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                  (C) Dr Russell Jay Hendel, 2000

                        Volume 7 Number 4
                        Produced Aug 10 2000

      WARNING: USE FIX WIDTH FONTS (eg COURIER (NEW) 10)


Verses/Topics Discussed in This Issue with quicky explanations

v9-8-10   Because of Tisha Beav one issue this week will
          go out tonight while the other will go out
          tomorrow by Afternoon. However they will both
          be very short and packed with verses.

          In this issue we cover the famous Rashi on
          "LOVE thy Lord thy God". Rashi explains HOW
          to Love God. Our job is to show that his
          explanation is rooted in simple stylistic
          principles.

          Surprisingly the principle Rashi enunciates
          is the principle of the HYPERLINK--it states
          that a nifty way of presenting an idea is
          FIRST to present a SHORT SUMMARY and THEN
          to give DETAILS. This principle is explicitly
          stated in a rather long Rashi.


Dt15-19b SERIES ON RABBI ISHMAEL'S RULES CONTINUED
        The typical view is that 'every letter and word'
        in the Bible has some meaning. A surprising Rashi
        in Pesachim shows that Biblical examples were
        usually not meant to be literal--but were meant
        to be generalized. "The Bible used human conversational
        style and was not picky on examples"


Dt06-06a WEEKLY PARSHAS SERIES CONTINUED
          Rashi translates these verses by adding the word "BY"
            "You should love your God, thy Lord BY placing
             the words of the Torah on your heart and
             making sharp summaries of them"

          RASHI: In other words, the method of loving God
                 is by learning Torah and making sharp





Rashis covered in this issue
----------------------------

VERSE    RULE            BRIEF EXPLANATION
======== ==============  =================
Dt15-19b RabbiIshmael    Biblical examples should be generalized
Ex21-28a RabbiIshmael    Biblical examples should be generalized
Ex21-17a RabbiIshmael    Biblical examples should be generalized
Ex22-21a RabbiIshmael    Biblical examples should be generalized
Ex22-30b RabbiIshmael    Biblical examples should be generalized
Dt22-23a RabbiIshmael    Biblical examples should be generalized
Dt23-11a RabbiIshmael    Biblical examples should be generalized
Dt13-07f RabbiIshmael    Biblical examples should be generalized
Dt25-04a RabbiIshmael    Biblical examples should be generalized
Dt06-06a RabbiIshmael    1st state the HEADLINE:Then the DETAILS
Gn02-08a RabbiIshmael    1st state the HEADLINE:Then the DETAILS
Gn09-11a RabbiIshmael    1st state the HEADLINE:Then the DETAILS
Nu03-06a RabbiIshmael    1st state the HEADLINE:Then the DETAILS
Nu05-12d RabbiIshmael    1st state the HEADLINE:Then the DETAILS
Dt02-04a RabbiIshmael    1st state the HEADLINE:Then the DETAILS
Dt04-33c RabbiIshmael    1st state the HEADLINE:Then the DETAILS
Ex01-11b RabbiIshmael    1st state the HEADLINE:Then the DETAILS
Lv19-35a RabbiIshmael    1st state the HEADLINE:Then the DETAILS
Lv03-09a RabbiIshmael    1st state the HEADLINE:Then the DETAILS
Gn45-23a RabbiIshmael    1st state the HEADLINE:Then the DETAILS
Gn49-04b RabbiIshmael    1st state the HEADLINE:Then the DETAILS
Lv01-03a RabbiIshmael    1st state the HEADLINE:Then the DETAILS

--------------------------------------------------------------
#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*# (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

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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

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VERSE: Dt15-19b

RASHIS EXPLAINED: Ex21-28a Ex21-17a Ex22-21a Ex22-30b
                  Dt22-23a Dt23-11a Dt13-07f Dt15-19b
                  Dt25-04a


BACKGROUND:
-----------
In this volume, volume 7, of Rashi is Simple, we are presently
reviewing Rabbi Ishmael's Biblical rules of interpretation. Our
basic position is that Rabbi Ishmael's 13 rules of Biblical
interpretation govern EXAMPLES. Thus when learning the Chumash
you have to know
--Rules of GRAMMAR
--Rules of LOGIC
--Rules of STYLE & NUANCES
--Rabbi Ishmael's rules of EXAMPLES



The simplest illustration of Rabbi Ishmael's rules occurs
in Ex21-28a which states
  "When the OX of an adult gores the ox of another person
   ...then payment shall be made (for damamges)"
A literal reading of the text would suggest that payment
is ONLY made if an OX did the goring. Of course, the law
is that you make payment if ANY animal of yours did damage.




In other words, the EXAMPLE, OX, is generalized to mean
any ANIMAL. Rashi on the tractate Pesachim 6 explicitly
states the rule





RULE:
-----
Every Biblical example of a law SHOULD be generalized
(unless otherwise indicated).*1




EXAMPLES
--------
(1) Ex21-28a When an OX gores..then pay damages
    RASHI: The law applies when ANY animal gores
    The Bible used 'OX' since that was a typical animal owned

(2) Ex21-17a A FEMALE witch should not be allowed to live
    RASHI: The law applies to ANY witch--male or female
    The Bible used 'FEMALE' witch since most witches were
    women

(3) Ex22-21a If you hurt an ORPHAN or WIDOW I(God)will punish you
    RASHI: God will punish you if you cause anguish to ANY person
    The Torah used 'ORPHAN/WIDOW' since these people are usually
    picked on.


(4) Ex22-30b A DISEASED ANIMAL in a FIELD should not be eaten
    RASHI: ALL DISEASED ANIMALS should not be eaten. The
    Torah used 'diseased animals in a FIELD' because that
    is typically where they are typically found

(5) Dt22-23a '..& he found her IN THE CITY & raped her...'
    RASHI:The laws of rape apply even if he raped her in the
    HOUSE. The Torah used 'in the CITY' because that is where
    rapes typically happen


(6) Dt23-11a 'A man who is Not Pure from a NOCTURNAL emission'
    RASHI: These laws apply to ANYONE who has an emission.
    The Torah used 'NOCTURNAL emission' because that is the
    typical time they occur.


(7) Dt13-07f When someone seduces you IN PRIVATE to worship idols
    RASHI: These laws apply even if the seduction was in public
    The Torah used 'IN PRIVATE' because that is the normal way
    seduction takes place (steathily)

(8) Dt15-19b Don't WORK with 1stborn of OX,
             Don't SHEAR 1stborn SHEEP
    RASHI:It is also prohibited to WORK with the 1stborn of SHEEP
    or to SHEAR the hide of an OX. But the Torah used 'WORK..OX'
    and 'SHEAR..SHEEP' because this is the typical usage.


(9) Dt25-04a Don't muzzle an OX while it works
    RASHI: It is prohibited to muzzle ANY ANIMAL while it works
    The Torah used 'OX' because this is the typical animal owned



NOTES
-----
*1 This rule appears strange and contradicts the usual notion
   that every 'letter and word' in the Bible has SOME meaning
   Actually though Rabbi Ishmael had a dictum that
   the Bible uses human style--it prefers a good example, like
   "ox" to an abstract concept like "animal".

#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*# (C) Dr Hendel, 2000 *#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*
VERSE: Dt06-06a

RASHIS EXPLAINED: Gn02-08a Gn09-11a Nu03-06a Nu05-06a Nu05-12d
                  Dt02-04a Dt06-06a Dt04-33c Ex01-11b Lv19-35a
                  Lv03-09a Gn45-23a Gn49-04b Lv01-03a


BACKGROUND
----------
In the last posting, Dt15-19b, we saw that EVERY Biblical
example is generalized. For example, Dt25-04a says DO NOT
MUZZLE AN **ox** WHILE IT WORKS. The law turns around and
prohibits muzzling any **ANIMAL** while it works.



It follows that IF the Bible wanted to ONLY prohibit muzzling an
OX it cannot just say"Dont muzzle an OX"(For we would generalize)
It follows that we need ANOTHER BIBLICAL STYLE to prohibit
muzzling ONLY oxes.



This other Biblical style would say something like "FROM AMONG
ANIMALS do not muzzle OXEN". Or it might say "Do not muzzle
certai ANIMALs-that is the OXEN".Thus this other Biblical style
indicates both the GENERAL CATEGORY ("animals") and the
PARTICULAR category("OXEN"). In this manner the Bible would
prohibit ONLY OXEN and would prevent unnecessary generalization
This then is the new Biblical style.


This other Biblical style is therefore called GENERAL-PARTICULAR.
We could also call it HEADLINE-DETAILS or HYPERLINK-ARTICLE.The
examples below will amply illustrate this.


RULE:
----
A SHORT GENERAL statement--eg 'FROM ANIMALS'---followed by a
DETAILED particular statement--eg 'OXEN & SHEEP'--can be
interpreted by
--adding the word BY(eg Love God **BY** learning Torah)
--adding the phrase THAT IS (eg Offer animals--ie ox, sheep)
--regarding the general statement as a sort of HEADLINE
  that hyperlinks to the details.
The GENERAL-PARTICULAR style indicates that ONLY
the particular item is spoken about and that generalization
is unwarranted.




EXAMPLES
--------

-----------------------------------------------------------
  In the following verses Rashi connects the 2 parts of the
  sentence by inserting the word "BY" thereby indicating
  that ONLY these examples are governed by the law
-----------------------------------------------------------

(1) Gn09-11a I will fulfill my CONVENANT with Noach (BY)
         placing the rainbow in the clouds as a symbol
         that I will not destroy the world
    RASHI: Thus the only terms of the convenant is that
           God will not destroy the world



(2) Nu03-06a & The Levites will SERVE Aaron: (BY)
            Watching the Temple
    RASHI: Thus the only service that the levites must do
           is Watch the temple




(3) Nu05-12d & She DESECRATES her marriage: (BY)
             Sleeping with another man
    RASHI: In other words it is only for SLEEPING with
           another man that we perform the 'suspected-
           wife' ceremony mentioned in Nu05 (Eg if she
           desecrated her marriage in some other way by
           eg insulting her husband we do not perform
           the ceremony)



(4) Dt02-04a ..Jews Watch yourself when you come to Esauv:(BY)
              Not starting up with them
    RASHI: In other words the only thing you have to watch
           is not to start up with them.



(5) Dt06-06a You should love your Lord God (BY)
             placing the Torah on your heart and making
             sharp summaries

    RASHI: In other words the only way to love God is by
           placing the Torah on your heart and making
           sharp summaries *1


NOTES
-----
*1 This Rashi (and the corresonding Rambam Foundations of
   Torah 2:1) are sometimes seen as homiletic and not the
   simple meaning of the text. But in reality they are
   the simple meaning of the text--for this paragraph has
   a GENERAL-PARTICULAR form: Love thy Lord thy God BY learning








----------------------------------------------------------------
  In the following verses Rashi connects the 2 parts of the
  sentence by inserting the word "THAT IS" thereby indicating
  that ONLY these examples are governed by the law
----------------------------------------------------------------


(6) Ex01-11b The Egyptians placed TAXES on the Jews...:
             (THAT IS) They built cities*2
    RASHI: Thus the taxes consisted of labor to build cities


(7) Lv03-09a Offer Its "fat"--THAT IS The tail


(8) Lv01-02c If you offer sacrifices then offer them from
             the Animals--THAT IS, from Cattle and sheep
    RASHI: Thus the only animals that can be offered for
        sacrifices are cattle and sheep


(9) Lv19-35a Don't pervert JUSTICE:
            (THAT IS) in measures, in weights,in liquid measures
    RASHI: From the context of this chapter we see that they
           are talking about the individual (not the courts)
           While there are many crimes that an individual
           can commit (like stealing) nevertheless the crime
           of false weights is the only crime that is punished
           like the crime of perverted judges (and leads to
           destruction of the land)*3




NOTES
-----
*2 Rashi also explains the word TAXES (this word is well known)
(by)

*3 The point is that stealing and damages of an individual
   can be punished by a court.You can get caught. But
   sins of bad weights (like sins of a perverted judge)
   lead the individual totally helpless for which God
   destroys the country if the people do not stop it.






----------------------------------------------------------------
  In the following verses The Biblical sentence itself connects
  the 2 parts of the sentence by using the 2nd part to explain
  the first part
----------------------------------------------------------------



(10) Gn45-23a & He sent as follows to his father: (NAMELY)
              10 Mules etc ....*3
(11) Gn49-04b Your impetuousness prevents you from taking the
      birthright... BECAUSE you played with your father's beds
(12) Dt04-33c ..Has anything this great happened?--(THAT IS)
               Has a nation heard God


NOTES
-----
*3 Note the complicated explanation brought by
   commentaries to this Rashi. Our way of taking it is
   simple: Rashi simply explains the verse as indicating
   what was sent






----------------------------------------------------------
  The following verse is an example of a HYPERLINK or
  HEADLINE-ARTICLE style. For those readers who think
  this comment obvious read the footnotes
----------------------------------------------------------


(14) Gn02-08a
     Gn01-27 And God created Man
     Gn02-07:09 And God created man FROM earth and placed
             him in the Garden of Eden and placed their trees

     RASHI: It **looks** like there are two stories of creation
        The 1st creation in Gn01-27 and the 2nd creation in
        Gn02-07:09.

        Actually however, following Rabbi Eliezers
        (Son of Rabbi Yosi the Galileean) who had 32 styles
        by which to interpret the Bible we see Gn01-27 as a
        sort of HEADLINE that HYPERLINKS to Gn02-07 which gives
        the story in complete detail (How God made him--where
         he put him etc







#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*# (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
#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*# (C) Dr Hendel, 2000 *#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*