
Since many rivers overflow anyway Rashi brought the second
explanation (Alot of Flax) which is more focused. Rashi in
general prefers the 2nd explanation as we have seen many
times.
WORKBOOK METHODS
--------------------------------------------------------
--Note the use of WORKBOOK METHODS. Rashi only brings ONE
verse Isa19:9 to support the thesis that FLAX was Egypts
main crop. It was left to the reader to bring the other
obvious verse 2-9-31.
RASHI USED GEMATRIAHS and WILD METAPHORS TO STATE PRINCIPLES
------------------------------------------------------------
--Finally note that NUN HAPHUCAH literally means the RAGING
NUN and refers to the Grammatical principle that a terminal
NUN indicates INTENSITY or MUCHNESS. Rashi frequently expresses
an abstract idea using a gematria or wild metaphor. It is
important in understanding Rashi to FIRST know Biblical grammar
and only THEN read Rashi.
LISTS {For ADVANCED students and for those with more time}:
{LIST1} {Of words where the terminal NUN means alot of/intense.
Thus eg KRBN=Sacrifice from the root KRV= Close. Hence
KRBN with a NUN = Intense Closeness. The other roots
are treated similarly}
ROOT MEANING NUN=ALOT REMAINING TWO LETTERS
====== =========== ============ =====================
KoRBN Sacrifice Intense Closeness to God *1
ShlChaN Table Alot left out (on it) *4
PaaMoN Bell Claver Alot of hammering
BAYN Children "Alot" in the House (Bayis) *2
ZiChRN Memorial Intense Memory
GICHON Raging Rapids Alot of Goring type noise
PISHON the Nile Alot of Overflow / Flax crop *3
CHARAN Very Angry Alot of Anger
YERIVUN Fist Fight Intense Dispute *5
FOOTNOTES
*1 Even for sinner
*2 The reader can omit this--it was just a cute addition
using the one letter root BETH=HOUSE
*3 PS could EiTHER mean OVERFLOW of river or FLAX. Since
all rivers overflow Rashi gave as a second explanation
the FLAX which was the main crop of Egypt.
*4 This etymology is due to Rav Hirsch. The real meaning of
SLCH is LET OUT (not send) as eg in Isa7-25
>wasteland (left out for oxen/sheep to trample)
or Isa16-8
>tree hangings/branches (protrusions that COME OUT)
Thus the TABLE is the utensil on which ALOT OF (N) food is
LET OUT (SLCH)
*5 This distinction between DISPUTE(RV) and FIGHT(RVN) is
brought by Rav Hirsch on 2-21-18
CROSS REFERENCES:
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS:
RULE CLASSIFICATION {See the web site for comparable examples}:
WORD MEANINGS
WORD MEANINGS
WORD MEANINGS
SQL {Database query comments for those who know Database theory}:
SELECT word FROM Dictionary WHERE
Mid(word,3,1)='N' and
= Intense Mid(word,1,2).Meaning
#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*# (C) Dr Hendel, 1999 *#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*
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--------------
Send via email SUBMISSIONS/responses/contributions to
rashi-is-simple@shamash.org
If you want your communication published anonomously (without
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respected). All other submissions (whether thru Shamash or ANY
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they can be published as is or with editing)
NOTATIONAL CONVENTIONS
----------------------
e.g. v5b2-1 means as follows:
The "v" means verse
The "5" means Deuteronomy--the 5th book
The "2" means The 2nd chapter
The "1" means The 1st verse
The "b" means The second rashi on that
verse ("we rounded mount
Seir)
Similarly v5-2-1 would mean Dt 2:1 and probably refer to all
Rashis. (These conventions start with issue 14---beforehand
the notation is similar and will be updated retroactively
in the future)
Asterisks (*,#) in a list usually refer to footnotes that follow it
Parenthesis with the word List and a number--[LIST3] refers to
LISTS in the LIST section of each posting.
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OUR GOALS
---------
RASHI-IS-SIMPLE
* will provide logical explanations to all 8,000 Rashis on Chumash.
* the preferred vehicle of explanation is thru list of verses and exceptions
* These postings will be archived in Shamash in Quartuplet
-- By Volume and Number
-- By Verse
-- By Grammatical Rule
-- By quicky explanation
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----------------------
For further information on the character of this list
* read your welcome note from Shamash
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End of Rashi-Is-Simple Digest
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