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Surfing the Talmudic Seas
(C) Dr Russell Jay Hendel, 2000
Volume 6 Number 8
Produced May, 25 2000
WARNING: USE FIX WIDTH FONTS (eg COURIER (NEW) 10)
Verses/Topics Discussed in This Issue with quicky explanations
v3y26-42 Rashi has 4 methods by which he explains full
and deficient spellings:a) Deficient spelling=
Deficiency in the person(ie a bad person),
b) Deficient spelling=deficiency in number /
plurality(verse doesn't apply to all cases).2
more methods given next time.
--------------------------------------------------------------
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RASHI IS SIMPLE
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NOTATION: eg v2b1-8 refers to Ex(Book 2) Chap 1 Verse 8 Rashi b(#2)
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VERSE: v3y26-42
=====
******************************************************************
MODULE 1: The 4 methods of dealing with FULL/DEFICIENT spellings *
******************************************************************
We recently reviewed over several issues all Rashis in Genesis on
>FULL and DEFICIENT spelling
We found two rules or methods. We now complete our study by
reviewing all 2 dozen Rashis on FULL and DEFICIENT in the Torah.
This is sort of a special treat since we will learn easy grammatical
explanations to some very difficult talmudic texts.
First we carefully review the definitions of
>FULL and DEFICIENT
as well as illustrate the
>2 Methods and 4 submethods
by which these are treated. We will then give the examples.
Our definitions and illustrations use made up examples from
the English language.
METHOD 1a: Deficiency in Spelling = Deficiency in Act or Person
---------------------------------------------------------------
The word
>SLEEP
can be spelled
>SLE P (DEFICIENTLY spelled without the extra e)
>SLEEP (fully spelled with all e's)
In METHOD 1a if a verse said
>He tried to get some SLE P
the proper midrashic response would be
>He tried to get a good night SLE P
but
>did not succeed.
The argument would be
>Since the word SLE P is spelled deficiently
>we learn that the sleep itself was deficient.
In other words in METHOD 1 we transfer the
>deficiency in the SPELLING (SLE P)
to a
>deficiency in the OBJECT or ACTIVITY spoken about
>(Can't sleep)
METHOD 1b: Deficiency in Spelling = Deficiency in PLURALITY(not all)
---------- ---------------------------------------------------------
In methd 1b we interpret a
>DEFICIENT SPELLING of a PLURAL TERM
to mean that
>The Plurality was deficient = not ALL were done.
Thus the sentence
>He would peacefully SLE P in SLE PING bags while camping
would be midrashically interpreted as
>He slept peacefully MOST nights; but some nights he
>couldn't sleep well in his sleeping bag; we learn this
>from the DEFICIENTLY SPELLED word SLE P which implies
>that he didn't sleep well on ALL nights(Deficiency in
>PLURALITY)
METHOD 2a-The Deficiency spelled word indicates a PUN
------------------------------------------------------
The word
>KITE
can be spelled
>KIT (Deficiently--it is missing (deficient)
1 letter e)
or
>KITE (Fully--with the E)
In METHOD 2a we interpret the deficiently spelled word as a
pun. We actually give the sentence a double meaning. Thus
if a sentence said
>The father bought his son a KIT to fly in the park
Then since KITE is spelled KIT, we would midrashically
interpret this to mean
>The father bought his son a KITE
>The father also bought his son a KITten!
(Note how the pun only uses part of the sentence
>The father bought his son a KITten
(But the kitten was not bought in the park)
Rashis position is that this interpretation of FULL vs
DEFICIENT is a grammatical rule and is part of the
intended meaning of the sentence.
METHOD 2b: Deficiency =Pun that is COMBINED with original meaning
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Thus the sentence
>The father bought his son a KIT to fly in the park
would be midrashically interpreted as
>The father bought his son a KITE with a picture of
>a KITTEN on it
Thus the 2 pun meanings
>KITE
>KITTEN
are combined--it was a KITE with a KITTEN.
Again, Rashi regards the above 4 methods as
>RULES OF STYLE
that all writers use and which are also used by the Bible.
We now give half a dozen or so examples of each submethod.
****************************************************************
METHOD 1a: Deficiency in Spelling = Deficiency in Person or act*
****************************************************************
EXAMPLE 1: Gn23-16a
----------
>Gn23-16a >and Abraham payed EPHR N (spelled deficiently)
>the value he had discussed
>RASHI: >The name
>Ephron
>is spelled deficiently showing that he was a
>deficient person.
>Indeed, he initially (Gn23) promised to GIVE
>the field for NOTHING. But in the end he
>requested FULL payment in the BEST currency
Rashi is further supported by the list of 8 times that EPHRON
is mentioned in Gn23. Seven times his name is spelled fully
but only hear by the sale is it spelled deficiently.
EXAMPLE 2, 3: Gn25-24b, Gn38-27b
---------------------------------
>Gn25-24b >(Rivkah) has TW NS (Spelled deficiently)
>Gn38-27b >(Tamar) had TWINS (Spelled fully)
>RASHI: >One of Rivkah's 2 children was a
>DEFICIENT bad person, Esauv
>Hence by Rivkah the word
>TW NS
>is spelled DEFICIENTLY
>
>However both of Tamars 2 children were righteous
>They were subbranches of the tribe of Judah
>Hence by Tamar, the word
>TWINS
>is spelled FULLY.
EXAMPLE 4: Lv26-42a
-------------------
>Lv26-42a >I will remember my convenant with JAACOB (Spelled
>FULLY)...and I will redeem them
>RASHI >Jacob is the patriarch that symbolizes
>EXILE
>However when we use this symbolism fully Jacob
>also symbolizes ALL aspects of EXILE including
>REDEMPTION
>Hence the word JAACOB is spelled
>FULLY (JAACOB not Jacob)
>To show that intrinsic to the concept of exile
>is that we get redeemed (and utilize our
>experiences in exile to serve God).
Support for
>JACOB = REDEMPTION + EXILE
comes from the explicit statements in Gn49.
EXAMPLE 5: Dt01-13g
-------------------
>Dt01-13b >Bring me qualified men and I will PLAC them
>over you
>RASHI >The Hebrew word
>PLACE
>is spelled
>DEFICIENTLY (PLAC vs PLACE)
>To show that the act of PLACEMENT ON THE COMMUNITY
>is
>DEFICIENT
>Indeed if a judge makes a mistake and says that
>something is permissable or that certain moneys
>can be taken then it is the Judge (not the people
>following his wrong order) that bears the
>responsibility and it is the Judge who will get
>punished.
>
>Therefore it says DEFICIENTLY
>PLAC,
>To show that the PLACEMENT is not just
>HONOR to the judge and reward
> but also
>RESPONSIBLITY and possible PUNISHMENT
EXAMPLE 6: Nu15-24b
----------
>Nu15-24b >And if the whole community does an error...
>then they will bring an BURNT OFFERING and
>a SIN OFERING (Spelled deficiently (1 F in
>English vs 2 Fs (OFfERING))
>RASHI >This is the only SIN OFFERING in the entire Torah
>which is brought AFTER the BURNT offering (In all
>other cases the BURNT offering is brought first)
>This can be verified by reviewing the list of
>"BURNT and "SIN" offerings in the Bible
>
>Hence the word
>SIN OFERING
>is spelled deficiently (To show that this sin
>offering is inferior (Deficient) to other sin
>offerings) since it is brought 2nd.
This completes the list of examples where
>DEFIICENT SPELLING = DEFICIENCY in PERSON or ACT
***************************************************************
MODULE 2: Examples where DEFICIENCY in spelling=Not ALL did it*
***************************************************************
We now bring 7 examples where a
>DEFICIENCY in SPELLING = DEFICIENCY in PLURALITY
So if we are talking about an ACT then
>The deficiency means = Not ALL did it
If we are talking about an OBJECT with many attributes then
>the deficiency means = not ALL attributes were present
EXAMPLE 1: Gn09-12a
-------------------
>Gn09-12a >I placed my rainbow as a sign for GENERATONS that
>I will not destroy the earth
>RASHI: >The Hebrew word
>GENERATIONS
>Is spelled
>DEFICIENTLY (GeneratONS vs GeneratIONS)
>Indeed, not ALL generations needed the Rainbow sign
>For some generations (like those in the time of
>King Chizkiyahu) were thoroughly righteous & hence
>did not need a sign. For this reason the word
>generations is spelled DEFICIENTLY.
EXAMPLE 2: Gn01-28a
---------
>Gn01-28a >And God said to them (Adam an EVE)
>be fruitful
>and multiply
>and fill the earth
>and CONQUR it
>RASHI: >The Hebrew word
>CONQUR
>is spelled
>DEFICIENTLY (CONQUR vs CONQUER)
>Indeed not all of them (Adam and Eve) were asked
>to conquer the world. Only some of them(only Adam)
>was required to conquer the world.
>
>And just as only ADAM was REQUIRED to conquer
>the world, so too the other activities in the
>Verse (like being fruitful) were only REQUIRED
>of Adam. This makes logical sense since only
>a person who can conquer the world and support
>children should be REQUIRED to produce them.
>Those who are not required to conquer the world
>are also not required to be FRUITFUL.
EXAMPLE 3: Lv23-40c
----------
>Lv23-40c >And you will take (on Succoth)..
>Palm (Lulav) LEAVS
>Thick branchlets (Myrtles)
>and willow-brooks(Aravoth)
>RASHI: >The Hebrew word
>LEAVS
>is spelled
>DEFICIENTLY (LEAVS vs LEAVES)
>This shows that you do NOT have to take
>Many Lulav Branches
>It is sufficient to take
>One Branch with many leaves
>For this reason the word LEAVS is spelled
>DEFICIENTLY (since the there is no requirement
>of MANY branches).
(The distinction between
>Many Lulav branches
vs
>1 lulav branch with Many Leaves)
was brought by the Sifsay Chachamim). Note how the Rashi corresponds
to the law that we take
>1 Lulav
>many hadasim
>many aravoth
EXAMPLE 4: Dt06-09a
---------
>Dt06-09a >And you will write these words (The Biblical
>Chapters that are enclosed in the Mezuzah) on
>the DORPOSTS of your house ...
>RASHI: >The Hebrew word
>DORPOSTS
>is written
>DEFICIENTLY (DORPOSTS vs DOORPOSTS)
>This deficiency in spelling indicates a
>deficiency in plurality. For a normal door
>with 2 DOORPOSTS only requires 1 Mezuzah on
>1 of the doorposts (ie it does not require
>2 mezuzahs, 1 for each doorpost).
EXAMPLE 5,6: Ex31-05e, Dt09-10a
------------
>Dt09-10a >The 2 TABLTS of Stone (the 10 commandments)
>Ex31-05e >The 2 TABLTS of Stone (the 10 commandments)
>RASHI: >The Hebrew word
>TABLTS
>is spelled
>DEFICIENTLY (TABLTS vs TABLETS)
>The deficiency in spelling indicates a deficiency
>in plurality. For there was no real need for 2
>tablets for the 10 commandments (with 5 on each
>side as is popularly depicted).
>
>Rather, 1 tablet sufficed (no need for 2)
>That is ALL TEN COMMANDMENTS were written on
>EACH Tablet (ie they were copies of each other)
Note that our interpretation of Rashi may appear novel.At first
glance Rashi is only saying that each tablet looked the same(but
maybe they had different words on it). But when you look at the
other examples in this list of 7 examples of DEFICIENCY IN PLURALITY
then you will see that in each case the deficiency indicates that
they weren't ALL Needed. Thus
>you don't need Mezuzoth on BOTH doorposts
>you don't need 2 Lulav branches
>you don't need rainbow signs in EACH generation
>not all sexes (men, women) have to CONQUER the world
>not all reptiles were created
Hence to fit into the list we should interpret Rashi as
>you don't need 2 tablets (because they were copies of
each other).
In fact the Midrash explicitly brings down an opinion that
both tablets had all 10 commandments on them (not the usual
5-5 split we are accustomed to seeing).
EXAMPLE 7: Gn01-21a
---------
>Gn01-21a >And God created the great REPTIL monsters
>RASHI: >The Hebrew word
>REPTIL
>is spelled
>DEFICIENTLY (REPTIL not REPTILE)
>From this we infer that only MOST reptiles were
>Created but not the whole species.
>
>In fact only the MALE REPTILE was created
>The female reptile was kept hidden for the
>Future world where the Righteous will benefit
>from it.
Rashis last few statements look enigmatic. The main point is
that
>Deficient spelling = not all reptiles were created
This is what Rashi learns from the deficiency.
Rashi mentions the legend that the female reptile is kept for the
righteous for the future world because Rashi interprets the whole
chapter of Gen01 as speaking about prophecy (This was discussed
elsewhere and would take up too far afield here). So
>REPTILE = DINOSAUR LIKE NATIONS (no individuality, a herd)
Rashis point would then be that the
>Male reptiles = Aggressive herd nations (like Egypt)
were created in this world. But the
>Female reptiles = cooperative herd nations
will exist in the Messianic era and serve the righteous.
From our point of view the only important thing to emphasize is
that
>Deficient spelled reptile = Not all of THEM was created
The other parts of Rashi are important and will be covered more
fully in a future issue (Supplementing what we have already said)
The idea that
>deficiency in spelling = deficiency in plurality
was first introduced by Rabbi Samson Raphael Hirsch who
used it to explain the rather difficult Talmudic passage that
>A Succah does not need 4 walls
because
>the word SUCAH is spelled deficiently (in Lv23-42)
(this indicates either a
>deficiency in the sucah = not all 4 walls
or
>a deficiency in plurality = not all 4 walls).
There are other Talmudic passages that can be treated in a similar
elegant and grammatical manner.
We will complete this list of Rashis on
>FULL and DEFICIENT spellings
in our next issue. We will also supply all lists there,
one big summary list, as well as cross references to past issues
on this topic.
PRINCIPLES USED: USAGE
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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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