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Surfing the Talmudic Seas
(C) Dr Russell Jay Hendel, 2000
Volume 6 Number 24
Produced Jul 20, 2000
WARNING: USE FIX WIDTH FONTS (eg COURIER (NEW) 10)
Verses/Topics Discussed in This Issue with quicky explanations
--------------------------------------------------------------
WEEKLY PARSHAH We cover over half a dozen Rashis in this
weeks Parshah from Chamishi & Shishi. These Rashis
beautifully illustrate how to use {LISTS},
how to construct them, how to compare them,
and how to derive laws from them.
Nu20-29c A question about Rashis language. We explain
a difficult Rashi without having to resort to
textual emendations in Rashi that other commentators
required
Rashis covered in this issue
----------------------------
VERSE RULE BRIEF EXPLANATION
===== ==== =================
Nu20-29c WORD MEANINGS Ki has 6 meanings:Because,That,if..
Nu28-18a DOUBLE PARSHAS Rashi compares phrases prohibiting work
Nu28-24a DOUBLE PARSHAS Rashi compares offerings on Psch/Succth
Nu29-26a DOUBLE PARSHAS Rashi compares holiday names in Lv,Nu
Nu28-31a DOUBLE PARSHAS 4 verses requiring "unblemished" aligned
Nu29-06a DOUBLE PARSHAS Compare 4 verses with "daily offering"
Nu29-11a DOUBLE PARSHAS Compare 4 verses with "daily offering"
Nu29-11b DOUBLE PARSHAS Compare 4 verses with "daily offering"
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RASHI IS SIMPLE
GOALS: To grammatically defend all 8000 Rashis on Chumash.
METHOD:Rashis are defended with LISTS of comparable cases
INTENDED AUDIENCE: Laymen, Academicians, Yeshiva world
COMMENTS,QUESTIONS: EMail to address below
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS:If you want to ask anonymously please ask
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JOURNAL REFERECE: Pshat & Drash,TRADITION, Win 1980,R Hendel
NOTATION: eg Gn01-02a refers to Rashi "a" on Genesis 1:2
SPECIALS:...on Parshah,Rambam,Ramban,Pedagogy,Symbolism
RASHI-IS-SIMPLE RULES Complete set of rules on bottom
EMAIL: RJHendel@Juno.Com, rashi-is-simple@shamash.org,
WEB: http://www.RashiYomi.Com/
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VERSE: Nu28-24a
The verse states "Like the above (numbers of)
you should do each day for 7 days"
Here is a beautiful application of double parshahs.
-Both Passover and Succoth have 7-8 days.
-Both holidays require bringing sacrifices
The Bible says the following.
------------------------------------------------------------
Nu28-24a Passover "Bring the same sacrifices all 7 days"
Nu29-17-34 Succoth "Bring a different number each day"
------------------------------------------------------------
Thus Rashi simply CONTRASTS Passover and Succoth so that
we should appreciate the content of the verse
--On Succoth we have a different number of sacrifices each day
--On Passover we bring the same number of sacrifices each day
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VERSE: Nu29-26a
>Verse: Nu29-26a "And the holiday of FIRST FRUITS"
>RASHI: The holiday of FIRST FRUITS refers to SHAVUOTH
It is so called because of the DUAL-BREAD offering
that is offered on that holiday(Lv23-15:22) which
is the first offering of the new harvest
Rashi appears to derive the meaning of FIRST-FRUIT holiday
from the DUAL BREAD offering. Actually this is not the case.
Rashi derives the meaning of the FIRST-FRUIT holiday from
the correspondence of the two {LISTS} of holidays in Leviticus
and Numbers. They are as follows
{LIST} {Holidays in Leviticus and Numbers. The correspondence
shows that "1stFruit" holiday is Shavuoth. Technically
this type of double list is called an INNER JOIN since
the {LISTS} are lined up based on a common field}
LEVITICUS NUMBERS
HOLIDAY VERSE HOLIDAY VERSE
---------- ------- ------- -------
Passover Lv23-04 Passover Nu28-16
Shavuoth Lv23-15 1stFruit Nu28-26 ####
New Year Lv23-23 NewYear Nu29-01
Yom Kippur Lv23-26 YomKippur Nu29-07
Succoth Lv23-33 Succoth Nu29-12
Thus we clearly see that "1st Fruit holiday" corresponds
to Shavuoth.
In conclusion Rashi did not derive the meaning of 1st fruit
holiday from a play on words---rather Rashi derived the
meaning of 1st fruit holiday from the above correspondence.
AFTER Rashi derived the meaning of the term Rashi THEN
proceeded to explain WHY 1st fruit holiday was so called
COMMENT
-------
Note that our approach uses {LISTS} and is superior to
the "What is Rashis question" approach. For the "What is
bothering Rashi" approach would undoubtedly point out that
eg FIRST FRUITS were ALSO brought on PASSOVER (cf Dt26-01:11)
and therefore "1stFRUIT" holiday could equally refer to
PASSOVER or SHAVUOTH. One then spends time trying to figure
out a la Rashi why it refers to Shavuoth vs Succoth.
However our approach is simple and straightforward--Rashi
does not have to have a problem. Rather Rashi has to have
a list. The {LIST} in a straightforward manner suggests
a correspondence and it is this correspondence which
creates meaning. After the meaning is established Rashi
tries to justify it. This is the proper approach
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VERSE: Nu28-31a
The Bible is discussing the sacrifices. After listing
the sacrifices it lists the requirement of being
unblemished. It says
----------------------------------------------------------
VERSE TEXT
------- -------------------------------------------------
Nu28-19 They will be unblemished for you
Nu28-31 They will be unblemished for you WITH THEIR LIBATIONS
Nu29-09 They will be unblemished
Nu29-13 They will be unblemished for you
*1 *2
----------------------------------------------------------
*1 Neither Rashi(nor I) can account why the phrase "for you"
is absent in Nu29-09
*2 The extra phrase "WITH THEIR LIBATIONS" clearly implies
that both the sacrifices as well as the libations must
be unblemished
COMMENT
-------
The sifsay Chachamim mentions various other differences
in the above list such as the order of words and sentences.
However the above analysis will suffice to understand Rashi
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VERSE: Nu29-06a
RASHIS COVERED: Nu29-06a
Nu29-11a
Nu29-11b
Nu28 and Nu29 present the sacrifices that must be offered
on the holidays. On each holiday, after listing the
sacrifices that must be offered it continues
And you shall offer these sacrifices BESIDES
the regular daily sacrifices. Let us compare
the language used
Nu28-23 Besides the daily offering .. do these
Nu28-31 Besides the daily offering .. do these
Nu29-06 Besides the new moon & the daily offering
Nu29-11 Besides the YomKipur & the daily offering
*1 *2
NOTES
-----
*1 Why is "the new moon" and "the YomKippur" offering
mentioned in Nu29-06 and Nu29-11
On Passover(Nu28-23) and Shavuoth(Nu28-31) there is only
one extra sacrifice--they daily offering--so that is all
that is mentioned
But on Yom Kippur and Jewish New Year there are 2 other
sacrifices that have to be brought. (a) the daily
sacrifice and (b) the new moon sacrifice (Since the
the Jewish New Year MUST fall out on the 1st of the month)
and the YomKippur sacrifice (Since the Yom Kippur has
its own set of sacrifices mentioned in Lv17)
So Rashi is Simple--the holidays with 2 extra sacrifices
to be brought have two extra sacrifices mentioned.
*2 Rashi simply points out that the phrase "do these also"
is elliptically left out of the bottom two verses.
No reason is given by Rashi why this phrase is left out
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VERSE: Nu28-18a
RULE: There are 4 phrases used to denote the prohibitions
of doing work on festivals/holidays. These 4 phrases
correspond to how much work is prohibited for each
holiday.
EXAMPLES*4 *5
--------
-----------------------------------------------------
In the following holidays the phrase
SABBATH of SABBATHS occurs.
This means ALL work is prohibited
-----------------------------------------------------
HOLIDAY VERSE
---------- --------
Sabbath Ex31-15a (Rashi)
Yom Kippur Lv23-32
-----------------------------------------------------
In the following holidays there is only a requirment
to bring special holiday sacrifices. The Bible does
not prohibit work*1
Therefore it is prohibited to do strenuous work or
work where there is monetary loss in delaying
it till after the holiday (but its ok to eg sew)
-----------------------------------------------------
HOLIDAY VERSE
----------------- ----------
Passover Days 2-6 Nu28-24
Succoth Days 2-7 Nu29-17:35
Jewish New Year Lv23-25
-----------------------------------------------------
In the following holidays the following phrases
occur:
(a) SABBATH*2
(b) Holy day
(c) ALL work should not be done
Therefore we
(a) are allowed to cook (explicitly said Ex12-16)
(b) are prohibited to do work; and EVEN prohibited
(c) from work like sewing a torn garment*3
-----------------------------------------------------
HOLIDAY VERSE
--------------- -------
Passover Day 1 Nu28-18
Passover Day 7 Nu28-25
Shavuoth Nu28-26
Succoth Day 1 Nu29-12
Succoth Day 8 Nu29-35
NOTES
-----
*1 But the phrases SABBATH & "DON'T DO WORK" do not occur
*2 But the repeated phrase "Sabbath of Sabbaths" doesn't occur
*3 This comes from the word "ALL". We summarized about 40
Rashis on the word "ALL" in Volume 6 Number 20. There
are 4 main meanings (a) ALL cases without EXCEPTION (b)
all PARTS (c) ALL SUBGROUPS & (d) EVEN cases you would
have thought otherwise.
The argument runs as follows. On Nu28-18 it says
"ALL work should not be done on the 1st day of Passover"
I know from Ex12-16 that we can cook on Passover.
I also know that on the 2nd-6th day of Passover it only
requires festival sacrifices but the Bible does NOT
prohibit work.
THEREFORE I might have thought that on the 1st of Passover
that activites like sewing---ie non strenuous work which
prevents damages---is permissable (and on the intermediate
days of Passover there eg might be a requirement of singing
praises to God but there is no prohibition of any work since
the Bible does not mention any prohibition of work!)
HENCE the Bible says ALL work should not be done. Thus
we infer that EVEN activities like sewing and gardening
which are non strenuous and which prevent loss are
prohibited on the first day of Passover.
However these activities are permitted on
the intermediate days of Passover (when strenuous or
non-loss work is prohibited).
In developing this interpretation Rashi agrees with
Rambam Laws of Holidays 7:1 who does not consider
the prohibition of work on the intermediate days as
Rabbinic or Biblical but rather the Rambam
classifies the intermediate day prohibtion of work
as SCRIBAL WITH BIBLICAL SUPPORT (ie SOFRIM). We
have also answered the MGID MISHNAHs question on
holidays 7:1
*4 The {LIST} developed above could not have been made
with a CD-ROM but requires human thought. Indeed
the {LIST} is constructed by taking all verses
with SOME prohibition of work. Thus the query is
SEMANTIC (based on meaning) not SYNTACTIC(based on
spelling)
*5 Note how there is only ONE Rashi dealing with the ALL
in "ALL work should not be done" But to properly
understand that Rashi we must apply it to many more
verses.
*6 I have left out the NEW MOON--the NEW MOON
(a) has a special sacrifice
(b) has no prohibition of work
(c) is not called a FESTIVAL (CHAG)
Therefore it is completely permissable to do work
(In passing the RAMBAM on Holidays 7:1 says that
the intermediate days are called HOLY DAYS--in
actuality they are NEVER called HOLY DAYS but
they are called FESTIVALS).
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VERSE: Nu20-29c
QUESTION: Someone from Baltimore asked me at Shabbath lunch
this week to explain the wording of Rashi on Nu20-29c.
VERSE: Nu20-29c & the nation saw THAT(ki) Aaron died
RASHI: "The Hebrew word "ki" means "THAT" in this sentence.
This is one of the four main meanings of "ki" which
can denote WHERE (AY) (or HOW) an activity took place
(Do not be surprised that KI can mean THAT since) we
find that the word IF (im) can also mean THAT"*1
Thus Rashi is explaining the meaning of words.
I think Rashi reads very smoothly as translated above. I
have inserted some parenthetical phrases to smooth the
transition. Rashi also gives some verses supporting this
usage. We include these examples in the lists below which
come from http://www.RashiYomi.Com/gn41-49a.htm on the
Rashi website and from the cross-referenced Volume 4 Number 1
We explain there that there are 6 meanings to the Hebrew
word "ki". These are exhibited in {LIST2} while examples
of verses where "ki" or "im" mean THAT occur in {LIST1}
{LIST1} {Examples from Rashi where "ki" means THAT}
VERSE TEXT where "im" or "ki" means THAT
======== =====================================================
Nu20-29d And the nation saw THAT Aaron had died
Gn43-07d Did we know THAT he would ask us to bring him
Gn24-33a I will not eat until the time THAT I speak
Gn24-19a I'll water your animals until THAT time THAT they stop
Job21-4 THAT I speak to God (without answer) is why I'm upset
{LIST2} {Meanings of KI. See {LIST1} for further examples. Note
that there are more than the traditional 4 meanings
that Chazal claim}
MEANING TEXT--Translation of "ki" is CAPPED
======= =================================================
Gn18-15 She denied laughing BECAUSE she was afraid
Gn31-16 He ate our possessions EXCEPT what God left us
Gn18-15 And they said, No! RATHER we'll stay on street
Ex34-09 IF the Jews are stiff necked then forgive them
Gn43-07 Did we know THAT he would ask us to bring him
Gn29-15 IS being a relative an excuse to charge you nothing
NOTE
----
*1 Rashi goes into more detail. Rashi explains that the
word BECAUSE denotes a relationship between TWO
sentences (and hence does not apply in this verse)
He uses this fact to refute the aramaic translation
On the other hand the word "THAT" (as in "They saw
THAT Aaron died") introduces a speficity in the
activity of the sentence.
>"They saw"--
>WHAT did they see?--
>"They saw THAT AAron died".
Rashi metaphorically refers to this capacity of "ki" to
denote specificity by using the words WHERE (which denotes
specificity in space) and THAT (Which denotes specificity
in general)
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THE 2 DOZEN RASHI-IS-SIMPLE RASHI RULES
=======================================
I: RASHI gives MEANING
======================
A: NEW MEANINGS--(eg)"on the face of"=during the lifetime
Volume 2 Number 9, http://www.rashiyomi.Com/Nu04-04a.htm
B: SPECIAL WORDS--(eg)ACH=USUALLY;USUALLY observe shabbath!
Rashi Yomi Summaries,http://www.RashiYomi.Com/Ach-6.htm
C: SYNONYMS--(eg)AMR=to speak; DBR=to cite or to quote;
Volume 2 Number 1, http://www.RashiYomi.Com/Lv20-02a.htm
D: WORD MEANINGS-Thermos(TzNTzNTh)=doubly(TZN TZN) Cold(TZN)
Volume 1 Number 9,23,http://www.RashiYomi.Com/Ex31-15a.htm
E: UNIFIED MEANINGS-PAAM=Repeated action:To Ring,Hammer,Step
Volume 1 Number 3,http://www.RashiYomi.Com/Gn41-08a.htm
II: RASHI teaches GRAMMAR/STYLE
===============================
F: CLASSICAL GRAMMAR--(eg)QUESTION = HEY+CHATAF PATACH
Volume 3 Number 22,http://www.RashiYomi.Com/Gn04-09z.htm
G: USAGE(NEW GRAMMAR)--(eg)INFINITIVE="be involved in";
Volume 5 Number 24,http://www.RashiYomi.Com/Ex13-03a.htm
H: ROOT+PREPOSITION--(eg)ChZK B="to hold";ChZK M="overpower"
Volume 1 Number 7,http://www.RashiYomi.Com/Ex04-04a.htm
I: THE SENTENCE--2 verses can make 1 sentence-eg Dt02-16:17
Volume 3 Number 7,http://www.RashiYomi.Com/Dt19-06a.htm
J: STYLE--REPETITION denotes Endearment;eg 'Jacob Jacob'
Volume 1 Number 12,http://www.RashiYomi.Com/Gn46-02a.htm
K: DOUBLE NOUNS--(eg)"GIVE GIVE";if not CHARITY then LOAN
Double Noun page, http://www.RashiYomi.Com/DN.htm
L: PRONOUNS-(eg)IMCHAH=with you; ITCHAH=Accompanying you;
Volume 3 Number 13,http://www.RashiYomi.Com/Ex22-24c.htm
III: OVERALL TEXTUAL STRUCTURE
==============================
M: OTHER VERSES--Aaron SAW(Ex32-05)...the brawl(Ex32-18)
OTHER VERSE page, http://www.RashiYomi.Com/ov.htm
N: EXTRA SENTENCES-eg[GIVE HIM][WHAT HE NEEDS](Not if rich)
Volume 2 Number 20,http://www.RashiYomi.Com/Dt15-08c.htm
O: DOUBLE PARSHAS-'he WILL pray'-'he WON'T pray';So Optional
Volume 3 Number 12,http://www.RashiYomi.Com/Dt24-14a.htm
P: CLIMAX-(eg Dt19-11)(a)Hate, (b)spy, (c)confront,(d)Murder
Climax Page, http://www.RashiYomi.Com/Climax.htm
Q: OVERALL STRUCTURE-growing nails=despisement(from context)
Volume 3 Number 8,http://www.RashiYomi.Com/Dt21-11a.htm
R: SPREADSHEETS-What is the marriage loophole in inheritance
Volume 2 Number 23,http://www.RashiYomi.Com/Nu36-03a.htm
IV: BEYOND THE TEXT
===================
S: MORAL LESSONS/REASONS-God explains BEFORE punishing;
Volume 2 Number 12,http://www.RashiYomi.Com/Nu12-09a.htm
T: RabbiIshmael-(eg)"When an OX gores";(Or ANY animal gores)
Volume 4 Number 21,http://www.RashiYomi.Com/Dt25-04a.htm
End of Rashi-Is-Simple Digest
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