Rashi-Is-Simple Mailing List
VISIT the RASHI DATABASE archives AT
http://www.RashiYomi.Com/
Surfing the Talmudic Seas
(C) Dr Russell Jay Hendel, 2000
Volume 7 Number 1
Produced Jul 28 2000
WARNING: USE FIX WIDTH FONTS (eg COURIER (NEW) 10)
Verses/Topics Discussed in This Issue with quicky explanations
Dt07-04a We answer a Chumash question posted in Torah forum
"How do we know that Jewish Status follows the
mother". The underlying Rashi is explained.
(We will try and answer reader questions or
general questions every issue or 2 now).
Dt14-26a We start a series in Volume 7 on Rabbi
Ishmaels classification of Example styles.
In this issue we do 2 GENERAL-PARTICULAR-
GENERAL example styles.
Dt15-21a We start a series in Volume 7 on Rabbi
Ishmaels classification of Example styles.
In this issue we do 2 GENERAL-PARTICULAR-
GENERAL example styles.
Rashis covered in this issue
----------------------------
VERSE RULE BRIEF EXPLANATION
======== ============ =================
Dt07-04a DOUBLE PARSHAS Rashi aligns 2 verses on intermarriage
Dt14-26a RabbiIshmael GENERAL-PARTICULAR-GENERAL example style
Dt14-26b RabbiIshmael GENERAL-PARTICULAR-GENERAL example style
Dt14-26c RabbiIshmael GENERAL-PARTICULAR-GENERAL example style
Dt15-21a RabbiIshmael GENERAL-PARTICULAR-GENERAL'example style
Dt15-21b RabbiIshmael GENERAL-PARTICULAR-GENERAL'example style
Dt15-21c RabbiIshmael GENERAL-PARTICULAR-GENERAL'example style
--------------------------------------------------------------
#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*# (C) Dr Hendel, 2000 *#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#
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
(UN)SUBSCRIBE: Email to addresses below with "(UN)subscribe"
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/
#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*# (C) Dr Hendel, 2000 *#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*
VERSE: Dt07-04a
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT: To Torah Forum Volume 6 Number 24, on project
Genesis at http://www.Torah.org/. The following question was
raised: HOW DO WE KNOW THAT JEWISH STATUS FOLLOWS THE MOTHER?
We can derive this law, that jewish status follows the mother
from an alignment of 2 verses. In prohibiting intermarriage
the Bible, in 2 Biblical verses, prohibits the following
TYPES of intermarriage
-------------------------------------------------------------
Dt07-03 your daughter their son their daughter your son
Ex34-16 their daughter your son
*1
Dt07-03
Ex34-16 and their daughters will lead your children astray
*2
-------------------------------------------------------------
NOTES
-----
*1*2 Notice how Ex34-16 ONLY mentions the "their daughter
and your son" intermarriage(even though in Dt both
types of intermarriage are mentioned--the "their daughter
your son" and the "your daughter their son". Also
notice how ONLY Ex34-16 mentions WHICH non-jewish
partner will lead your (grand)children astray
Hence we conclude that the child follows the mother--
so that the "their daughter and your son" type of
intermarriage results in losing Jews from the fold
The fact that Jewish status follows the mother is mentioned
in the Rashi on Dt07-04. Rashi SEEMS to derive this from
Dt07-03. However as just shown the real derivation comes
from the alignment of Dt07-03 with Ex34-16. Such crisscrossing
in Rashi is normal. For only after seeing both verses do you
fully appreciate that one type of relationship (their daughter
your son) is being singled out. True it does say in Dt07-04
For they will make your children go astray but this sentence
could EQUALLY refer to EITHER of the two cases of intermarriage
mentioned in Dt07-03. There is no reason to connect it only
to the last case (Their daughter your son). The full simplicity
and force of the derivation comes from the COMPARISON of verses.
RULE USED: DOUBLE PARSHAS
#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*# (C) Dr Hendel, 2000 *#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*
VERSE: Dt14-26a
RASHIS COVERED: Dt14-26a Dt14-26b Dt14-26b
BACKGROUND
----------
The Torah is talking about setting aside money to be used
to buy food on the festivals in Jerusalem. The Torah
speaks about HOW you should use this money. The Torah
says
Dt14-26a And you will take the money and use it to buy
(GENERAL) ALL THAT YOUR SOUL WANTS
(PARTICULAR) Cattle(Steaks)
Sheep(Lambchops)
Wine
Beer
(GENERAL) ALL THAT YOUR SOULD ASKS FOR
RASHI: Notice how the Verse has a GENERAL-PARTICULAR-GENERAL
form. (In other words the Torah first says BUY WHATEVER
YOU WANT which is a GENERAL statement; The Torah then says
BUY CATTLE, SHEEP, WINE, BEER which is a PARTICULAR statement;
the Torah concludes BUY WHATEVER YOU WANT (a GENERAL
statement)
This is one of the EXAMPLE-STYLES of Rabbi Ishmael.
Rabbi Ishmael analyzed the WAY EXAMPLES are enumerated
in the Bible and found several STYLES. For each style there
are rules how the examples affect the final law. Sometimes ONLY
the examples are used--in this case that would mean that you
would only buy cattle, sheep, beer, wine but nothing else.
Sometimes however the examples are generalized a certain
degree(For example, here, you might be allowed to buy
anything EDIBLE, like steak, lambchops, beer and wine)
This is my innovation on the concept of the "RULES OF
RABBI ISHMAEL": that they refer to rules about EXAMPLES.
This is consistent with the fact that Rabbi Ishmael is
never quoted as dealing with grammatical derivations but
only with derivations from examples.
The GENERAL-PARTICULAR-GENERAL EXAMPLE STYLE is used to indicate
all items that CLOSELY RESEMBLE ALL EXAMPLES. Let us see how
this works in this case.
The 4 items---CATTLE, SHEEP, BEER, WINE have the following
4 attributes.
* They are EDIBLES--so we couldn't buy Jerusalem real estate
because real estate does not CLOSELY
RESEMBLE cattle, sheep, beer wine
* They are MAINSTAYS OF THE MEAL---so we couldn't buy
water, salt, tea, spices
* They are DERIVED FROM THE GROUND---so we couldn't buy fish
* They are DERIVED FROM LIVING THINGS---cattle and sheep
BUYING FOOD ADDITIVES that come from living things like tea
(a food flavorer for water) spices (a flavorer) etc. We however
exlclude salt and water. In other words you can buy SPICES
but you cannot buy WATER.
Thus I have broken the derivation into 2 stages. In the
1st stage I use the GENERAL-PARTICULAR-GENERAL form to
allow buying edible mainstays of the meal that are derived
from living produce from the ground. In the 2nd stage I
use the word "ALL" to allow me to buy food additives
which come from living things. This 2 stage approach was
also used in Lv14-09 and seemed to solve serious problems
among the rishonim. This 2 stage approach is not explicitly
stated in the sifrah or Gmarrah which just concentrates
on the general-particular-general example style.(However
this 2-stage approach is explicitly mentioned in the Talmud
Becoroth 37a,b on the next example from Dt15-21)
The above logic is compactly summarized in {LIST1} below.
We should make clear that Rashi is simply pointing out
that the verse has a GENERAL-PARTICULAR-GENERAL example
style. HOW this style is applied very often involves
Talmudic controversy. So to understand Rashi properly
one should understand that Rashis PRIMARY goal is to
identify the general-particular-general example style.
Rashi SECONDARY goal is to advise us HOW this example
style affects the final law
{LIST1} {Analysis of the common features of Cattle, sheep
beer and wine in Dt14-26. The law is you can
buy anything that closely resembles cattle, sheep
beer wine--this would include all edibles that
are mainstays of the meal that are derived from
living things that are on land.}
DERIVED DERIVED
CAN THIS FROM FROM
ITEM BE IMPROVES LIVING LAND
BOUGHT EDIBLE LIQUID TASTE TNINGS Not water
----------- ------ ------ -------- ------ ---------
Real estate
Servants
Salt X X
Water X X
Spices X X X X
Tea X X X X
Onions X X X X
Fish X
Wine*1 X X X X
Beer*1 X X X X
Steaks*1 X X X
Lambchops*1 X X X
NOTES
-----
*1 These 4 items are mentioned in Dt14-26
RULE USED: RabbiIshmael
#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*# (C) Dr Hendel, 2000 *#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*
VERSE: Dt15-21a
RASHIS COVERED: Dt15-21a Dt15-21b Dt15-21c
BACKGROUND
----------
The Bible is talking about the fact that firstborn animals are
holy animals that are offered to God. However this is only true
if the firstborn animal is unblemished. In discussing the
blemishes the torah says
Dt15-21
(GENERAL) If it has a blemish
(PARTICULAR) lame or
blind
(GENERAL) and bad blemish
Rashi points out that this verse has a
GENERAL-PARTICUALR-GENERAL form. The GENERAL-PARTICUALR-GENERAL
form is one of the example-styles studied by Rabbi Ishmael.
The final law in such a case is that we include everything
that closely resembles the example items.
LAMENESS and BLINDNESS have the following attributes
* They are both PERMANANT--so an animal which has a skin cut
is not disqualified from being offered
* They are both VISIBLE--so a deaf animal
is not disqualified from being offered.
* They INTEFER with animal work/PRODUCTIVITY--
So I would be allowed to offer an animal with
eg permanant visible scars which do not intefer
with productivity
Thus from the GENERAL-PARTICULAR-GENERAL-EXAMPLE style
I would learn that any animal with a permanant visible blemish
which intefers with work would not be offered to God.
Besides the general-particular-general-example-style this
verse also has the word "ALL/ANY". The Talmud (Bcoroth 37a,b)
explicitly uses this word ANY/ALL--- "ANY BAD BLEMISH" to
modify the above derivation so that 1st born animals with
permanant visible scars EVEN THOUGH THEIR WORK IS NOT IMPAIRED
nevertheless (since a scar can be called "Any bad blemish")
are not offered
COMMENT
-------
The Talmud actually mentions two methods of dealing with
general-particular-general styles: One of them being called
general-particular while the other is called
inclusive-exclusive. Throughout this email list we have used
the general-particular approach.
RULE USED: RabbiIshmael
#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*# (C) Dr Hendel, 2000 *#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*
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
#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*# (C) Dr Hendel, 2000 *#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*