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 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 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: 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 *#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*