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Surfing the Talmudic Seas
(C) Dr Russell Jay Hendel, 2000
Volume 7 Number 10
Produced Aug 29 2000
WARNING: USE FIX WIDTH FONTS (eg COURIER (NEW) 10)
Verses/Topics Discussed in This Issue with quicky explanations
WEEKLY PARSHAH SERIES
---------------------
Dt18-01b RASHI TEACHES 3 PREREQUISITES for "BELONGING TO GOD"
Dt16-19a 3 PREREQUISITES for a SOCIETAL ATMOSPHERE OF JUSTICE
COMMENTS FROM OUR READERS---MESSAGES FROM OUR MODERATOR
-------------------------------------------------------
v9-8-29a WORD VERSION of INDEX DOCUMENT in FREE DOWNLOAD
v9-9-29b Compliments, advice and question from DR LOIKE
Gn17-14d 4 RASHIS on MEANING OF "CUT OFF" PUNISHMENT
But only one Rashi gives full derivation!!
Read to see the exciting drama. We use these Rashis
to show that Rashi frequently cannot be read literally
and must be read in light of other Rashis and verses.
v9-9-29c Rashi WHITE PAPER on methodology with
advice for technology use in Schools.
NEW YEAR REPENTANCE SECTION--OMISSIONS in PAST ISSUES
---------------------------
v9-9-29d YOSSI ZOIMEN discovers source for
"INFINITIVE=ongoing behavior"
Rashis covered in this issue
----------------------------
VERSE RULE BRIEF EXPLANATION
======== ============== =================
Dt18-01b CLIMAX Rashi teaches how to "Belong to God"
Dt18-01c CLIMAX Rashi teaches how to "Belong to God"
Dt18-01d CLIMAX Rashi teaches how to "Belong to God"
Dt18-01e CLIMAX Rashi teaches how to "Belong to God"
Dt18-02a CLIMAX Rashi teaches how to "Belong to God"
Dt18-02b CLIMAX Rashi teaches how to "Belong to God"
Gn17-14d WORD MEANINGS Meanings inferred from explicit linkings
Lv17-09a WORD MEANINGS Meanings inferred from explicit linkings
Lv22-03a WORD MEANINGS Meanings inferred from explicit linkings
Lv23-30a WORD MEANINGS Meanings inferred from explicit linkings
Dt16-19a CLIMAX How to achieve an"ATMOSPHERE OF JUSTICE"
Dt16-19b CLIMAX How to achieve an"ATMOSPHERE OF JUSTICE"
Dt16-19c CLIMAX How to achieve an"ATMOSPHERE OF JUSTICE"
Dt16-19d CLIMAX How to achieve an"ATMOSPHERE OF JUSTICE"
Dt16-19e CLIMAX How to achieve an"ATMOSPHERE OF JUSTICE"
Dt16-20a CLIMAX How to achieve an"ATMOSPHERE OF JUSTICE"
--------------------------------------------------------------
#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*# (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
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COMMENTS,QUESTIONS: EMail to address below
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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,
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VERSE: Dt16-19a
RASHIS COVERED: Dt16-19a Dt16-19b Dt16-19c
Dt16-19d Dt16-19e Dt16-20a
BACKGROUND: The Bible is discussing JUDICIAL PROCESS.
---------- Several commandments are given to enhance
Judicial process.
RULE: The commandments form a hierarchy showing the 3
---- prerequisites needed to create a societal atmosphere of
Justice. Quite simply one must not "pervert" justice. However
there are 3 places in the Judicial process where Justice can
be perverted
EXAMPLES (of where Justice should not be perverted)
--------
1) Dt16-19a: Don't change the VERDICT
eg Say an innocent person is guilty
2) Dt16-19b: Don't harass the LITIGANTS
eg Don't smile at one person but not the other
As this makes them unable to articulate their claims
(NOTE: That it is Biblically prohibited to eg smile
at one litigant but not the other--Rambam Courts 21)
3) Dt16-19c: Dont harass YOURSELF
eg After deciding a person is innocent it is still
prohibited to take a bribe that he is innocent
because the bribe might not affect the verdict
but would affect the sentencing *1 *2 *3
Dt18-02a: If you have fulfilled these 3 prerequisites--
Avoided perversion of the VERDICT
Avoided perversion of the LITIGANTS
Avoided perversion of YOURSELF
Then you have created an ATMOSPHERE OF JUSTICE
in society which people will respect. *4
NOTES
-----
*1 Dt16-19d: It is impossible that the bribe should not affect
the sentencing (Maybe you could have pushed towards
eg a monetary compromise and now that you received
the bribe you wont)
*2 Notice how we have interpreted
"Dont take a bribe"
To mean
"Dont take a bribe EVEN FOR THE CORRECT VERDICT"
We have derived this interpretation from the climactic
development of the paragraph.
An alternative (or complementary Derivation) comes from
the REPEATED BIBLICAL MENTION of the verse 'Dont take Bribes'
This verse is mentioned in Both Ex23-08 and Dt16-19.
Recall that REPETITION is used to emphasize a concept in
all circumstances--thus the first statement of 'Dont take
a bribe' means not to take bribes while the 2nd statement
would mean not to take it even for a correct verdict.
*3 Dt16-19e: "Dont take Bribes because bribes will blind
the sharp and distort the WORDS OF THE RIGHTEOUS"
RASHI on the phrase "WORDS OF THE RIGHTEOUS" says
'This means 'RIGHTEOUS WORDS'.
But certainly Rashi would not twist a noun (RIGHTEOUS
PEOPLE) into an adjective "RIGHTEOUS WORDS'. Everyone
knows that TZADICK means RIGHTEOUS person not RIGHTEOUS
words.
Similarly Rashi even if he was "bothered" by calling
a Judge who takes bribes as Righteous would not be
justified in changing a noun into a verb
But rather Rashi was commenting on the DOUBLE PARSHAS
-----------------------------------------------------------
"blind the sharp-people"
"distort the WORDS of Righteous-people"
*a
-----------------------------------------------------------
Notice the contrast between "BLIND the PEOPLE" vs
"DISTORT **WORDS** of the righteous.". This distinction between
PEOPLE and WORDS occurs both here and in Exodus.
So Rashi explains that Bribery not only affects your ability
to see sharp distinctions but also affects your ability to
FORMULATE (WITH "WORDS") decisions you have already reached.
Bribery distorts your capacity to express the judgement in
such a manner that it sounds "fair" to both sides.
*4 Again note the repetition: JUSTICE JUSTICE pursue.
Following Rashi I have explained this as not only
achieving just laws but also achieving a just
atmosphere.
RULE USED: CLIMAX
#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*# (C) Dr Hendel, 2000 *#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*
VERSE: Dt18-01b
RASHIS COVERED: Dt18-01b Dt18-01c
Dt18-01d Dt18-01e Dt18-02a Dt18-02b
BACKGROUND:
----------
Nu18-01b
--------
The Bible is discussing what the Priests and Levites inherit.
Note that although this verse is complicated it is cross
referenced by an explicit OTHER VERSE Nu18-21:24
"I have given the TITHES to the Levites...but they will not
inherit with the rest of the Jewish people"
RULE:
----
The basic idea is that
* The Priests and Levites have rights in the Temply/Holy things
* The Priests and Levites have no rights in the conquest of Israel
Rashi orders these laws in a hierarchy showing 3 prerequisites to
becoming a Godly person.
EXAMPLES (of relations to possessions leading to GODLINESS)
--------
----------------------------------------------------------
STEP 1 TOWARDS GODLINESS: Renounce material possessions
----------------------------------------------------------
1) Dt18-01b: Levites will have no PORTION
2) Dt18-01c ......or INHERITANCE
RASHI: Levites don't have a share in Israel(NO INHERITANCE)
Levites don't have a PORTION in RELIGIOUS WARS(*1)
--------------------------------------------------------------
STEP 2 TOWARDS GODLINESS: Associate with the Godly community
--------------------------------------------------------------
3) Dt18-01d Levites will have the FIRES GOD & the
4) Dt18-01e .... INHERITANCE of God
RASHI: FIRES of GOD = The Sacrifices (Cf Nu18-08:20)
INHERITANCE of GOD = The Tithes (Cf Nu18-21:24)*2
---------------------------------------------------------------
STEP 3 TOWARDS GODLINESS: Be EXCLUSIVELY associated with
the Godly community. Don't have extra activites
---------------------------------------------------------------
5) Dt18-02a Levites will not have any INHERITANCE
RASHI: Even in permissable wars (Rashi contrasts the
mandatory inheritance in Israel by the
majority of the Jews to the optional inheritance
in the trans-jordan by the Reubenites & Gadites.)
So the implication is if you want to become a Godly
person it is not enough to be part of the Godly
community and renounce material things; you must
also renounce occasional extra ventures into material
things..You must be known as EXCLUSIVELY belonging
to God.*3 *4
SUMMARY:
-------
To become a Godly person you should
--avoid MATERIAL things
--associate with the GODLY community
--be EXCLUSIVE to this Godly community
You will then be known as a Godly person.
NOTES
-----
*1 eg In 1Sam30-24 the word PORTION refers to APORTIONMENT
in a religious war (Also see Nu31-36)
*2 We again emphasize that the specific interpretation of
FIRES OF GOD and INHERITANCE OF GOD comes from the
cross referenced text in Nu18. We refer to this
technique of cross referencing as the technique
of OTHER VERSES.
*3 We have derived the above meaning by using the principle
of climax. An alternative derivation would use the
RabbiIshmael principle of GENERAL-PARTICULAR-GENERAL.
Note that this chapter has this form
GENERAL: Levites do NOT have portion or INHERITANCE
PARTICULAR: They DO have FIRE OF GOD and His inheritance
GENERAL: They do NOT participate in INHERITANCE
Recall that the GENERAL-PARTICULAR-GENERAL rules is
interpreted by generalizing the PARTICULAR PHRASE which
in this case refers to the "FIRES OF GOD and HIS INHERITANCE"
So quite simply the Levites are entitled to ANYTHING that
resembles FIRES OF GOD and HIS INHERITANCE.
This includes all items mentioned in Nu18--Sacrificial
objects and Tithes (items which must be eaten in a holy
state). However we exclude all material possessions which
even if Given by God (Eg a religious war) nevertheless
need not be consumed in holiness.
Perhaps this alternative interpretation sheds more light.
*4 In a rare move Rashi gives a lengthy textual discussions
of the Sifrah. Rashi shows that certain language used by
the Sifrah refers to a) the conquest of Israel by the
majority of the Jews b) the conquest of transjordan for
the 2.5 tribes who wanted it.
However the emphasis in this email list has been on
conceptual derivations. Hence we have presented the
above conceptual explanation based on OTHER VERSES
and the CLIMACTIC development.
RULE USED: CLIMAX
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VERSE: v9-8-29a
FREE WEB DOWNLOAD UPDATED with a WORD 97 index file.
Feel free to visit http://www.RashiYomi.Com/
Click on the "FREE DOWNLOADS" hyperlink.
Download the download and explode it.
You will then have a file, INDEX.DOC that hyperlinks to all
235 postings (as of Jun 30,2000) explaining 12.5% of all Rashis
The index file also has
--which rule is used
--a brief explanation
The index file is sorted BOTH by Verse and Rule. A bug from
the original version has been removed enabling you to
sort the sheet by both verse and rule.
YOU MUST OPEN THE WORD DOCUMENT READ ONLY since it can
not be modified.
Russell Hendel; Phd ASA; Moderator Rashi is Simple
#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*# (C) Dr Hendel, 2000 *#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*
VERSE: v9-8-29b
From: "John D. Loike"
To: The logical derivation of Rashis on Chumash
Subject: Re: RASHI-IS-SIMPLE digest 157
Mime-Version: 1.0
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"
[ANSWERS IN CAPS BY ME BELOW]
Dear Russell,
Keep up the good work and continue to listen to Akiva Sunness.
[JOHN IS (PROUD) UNCLE TO AKIVA]
BTW, if you look at Rashi in this week's parsha of Re'eh, He
clearly distinguishes between OT and Mofet, where the first
refers to signs BaShamim and the latter refers to miricles BaAret
(I think I got that right since I dont have a chumash here).
[RASHI **DOES** SAY THAT...BUT HE DOESN'T BELIEVE IT SINCE
--IT IS CONTRADICTED BY RASHI HIMSELF
--IT IS CONTRADICTED BY BIBLICAL LISTS
I THEREFORE INTERPRET RASHI TO MEAN
"OTH=(LIKE A SIGN) IN HEAVEN
"MOFAYTH=A SIGN AGAINST A POLITICAL COUNTRY (ERETZ)"
See posting Gn17-14d in this issue (volume 7 Number 10)]
Also
How do you feel that Rashi defines the terms Emet vs Tzedek. FYI
the Targum rarely distinguishes between the two terms and usually
translates them as Keshut.
[GOOD QUESTION (AS ALWAYS)]
Take care.
John
#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*# (C) Dr Hendel, 2000 *#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*
VERSE: Gn17-14d
Gn17-14d 4 RASHIS on MEANING OF "CUT OFF" PUNISHMENT
But only one Rashi gives full derivation!!
Read to see the exciting drama. We use these Rashis
to show that Rashi frequently cannot be read literally
and must be read in light of other Rashis and verses.
VERSE: v9-8-29c
I am writing a short (2000 word) "white paper" on Rashis
methodology for publication in my Synagogue bi-annual bulletin.
This should be available next week and posted on the web.
The paper will contain an "introduction to Rashis methodology
with complete examples and methods" all in 2000 words (about
2 newspaper pages).
I will also have a section on how to supplement Rashi
instruction in schools with technology (The Baltimore
community is privileged to have schools that use mandatory
laptops in the Yeshiva room).
Stay tuned for exciting events
Russell Hendel; Phd ASA; Moderator Rashi is Simple
#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*# (C) Dr Hendel, 2000 *#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*
VERSE: v9-8-29d
[I have devoted the month before the Jewish New Year for
repenting from any omissions and/or mistakes that may have
crept into the past 160 issues of Rashi is Simple. I know
there aren't that many but if you have found errors,
omissions or lack of acknowlegements please send them in]
Yossi Zoimen pointed out to me that the standard commentaries
on Baba Metziah Chapter 2 Paragraph 9 explicitly state that
"The infinitive form can indicate ONGOING ACITIVITY"
This principle has been used by us many times. Thus the
Decalogue should be more properly translated NOT as
"Watch the Sabbath"
but rather
"Be involved in watching the Sabbath"
and hence includes all types of involvement including
eg buying wine during the week for Shabbath.
Yasher Coach Yossi
#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*# (C) Dr Hendel, 2000 *#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*
THE 2 DOZEN RASHI-IS-SIMPLE RASHI RULES
http://www.RashiYomi.Com/rules.htm
=======================================
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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