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(C) Dr Russell Jay Hendel, 2000
Volume 5 Number 11
Produced Feb, 25 2000
WARNING: USE FIX WIDTH FONTS (eg COURIER (NEW) 10)
COMING SOON....ASCII HEBREW FONTS...COMING SOON
Verses/Topics Discussed in This Issue with quicky explanations
--------------------------------------------------------------
v2r25-00
What aren't the Rashi Is Simples coinciding with this
weeks Parshah?
v2q25-00
Assorted (sharp) questions from Dr John Loike on a
variety of issues.
v2q13-18
Why does Rashi say that 80% of the Jews died in Egypt
v2-34-2
Rashi and RDK both consistently translate NCON =
PREPARED. 5 examples are brought from Torah and several
others from Nach: a) Be PREPARED 3 days from now for
Gods descent(v2a19-11); (b) PREPARE a HIGHWAY for the
accidental murderer (v5a19-3)...
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RASHI IS SIMPLE
GOALS: To grammatically defend all 8000 Rashis on Chumash.
METHOD:Every Rashi will be defended with a LIST of comparable cases
INTENDED AUDIENCE: Laymen, Academicians, Rabbis, Yeshiva students
COMMENTS,QUESTIONS: EMail to address below; (minor edits may occur)
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT:Always given unless 'anonymous' is explicitly asked
(UN)SUBSCRIBE: Email to above with keyword "(UN)subscribe"
JOURNAL REFERECE: Pshat & Drash, TRADITION, Win 1980, R Hendel
NOTATION: eg v2b1-8 refers to Ex(Book 2) Chap 1 Verse 8 Rashi b(#2)
SPECIALS:...on Rambam,Ramban,Symbolism,Pedagogy,Daily Questions
EMAIL: RJHendel@Juno.Com,rashi-is-simple@shamash.org,
#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*# (C) Dr Hendel, 1999 *#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*
VERSE: v2r25-00
From: MTemkin967@aol.com
To: rashi-is-simple@shamash.org
Fri, 18 Feb 2000 08:08:44 -0500 (EST)
Subject: Re: RASHI-IS-SIMPLE digest 109
Dear Russell:
I have a question. Why do the "Rashi is Simple"
mailings not coincide with
the Parsha or I am missing something?
Thanks!
[ANSWER: This is your email list. If I have been lax
in coinciding the Parshah with Rashis then we will simply
change.
But be aware of certain things
--Take this weeks Parshah...I explain how Rashi translates
the word NCON in this weeks Parshah. BUT...there are 5 other
places in Chumash where Rashi translates this word (almost
the same way).
So..to comment on this weeks Parshah I have to bring in
these 5 examples.
---At least twice every volume we have the Golden
Rambam series where we review the simultaneous approaches
of Rashi and Rambam to the same material.
---Sometimes when I know what I want to say in advance I
have to PREPARE more examples and that necessitates a
Rashi that does not directly deal with the Parshah.
Having said all the above however I will now be careful
to either STATE A RASHI FROM THIS WEEKS PARSHAH (OR LAST
WEEKS OR NEXT WEEKS) or else state why we are deviating
from the Sedrah schedule.
Thanks for your interest. This is your email group and
we try and accomodate all requests.]
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VERSE: v2q24-00
From: "John D. Loike"
Date: Friday Feb 18, 2000
To: The logical derivation of Rashis on Chumash
Subject: Re: RASHI-IS-SIMPLE digest 109
Hello, I hope all is well with you. I have several
interesting questions. The first relates to this week's
parsha of tezaveh where the term Otcha is
spelling in a strange fashion. It is similar to
Yadchah by tefillin from which we derive the wearing
of the tefillin on the weak hand. What is the
reason for such a strange spelling here. How
often do these types of strange spellings of Kaf
Sofit to Kaf hey occur and does Rashi ever comment
on them?
If you look at the ten Nisyonot of Abraham as enumerated
by Rashi (which differs from that of the RamBaM) can one
predict his list from the verses in the Torah?
A suggestion. In referencing verses. Please include the
Parsha as well since the verses were designed by the Church
and are often inappropriate separations of the Torah-
Any thoughts on why in the ten commandments Shabbat is
preceeded by the petucha in Yitro and a Sedumah in YaEthanan?
Keep up the good work
John
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VERSE: v2q13-18
From: "ROSS QUARTERMAINE"
To:
Date: Sat, 12 Feb 2000 19:43:31 +1100
Subject: question
Hi Russel,
I am wanting more info about Rashi`s saying that there were
4/5ths of the jews killed during the plague of darkness? I
hope you can help me in finding more out on this as I am
very interested in learning more about what Rashi means.
Shalom,
Donna
[ANSWER: Donna
I did intend to deal with the problem 'next issue' but
didn't yet get around to it. As I mentioned in my original
response this is a popular Rashi and many commentators
have dealt with it. I will try to get to it soon. Thanks
for the question.
Russell Jay Hendel; MOderator Rashi Is Simple]
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VERSE: v2-34-2
======
v2-34-2 And be PREPARED(NCON) for the morning
v1-41-32 Because it (the dream) is PREPARED(NCON) from God
v2a19-11 And be PREPARED(NCON) for 3 days from now
v5z17-4 And behold it(the testimony) is true & FOUNDED(NCON)
v5z19-3 PREPARE the highway(NCON)
RASHI TEXT:
===========
v2-34-2 The Hebrew word
>NCON
means
>be prepared
In other words
>Be PREPARED to come up to the mountain
>in the morning
v1-41-32 The Hebrew word
>NCON
means
>Prepared
(God has prepared the 7 years of plenty and drought
v2a19-11 The phrase
>And be PREPARED for 3 days from now
means
>that they should be prepared for a
>prophetic experience by separating
>from their wives
[Moderator: This link between
>PREPARED = SEPARATION FROM WIFE
is explicitly stated in 2-19-15
>be PREPARED-SEPARATE FROM YOUR WIVES
v5z17-4 The phrase
>the testimony is FOUNDED
means
>the 2 witnesses agree with one another
[Moderator: In other words, each witness is
examined separately and nevertheless their
testimonies are coincident. Cf Rambam Testimony
Chapter 17]
v5a19-3 The Hebrew phrase
>'Make a highway well PREPARED'
means
>Place signs on the highway that say
>"TO THE REFUGE CITIES"
[Cf Rambam, Murder Chapter 8]
BRIEF BUT COMPLETE NARRATIVE EXPLANATION:
=========================================
The Hebrew word
>NCON
occurs several times in Tnach. Rashi is simple. In about
a dozen places Rashi consistently identifies the underlying
meaning of this Hebrew word as meaning
>PREPARED.
---------------------------------------------
| QUESTION 1: |
| =========== |
| How could you prove that Rashi believed |
| that |
| >NCON = PREPARED |
| What tools would you use? One possible |
| approach is listed in {LIST1} below. |
---------------------------------------------
In fact this is the plain meaning of the word as can be seen from
many verses such as
>the enemy who PREPARES to DESTROY (Isa51-13)
>I PREPARE my path to watch your statutes(Ps119-5)
>To the place I PREPARED for you (2-23-20)
>They PREPARED the gift for the afternoon (2-43-25)
>I PREPARED for Gods house GOLD...(1c22-14)
The RDK in his book ROOTS also identifies the fundamental meaning
of this word as
>PREPARATION (HCaNaH)
In short this is one of those cases where everything is simple
and most commentators and the simple meaning of the text agree.
The COMMENTS OF RASHIS FORM SECTION gives some details on the
particular nuances that Rashi commented on. Further comments can
be found in {LIST1} which also notes some difficult verses.
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/ STOP! STOP! \
/ \
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| |
| The remaining sections discuss |
| >Controversies |
| >Talmudic interpretations and |
| >Lists |
| |
| If you are pressed for time you may wish to |
| skip this technical material and go to the |
| next posting. |
| |
| To go to the next posting use your word |
| processor or web browser and click on |
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\ next posting /
\--------------------------------------------/
COMMENTS ON RASHI'S FORM:
=========================
We make 3 comments
#1) The MEANING vs THE APPLICATION OF THE MEANING
-------------------------------------------------
In several verses Rashi simply says tersely and succinctly
>NCON = PREPARED
But in other verses Rashi explains
>HOW TO BE PREPARED.
Thus in 2-19-11 Rashi explains
>be PREPARED for prophecy by SEPARATING from your wives
Rashi in fact derived this link
>PREPARED FOR PROPHECY= WIFE SEPARATION
from the explicit statement 4 verses later
>BE PREPARED, SEPARATE FROM YOUR WIVES
We call this the technique of
>OTHER VERSES
In a similar manner Rashi explains on 5-19-3
>make a prepared road = a road with signs
In a similar manner Rashi explains on 5-17-4
>a prepared cross examination=witnesses agree
In these 2 cases Rashi simply linked the concept of
>PREPARATION
to the standard methods by which these items were prepared.
These standard methods are covered in halacha.
#2) PREPARED HEART = FAITHFUL HEART
-----------------------------------
Occasionally Rashi gives other explanations to the word
>NCON
but they are equivalant to saying that NCON means
>PREPARED
Several examples are presented in {LIST1} the simplest
being the consistent translation thruought Psalms of the
phrase
>a HEART that is NCON =
>a HEART PREPARED for God=
>a FAITHFUL HEART
#3) 2-8-22
----------
Verses like 2-8-22 seem to deserve the interpretation
>It is not PROPER to sacrifice (while in Egypt)
>..if we sacrifice here wouldn't they kill us?
In other words the best translation seems to be
>NCON = PROPER
But we could cogently argue that
>NCON = PREPARED
is an equally valid translation. Thus we have
>We are not PREPARED to sacrifice (while in Egypt)
>..if we sacrifice here wouldn't they kill us
Other verses would be treated similarly.
LISTS {For ADVANCED students and for those with more time}:
===========================================================
{LIST1} {Verses where Rashi translates
>NCON = PREPARED
This list can be prepared by using a CD ROM with
search capacities on Rashi and searching NCON
and cognate forms. The search reveals several
other translations that are similar to
>PREPARED
the best one being
>A PREPARED HEART= A FAITHFUL HEART *1
As already pointed out, the RDK also translates
>NCON = PREPARED
in his book ROOTS. Finally, a simple review of
Biblical verses shows that the best translation is
>NCON = PREPARED *2}
VERSE TEXT
======== ===================================================
v2-34-2 And be PREPARED for the morning
v1-41-32 Because it (the dream) is PREPARED from God
v2a19-11 And be PREPARED for 3 days from now(wive separation
v5z17-4 And behold the cross examination is true & PREPARED
v5a19-3 PREPARE the highway (with signs)
Neh8:10 Give food to those who don't have it PREPARED
Job12:8 He knows that a day of darkness is PREPARED for him
Ps38:18 For I am PREPARED for limping (and being wounded)
FOOTNOTES
----------
*1 Some related translations of
>PREPARED
are
>FAITHFUL
as in eg. Ps57-8, Ps78-37, Ps112-7, Ps108-2
or
>FIXED / POLISHED
as in Isa2:2
*2 Cf
>the enemy who PREPARES to DESTROY (Isa51-13)
>I PREPARE my path to watch your statutes(Ps119-5)
>To the place I PREPARED for you (2-23-20)
>They PREPARED the gift for the afternoon (2-43-25)
>I PREPARED for Gods house GOLD...(1c22-14)
CROSS REFERENCES:
=================
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS:
=================
RULE CLASSIFICATION {See the web site for comparable examples}:
===============================================================
UNIFIED MEANING
UNIFIED MEANING
UNIFIED MEANING
UNIFIED MEANING
UNIFIED MEANING
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End of Rashi-Is-Simple Digest
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