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READER QUESTIONS
================
v9-t-26a Gilbert Issard makes insightful comments on Dt30-14a and
Gn01-02a. In particular Gilbert brings his knowledge of French to
bear on Rashi in Gn01-02a. Yasher Coach
RABBI ISHMAEL vs DR NECHAMA LEIBOWITZ--Part 2
==============================================
Gn07-12a We have previously discussed the difference in
methodology between Rabbi Ishmael (which this email group
follows) and Dr Leibowitz. We continue this series with a punchy
Rashi which succinctly illustrates the difference.
WEEKLY PARSHAH SERIES
RASHIS EXPLAINED
================
Gn04-25a We study the meaning of the Hebrew word >Ayin-Vuv-Daled<
which means >AGAIN< not >ANYMORE<
Rashis covered in this issue
----------------------------
VERSE RULE BRIEF DESCRIPTION
======== ============== ================================
Gn07-12a EXAMPLE7 The GENERAL-DETAIL-GENERAL style
Gn04-25a SPECIAL WORDS >Ayin-Vuv-Daled< means >AGAIN<
Gn07-04b SPECIAL WORDS >Ayin-Vuv-Daled< means >AGAIN<
Gn19-12a SPECIAL WORDS >Ayin-Vuv-Daled< means >AGAIN<
Gn35-09a SPECIAL WORDS >Ayin-Vuv-Daled< means >AGAIN<
Gn35-10a SPECIAL WORDS >Ayin-Vuv-Daled< means >AGAIN<
Gn38-26a SPECIAL WORDS >Ayin-Vuv-Daled< means >AGAIN<
Gn08-08a SPECIAL WORDS >Ayin-Vuv-Daled< means >AGAIN<
Gn45-28a SPECIAL WORDS >Ayin-Vuv-Daled< means >AGAIN<
Gn46-29c SPECIAL WORDS >Ayin-Vuv-Daled< means >AGAIN<
-----------------------------------------------------------------
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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
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JOURNAL REFERENCE: 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
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VERSE: v9-t-26a
From Gilbert Issard
To: rjhendel@juno.com
Date: Thu, 26 Oct 2000 23:10:07 +0000
Subject: Rashi is simple #171 and #173
--------------In a recent issue you wrote--------------------
VERSE v9-10-5a
From Dr John Loike, jdl5@columbia.edu
To: Dr Russell Hendel
RE: Strange Rashi on Dt30-14a
Russell
Happy New Year.
Dt30-14 says >For it(the Torah) is very near you thru your mouth
and heart to do<. Rashi, seemingly out of nowhere says >This
verse refers to the Written and Oral Law<
***************** gilbert
Russell,
I understand and explain differently this Rashi.
Rashi says literally : the torah has been given to you written
and oral.
I understand the verse slightly differently also: For it is very
near you, IN your mouth and IN your heart to do.
My understanding : The Torah needs both to be in the oral and in
the written form to be followed and done. You cannot accomplish
the torah only with the written one (without the explanations and
the work of the rabbis), but the oral torah does not make any
sense without the written torah (since the oral torah is enrooted
in the written one).
Rashi's comment is based on 'for it is near you'
(the dibbur ha-matchil), and he explains this nearness.
In the verse, the word
'near' is linked by Rashi with the verb 'to do'. the torah is
done because it is near, and it is near because it is both
written and oral.
=================================================================
[RESPOSNE FROM MODERATOR: Gilbert I don't disagree with what you
said. My point is that your ideas (with which I agree) are backed
by a DATABASE QUERY. In this case the 3 parts of the paragraph
ALL exhibit a DOUBLE NATURE
{LIST1}
The Bible speaks about the TORAH & COMMANDMENTS
===================================================
======================== ========================
It is not FAR It is not ABOVE you
It is not OVERSEA It is not IN HEAVEN
It is near in your MOUTH It is near in YOUR HEART
------------------------ ------------------------
ORAL LAW WRITTEN PROPHETIC LAW
====================================================
Thus my emphasis is that SINCE the Torah EMPHASIZES this DUALITY
3 times, therefore we are justified in the emphasis (that both
you and I gave) on the written and oral law]
=================================================================
Another comment(From Gilbert) :
you explained Tohu vabohu Gen 1-2 (I think it was in #173 but I
am not sure, I can't find it on my computer, sorry). Let me add
something based on modern french. Rashi explains Tohu with a laaz
word, a word taken from the french of his time, 1000 years ago.
This word is 'estourdissoun'. Most of the time, french words in
Rashi are too far away from modern french and can't be understood
but this one is different. The 's' has become and accent in
modern french (like hospital has become hôpital) and the french
modern word for estourdissoun is 'étourdissant' which means
'deafening'.
Shabbat shalom
Gilbert
#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*# (C) Dr Hendel, 2000 *#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*
VERSE: Gn07-12a
PART 2
======
The following is part 2 in our series on the difference between
Rabbi Ishmael's approach to Chumash (which we follow) and the
methods of Dr Nechama Leibowitz(which we also follow)
BACKGROUND
==========
First some background: There are a variety of Good books on
Chumash and Rashi. Chief among them are the books written by the
late Dr Nechama Leibowitz who has many followers.
Dr LEIBOWITZ's APPROACH
=======================
Dr Leibowitz, following a long tradition, emphasized learning
Rashi by finding the >PROBLEM<. According to her, Rashi is best
understood by finding something >TROUBLESOME< in the verse. Rashi
is then seen as >ANSWERING< this >PROBLEM<.
RABBI ISHMAEL'S APPROACH
========================
By contrast, Rabbi Ishmael, in his study of Bible emphasized
STYLE. Every Biblical sentence or paragraph has a STYLE. This
STYLE determines how the verse-content should be interpreted. For
example, certain STYLES demand a >BROAD LIBERAL< interpretation
of verse-content. Certain other styles demand a
>STRICT-CONSERVATIVE< interpretation of verse content. Thus in
Rabbi Ishmael's approach the interpretation of the verse has
nothing to do with a problem--rather it is dependent on the
STYLE used.
EXAMPLE: Gn07-12a
The verses Gn07-12:17 use a GENERAL-DETAIL-GENERAL >STYLE<.
This style demands a BROAD INTERPRETATION of the DETAILS by
generalizing them
{LIST2}
The verses Gn07-12:17 use a GENERAL-DETAIL-GENERAL >STYLE<.
This style demands a BROAD INTERPRETATION of the DETAILS by
generalizing them
==============================================================
VERSE STYLE TEXT
======= ======= ========================================
Gn07-12 GENERAL THERE WAS A RAIN(FLOOD) FOR 40 DAYS
Gn07-13:16 DETAILS Noahs family (& animals)come to Noahs ark
Gn07-17 GENERAL THERE WAS A FLOOD FOR 40 DAYS
DISCUSSION: Dr Leibowitz s Approach
===================================
We will return to the above GENERAL-DETAIL-GENERAL {LIST} in
a minute. First recall that Dr Leibowitz emphasizes the >PROBLEM<.
In this case the >PROBLEM< is clearly seen by comparing the 2
almost identical verses Gn07-12, Gn07-17. The verses are identical
except for the fact that the >FLOOD< is called >RAIN< in the
first verse. Why?
----------------------------------------------------------
{LIST3}
Comparison & alignment of Gn07-12 and Gn07-17
=================================================
VERSE *1 *2a *2b
======= =========== ===== ============ ===========
Gn07-12 There waRAIN on the efor 40 days
Gn07-17 There waFLOOD for 40 don the earth
NOTES
*1 The first verse says >RAIN< while the 2nd verse calls it a
>FLOOD<. Rashi is Simple: First God only brought a >RAIN< in the
hope that they would repent. Then, when they didn't repent God
brought a >FLOOD<.
*2a/2b Notice how the phrases >on the earth< and >for 40 days<
are reversed in order. When God brought the >FLOOD< for
punishment it is emphasized that it was for 40 days, a long time
---a punishment period
RABBI ISHMAEL'S METHOD:
======================
Rabbi Ishmael focuses on the fact that the verses have a
GENERAL-DETAIL-GENERAL style. THEREFORE, we are required to
interpret the verses Broadly.
The verses, Gn07-13:16 state that Noach, his family, and the
animals came to the ark. Now this in and of itself is just a
>DETAIL<. But as Rabbi Ishmael so beautifully points out it is
not just any >DETAIL< but rather it is part of a
GENERAL-DETAIL-GENERAL style. This style demands generalization
and broad interpretation. We already know (Gn06-09) that Noach
was spared from the flood because he was Righteous. Hence we
generalize: >ANYONE WHO BECAME RIGHTEOUS COULD BE SAVED<. It
follows that God offered everyone the right to repent and come
to the ark.
SUMMARY: The driving force behind Rashi is the STYLE which
requires us to understand the reason why Noach was spared and to
generalize it: Noach, and ANYONE ELSE who repented, would be
spared. Rashi simply gives another example of God offering
repentance: First the flood waters came down as Rain and then
they came down as a flood. True, Rashi infers this from the
comparison of verses which first uses >RAIN< and then uses
>FLOOD< but ultimately if Rashi hadn't been asked to explain why
Noach was spared (because he repented) then Rashi would not have
commented on this difference. In other words, the only reason
Rashi notices the difference between RAIN and FLOOD is because
Rabbi Ishmael's rules of STYLE require him to do so. Furthermore
and this is most important even if there had been no difference
in the verses (RAIN vs FLOOD) Rashi would still have been
justified in conjecturing that God first brought down Rain and
only when they did not repent, a Flood.
We will try and bring other Rashis in this
Rabbi-Ishmael-Dr-Leibowitz series. Please visit the website
to read the 1st in the series.
RULE USED: EXAMPLE7
#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*# (C) Dr Hendel, 2000 *#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*
VERSE: Gn04-25a
RASHIS EXPLAINED: Gn07-04b Gn19-12a Gn35-09a Gn35-10a Gn38-26a
Gn08-08a Gn04-25a Gn45-28a Gn46-29c
RULE: The Hebrew word >Ayin-Vuv-Daled< means >AGAIN<; it does not
mean >ANYMORE<. Since this word means >AGAIN< it follows that we
should always seek out >WHEN ELSE< what is being spoken about
happened.
EXAMPLES
========
{LIST4}
Verses where the Hebrew word >Ayin-Vuv-Daled< means >AGAIN<.
This prompts seeking an OTHER TIME when the event happened.
For example Gn07-04b says >And I (GOD) will AGAIN give man
7 days to repent before bringing the flood<. The word >AGAIN<
In fact refers to Gn06-03: >I will give man 120 years to
repent< Thus indeed God gave man 2 time periods to repent
==============================================================
VERSE TEXT WITH WORD >AGAIN< THE OTHER TIME
======= =============================== ==============
Gn07-04b Ill AGAIN give 7 days to repent Gn06-03*1
Gn19-12a Will you argue AGAIN for them*2 Gn19-01:02*2
Gn35-09a God appeared AGAIN to Jacob Gn28-13
Gn35-10a You wont be accused AGAIN*3 Gn27-36*3
Gn38-26a He didn t know her AGAIN*4 Gn38-15,Gn38-24*4
Gn08-08a Waited 7 days AGAIN*5 Gn08-10, Gn08-12
Gn04-25a Adam was with his wife AGAIN*6 Gn04-01*6
Gn45-28a I have alot: Joe lives AGAIN*7 Gn37-35
Gn46-29c And he cried AGAIN (& AGAIN)*8
NOTES
*1 Thus Gn06-03 says that man was given 120 years to repent
before the flood. Gn07-04 says that man was AGAIN given time to
repent (another 7 days)
*2 In Gn19-01:02 Lot tries to argue that the city of Sedom was
hospitable. However after the city tried to rape the male guests
the angels asked >Will you try and defend them AGAIN< (Notice how
Rashi cites another explanation >Do you have ANYMORE people in
the city<--The reason Rashi rejects this interpretation is
because the word Ayin-Vuv-Daled does not mean >ANYMORE< but
rather means >AGAIN<). (We could also defend the rare Hebrew
phrase in this verse which denotes >trying again< but the above
will suffice for now).
*3 In Gn27-36 Esauv says >You called his name DOUBLECROSS and he
has indeed DOUBLE CROSSED me twice<. Now in Gn35-10 God says >You
will not AGAIN be accused of being named DOUBLECROSS because we
are changing your name<
*4 The weirdest explanations of this Rashi have occured. The
simple meaning is >HE DID NOT KNOW HER AGAIN<. Recall that the
Biblical word >KNOW< can EQUALLY MEAN >SEXUALLY KNOW< or
>PUNITIVELY KNOW< (Like the English phrase >TEACH HIM A LESSON<)
Rashi simply points out that Judah had done both to her.
In Gn38-15 he had relations with her (Hence the interpretation
>He did not know her sexually AGAIN<) In Gn38-24 he tried to burn
her(not necessarily kill her; but punish her or as we say in
English, >teach her a lesson<. (Hence the interpretation >He did
not know her punitively AGAIN<)
*5 Gn08-08, Gn08-10 and Gn08-12 speak about Noach sending out
birds to see if the land was dry. In two of these 3 verses it
says >And he sent the birds out after AGAIN WAITING 7 DAYS<. So
Rashi is Simple---he undoubtedly waited 7 days the first time.
*6 To understand this Rashi we compare Gn04-01 and Gn04-25
{LIST5}
Comparison and alignment of Gn04-01 and Gn04-25
================================================
VERSE *a *b
======= ========= ============== =====
Gn04-01 Adam knehis wife Chava
Gn04-25 Adam knehis wifeagain
NOTES
*a Notice how one verse mentions his wife by name, Chava, while
the other verse just says his wife. The Midrash Rabbah (Cited by
Rashi) suggests that Adam regained the enthusiasm of a Newlywed
who can successfully fantasize about his wife without her being
present (in contrast to a long-married couple which may have lost
their initial enthusiasm and can only get aroused in each others
presence). (Hence the verse says >His wife< without mentioning
her name to show that the >relationship of wife< itself could
turn Adam on.
*b By using the distinction mentioned in note a, Rashi suggests
that the word >AGAIN< refers to their original wedding
enthusiasm.
*7 Gn37-25 clearly says that >Jacob mourned for Joseph<. Hence
when he found out that Joseph was alive he was justified in
saying >My son lives AGAIN<
*8 In these two verses do not have obvious cross references.
Therefore Rashi interprets the word AGAIN to metaphorically mean
alot. For example, >He cried AGAIN< would eg denote that 2 people
met, they cried, spoke, cried AGAIN, spoke some more, cried
AGAIN, spoke some more etc. Thus the word AGAIN refers to doing
something again in the same session and denotes intense emotion.
Similarly the verse >My son Joseph is alive AGAIN< refers
#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*# (C) Dr Hendel, 2000 *#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*
THE 2 DOZEN RASHI-IS-SIMPLE RASHI RULES
http://www.RashiYomi.Com/rules.htm
=======================================
http://www.RashiYomi.Com/rules9-6.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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