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Surfing the Talmudic Seas
(C) Dr Russell Jay Hendel, 2000
Volume 6 Number 12
Produced Jun 8, 2000
WARNING: USE FIX WIDTH FONTS (eg COURIER (NEW) 10)
Verses/Topics Discussed in This Issue with quicky explanations
--------------------------------------------------------------
v9-6-8a
Question from Dr Loike about Rashis without sources
v9-6-8b
Answer to Dr Loike. Resolution of the Rashi-Ramban
controversy on Lulav. Rashi and Ramban were
complementing each other
Nu07-02b
Rashi points out the cross references in Nu07-02
The "leaders in the census" refer to Nu01 where
leaders were appointed to help with the census
Nu04-02a
Rashi derives Moral lessons: (1)Give education
5 years before giving up. (2)Physical strength
is best between 30-50
Nu03-40a
Rashi derives moral lessons: The cutoff age
for infant viability is 1 month
Ex31-15b
By comparing all holidays that are called sabbaths
we see that SABBATH OF SABBATHS is only used by
Shabbath and Yom Kippur when all work is prohibited
including food preparation; by the other holidays
SABBATH is used (but not SABBATH of SABBATHS) since
work is prohibited by food preparation is permitted
Rashis covered in this issue
----------------------------
VERSE RULE BRIEF DESCRIPTION
======== ============== ================================
Ex31-15b Double nouns Sabbath of Sabbaths=>TOTAL< rest
Nu03-40a Moral Reasons 1 month babies have viability status
Nu04-02a Moral Reasons 5 years is maximum student trial period
Nu07-02b Other verses >Princes of Israel<=>Tribe Leaders<
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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
RASHI-IS-SIMPLE RULES...Complete set with examples ON BOTTOM
EMAIL: RJHendel@Juno.Com,rashi-is-simple@shamash.org,
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VERSE: v9-6-8a
From: "John D. Loike"
To:
DATE: June 6, 2000
Here is a great question. How often does Rashi
bring his own explanation into his commentary. I
have found a few. For Example look at the naming of
Naphtali where he brings three reasons and it appears
that number two is his own since there are no references
earlier than Rashi.
I enjoy reading your views. Have a good Chag and I will
see you in Baltimore on Shavuot.
John
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VERSE: v9-6-8b
This is an answer to Dr Loikes question about the Rashi
Ramban controversy on Lulav.
Recall that I explained Rashi's position that a PLURAL WORD
WRITTEN DEFICIENTLY meant that NOT ALL ITEMS had to be there.
However Rashi has a LIST to defend his views. For example
"Write MEZZOTH on your doorpost" (RASHI: MEZZOTH is spelled
defectively so you don't need MEZZOTH on **both** doorposts
but only one). "Take LLAVS on 1st day" (RASHI: LLav is
spelled defectively so you don't need to take 2 LLavs the
way you need to take 3 haddasim and 2 aravoth).
Now the Ramban (citing Oonkelos)(Seems to disagree). The
Ramban states that
>the Torah was referring to the WHOLE JEWISH people
>The Torah said and YOU (PLURAL) will take
>Since it used a plural subject (all jews)
>The object had to be plural also
>And you (PLural) will takes LULAVS(Plural)
So according to the Ramban the plural of Lulav is BECAUSE
the Subject (all Jews) is plural.
However close examination show that we canNOT assume Rashi
and Ramban are disagreeing. For they ARE EACH EXPLAINING
A DIFFERENT PART OF THE VERSE. Disagreement can only
happen when they each comment on the same thing
Ramban is explaining why LULAVS was plural in the first
place. His explanation would equally apply to MEZZOTH also.
Ramban simply explains that when a plural group is addressed
(like all Jews) then you use a plural object (LULAVS or MEZUZOTH)
whether or not each person takes one or whether or not each
person takes many. In other words, all Ramban is saying is
that you cannot infer from the plural of LULAV or MEZUZAH
whether 1 or 2 are required.
But Rashi wouldn't disagree with such a basic Grammatical
prinicple. Neither would Oonkelos. What Rashi does is give
AN ADDITIONAL grammatical rule: Rashi posits as a rule (backed
up by a list) that PLURALS written DEFICIENTLY mean only one
per person while PLURALS written FULLY mean all!!
So if it says MEZZOTH (deficient) or LLAVS (deficient) it
means that each individual person need not take more than
one.
So Rashi and Ramban complement each other...and again the
reason I am so sure is because they talk about different
parts of the verse. In summary
---When you refer to all jews you use a plural subject
---When you use a plural subject you use a plural object
---If however the plural ojbect is deficiently spelled then
---each individual Jew can suffice with one.
I think this summary shows why Rashi and Ramban are in
agreement.
Russell Hendel; Moderator Rashi is Simple
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VERSE: Nu07-02b
=====
RASHIS COVERED: Nu07-02b
>Nu07-02b And the princes of Israel brought gifts
...these are the same princes who stood
at the census
>RASHI: The reference is to the princes who were
selected by Moses to help in the census. The
following verses shed light on this
EXAMPLE 1:
----------
>Nu01-02:04 And God told Moses to perform a census
and with you will be the HEADS of the tribes
EXAMPLE 2:
----------
>Nu01-44: This is the census performed by Moses,
Aaron and the LEADERS
EXAMPLE 3:
----------
>Nu04-34: And Moses, Aaron and the LEADERS
performed a census on the Kehatites
EXAMPLE 4:
----------
>Nu04-46: All the census that Moses, Aaron and
the LEADERS counted were....
Thus Rashi is simply CROSS REFERENCING the Biblical
reference to "Princes who helped in the census"
We have already given about 4 dozen examples throughout
Rashi is Simple on this CROSS REFERENCING TECHNIQUE
of Rashi.
PRINCIPLE: OTHER VERSES
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VERSE: Nu04-02a
=====
RASHIS COVERED: Nu04-02a
The following two verses discuss Levite work in the
temple.
>Nu08-24 At 25 years they will come for Temple work
>Nu04-02 From 30 years..to 50 all who come for Temple work
The 2 verses appear contradictory since one suggests
that the beginning age is 25 while the other suggests
that the beginning age is 30.
Actually it is EDUCATION that starts at 25
After a 5 year study program they begin SERVICE at 30
We have already presented this derivation (with further
support from the verses) in our 2 dozen part series on
Rabbi Ishmaels principle of 2 complementary verses. The
above two verses are an example of resolving a contradiction
by perceiving them as 2 stages of the same process
We brought these verses here because of the
MORAL LESSONS/REASONS that Rashi derives from them. For
even though the primary intention of these verses is not
to tell me about education, nevertheless, I can infer
certain principles.
EXAMPLES:
(1) A person who did not succeed in a 5 year program will
probably never succeed
(2) The best age for physical activity is 30-50. Strength
begins to wain after 50 and is not mature till 30 (NOTE: The
Levites in Nu04 were in charge of carrying temple items)
PRINCIPLES: MORAL LESSONS/REASONS
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VERSE: Nu03-40a
=====
RASHIS COVERED: Nu03-40a
>Nu03-40a >Count all males above 1 month of age
>RASHI: >An infant that lasts 1 month has a
>status of a CERTAIN VIABLE INFANT
Rashi is simply using the known law that
>1 month is the cut off point for infant
>viability
Part of the goal of this email list is to clarify
which Rashis can be defended as logical and which
Rashis are just traditions or nice thoughts. In this
verse Rashi is using the law that
>1 month is the cutoff for INFANT VIABILITY
to help us appreciate why the verse only counts
>infants above 1 month
It cannot be the case that Rashi is
deriving the fact that
>1 month is the cutoff for CERTAIN INFANT VIABILITY
from this verse which says
>count infants from 1 month up
Indeed, we have a tradition that
>All measurements are traditions handed down
>to Moses at Sinai
Therefore we are not DERIVING the 1 month viability
from the verse but rather are USING this fact to
help us appreciate the verse.
PRINCIPLES: MORAL REASONS/LESSONS
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VERSE: Ex31-15b
=====
RASHIS COVERED: Ex31-15b
>Ex31-15b >It is a Sabbath of Sabbaths
>RASHI:
We review the following {LIST1} of verses calling holidays SABBATHS
>SHABBATH Ex31-15 Sabbath of Sabbaths (DOUBLE mention of Sabbath)
>YOM KIPPUR Lv23-32 Sabbath of Sabbaths(DOUBLE)
>ROSH HASHANAH Lv23-23 Sabbath(SINGLE)
>SUCCOTH Lv23-39 Sabbath(SINGLE)
This {LIST1] shows that the DOUBLE term
>SHABBATH of SABBATHS
is only used with SHABBATH & YOM KIPPUR when
>all work is prohibited including the preparation of meals.
By the other holidays when
>preparing food for meals is permitted(but work prohibited)
the SINGLE term
>SHABBATH
occurs.
----------------------------------------------
-----------------------------------------------
{LIST1} {How the term SABBATH is used for all the holidays
Those holidays where you can't
>do work
>or prepare food
have
>a double occurence of Sabbath
Those holidays where you
>can't do work
>can prepare food
have
>a single occurence of Sabbath}
HOLIDAY VERSE SABBATH REFERENCE #OCCURENCES
============ ======= ======= ========= ===========
SHABBATH Ex31-15 Sabbath of Sabbaths (DOUBLE)
YOM KIPPUR Lv23-32 Sabbath of Sabbaths (DOUBLE)
ROSH HASHANAH Lv23-23 Sabbath (SINGLE)
SUCCOTH Lv23-39 Sabbath (SINGLE)
PRINCIPLE: Double Parshahs
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THE 2 DOZEN RASHI-IS-SIMPLE RASHI RULES
=======================================
I: RASHI gives MEANING
======================
A: WORD MEANINGS--(eg)"on the face of"=during the lifetime
(v2n6,v4-3-4), http://www.shamash.org/rashi/v4-3-4.htm
B: SPECIAL WORDS--(eg)ACH=USUALLY;USUALLY observe shabbath!
(v2n6, v4-1-49),http://www.shamash.org/rashi/v4-1-49.htm
C: SYNONYMS--(eg)YShV=RESIDE; GARTI='INNED'--temporary say
(v1n1, v1-32-5), http://www.shamash.org/rashi/v1-32-5.htm
D: UNIFIED MEANING--(eg)Tz Ch K = (a) laugh, OR (b) mock
(v4n4, v1-21-9), http://www.shamash.org/rashi/v1-21-9.htm
E: NEW MEANINGS--(eg)HEAD-MOUTH of garment = HEM of Garment
(v5n10,v2a28-32),http://www.shamash.org/rashi/v2a28-32.htm
II: RASHI teaches GRAMMAR/STYLE
===============================
F: CLASSICAL GRAMMAR--(eg)HEY+CHATAF PATACH=QUESTION
(v2n24,v1b3-11),http://www.shamash.org/rashi/v1b3-11.htm
G: USAGE(NEW GRAMMAR)--(eg)INFINITIVE=GERUND;WATCHING laws;
(v2n10,v4-32-6),http://www.shamash.org/rashi/v4-32-6.htm
H: ROOT+PREPOSITION--(eg) BCH AL=cries about,BCH ETH=mourn
(v1n14,v1a45-14),http://www.shamash.org/rashi/v1a45-14.htm
I: SEMANTIC RULES--(eg) WAGES="ENDoF"="END oF Work Day';
(v1n10,v1b1-1),http://www.shamash.org/rashi/v1b1-1.htm
J: STYLE--(eg)REPETITION denotes Endearment;'Abraham,Abraham
(v1n6,v2-1-1),http://www.shamash.org/rashi/v2-1-1.htm
K: DOUBLE NOUNS--(eg)HIT HIT by sword ('even without sword')
(v2n20,v2a22-25),http://www.shamash.org/rashi/v2a22-25.htm
L: PRONOUNS--(eg) sanctify OTHO = sanctify ONLY IT;
(v2n10,v4a7-1),http://www.shamash.org/rashi/v4a7-1.htm
III: OVERALL TEXTUAL STRUCTURE
==============================
M: OTHER VERSES--(eg)STONE(3-25-13)=BALANCE STONES(3-19-36)
(v3n9,v5b25-13),http://www.shamash.org/rashi/v5b25-13.htm
N: EXTRA SENTENCES--(eg)he'll dress his measurement=TAYLORED
(v1n20,v3a6-3),http://www.shamash.org/rashi/v3a6-3.htm
O: DOUBLE PARSHAS-'he WILL pray'-'he WON'T pray';So Optional
(v3n12,v5a24-14),http://www.shamash.org/rashi/v5a24-14.htm
P: CLIMAX-(eg 5-19-11)(a)Hate, (b)spy, (c)confront,(d)Murder
(v3n9,v5-19-11),http://www.shamash.org/rashi/v5-19-11.htm
Q: OVERALL STRUCTURE-growing nails=despisement(from context)
(v3n8,v5-21-12),http://www.shamash.org/rashi/v5-21-12.htm
IV: IMPLICATIONS & DERIVATIONS
==============================
R: STAGES-learn HUMAN marital frequency from ANIMAL ratios
(v1n14,v1a32-15),http://www.shamash.org/rashi/v1a32-15.htm
S: MORAL LESSONS/REASONS-God spoke before punishment;we too
(v2n12,v4-12-9),http://www.shamash.org/rashi/v4-12-9.htm
T: RabbiIshmael-(eg)When an OX gores; OR ANY animal gores;
(v2n19,v2-22-17),http://www.shamash.org/rashi/v2-22-17.htm
V: OVERALL
=================
U: SYMBOLISM-'WASHING his clothes in wine'=PLENTY of wine;
(v4n18,v1a49-11),http://www.shamash.org/rashi/v1a49-11.htm
V: PICTURES--(eg) The TZITZ was like a HELMET over a turban
(v5n12,v2-40-35),http://www.shamash.org/rashi/v2-40-35.htm
W: TABLES/SPREADSHEETS---To appear
End of Rashi-Is-Simple Digest
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