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Surfing the Talmudic Seas
(C) Dr Russell Jay Hendel, 2000
Volume 7 Number 9
Produced Aug 24 2000
WARNING: USE FIX WIDTH FONTS (eg COURIER (NEW) 10)
Verses/Topics Discussed in This Issue with quicky explanations
WEEKLY PARSHAH SERIES
---------------------
Dt11-26a The Torah uses Newspaper style: It first gives
a terse HEADLINE and then later gives DETAILS
Dt14-13a A comparison of the 2 chapters on Kosher birds
shows 4 minor differenceS emanating from different
pronunciations.
Dt13-09a 5 different levels of mercy are described
BEFORE, DURING and AFTER a criminal act or trial
Dt11-27a The Hebrew word ASHER(That) can also mean IF
Half a dozen examples are brought
Rashis covered in this issue
----------------------------
VERSE RULE BRIEF EXPLANATION
======== ============== =================
Dt11-26a RabbiIshmael First the Headlines, then the details
Dt11-28a RabbiIshmael First the Headlines, then the details
Dt06-06a RabbiIshmael First the Headlines, then the details
Gn02-08a RabbiIshmael First the Headlines, then the details
Ex01-11b RabbiIshmael First the Headlines, then the details
Lv03-09a RabbiIshmael First the Headlines, then the details
Lv01-02c RabbiIshmael First the Headlines, then the details
Dt14-13a DOUBLE PARSHAS Align 2 chapters on Kosher birds
Dt13-09a CLIMAX 5 different levels of mercy described
Dt13-09b CLIMAX 5 different levels of mercy described
Dt13-09c CLIMAX 5 different levels of mercy described
Dt13-09d CLIMAX 5 different levels of mercy described
Dt13-09e CLIMAX 5 different levels of mercy described
Dt11-27a SPECIAL WORDS The Hebrew word ASHER(that)can mean IF
Nu33-55a SPECIAL WORDS The Hebrew word ASHER(that)can mean IF
Dt11-27a SPECIAL WORDS The Hebrew word ASHER(that)can mean IF
Gn06-04d SPECIAL WORDS The Hebrew word ASHER(that)can mean IF
Dt18-22a SPECIAL WORDS The Hebrew word ASHER(that)can mean IF
Gn30-38c SPECIAL WORDS The Hebrew word ASHER(that)can mean IF
Gn41-55b SPECIAL WORDS The Hebrew word ASHER(that)can mean IF
--------------------------------------------------------------
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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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SPECIALS:...on Parshah,Rambam,Ramban,Pedagogy,Symbolism
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VERSE: Dt11-26a
RASHIS COVERED: Dt11-26a Dt11-28a Dt06-06a Gn02-08a
Ex01-11b Lv03-09a Lv01-02c
RULE: In Volume 7 Number 4 we enunciated the following rule
about Biblical style. First an example:
a) "Don't muzzle an OX"--RASHI: Don't muzzle ANY ANIMAL
b) "Offer sacrifices from ANIMALS--from CATTLE-SHEEP"
RASHI: **ONLY** cattle and sheep(no other animals)
can be brought for sacrifices
Why is it that "OX" is generalized to ANY animal while
CATTLE and SHEEP are taken exclusively--ONLY cattle and
sheep can be offered--no other animal? Here is the rule:
a1) If the Bible gives only an example then it SHOULD be
generalized(Thus "Dont muzzle an OX" is generalized
to ANY animal)
b1) If the Bible gives first a GENERAL statement and then
an example then the example SHOULD NOT be generalized
Thus "Offer sacrifices from animals--from cattle and
sheep"--but not from other animals.
An alternative formulation of case "b" is that the Bible
may first give a "headline"--a brief chapter heading--and
then give details.
eg (HEADLINE) "YOU CAN OFFER ANIMAL SACRIFICES"
(DETAILS) "Sacrifices are being accepted from cattle/sheep"
EXAMPLES: (Many come from Volume 7 Number 4)
--------------------------------------------
----------------------------------------------------
In the following examples two verses function
as a HEADLINE-STORY or CHAPTER-HEADING vs CONTENTS
----------------------------------------------------
1) Dt11-26a (HEADLINE) I give you today BLESSINGS,CURSES
Dt11-27 (DETAILS) The blessing: if you listen to God..
Dt11-28 (DETAILS) The curse: If you don't listen..
NOTE: As the sifsay chachamim points out the Details are
scattered throughout the Bible
2) 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
-------------------------------------------------------------
In the following example Rashi explains the 2nd of a
repeated sentence by inserting the words "THAT IS". In
other words the the 2nd repetition EXPLAINS and CLARIFIES
the 1st statement
-------------------------------------------------------------
(3) 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
(4) 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
(ie the taxes and cities are NOT 2 items but one and
the same)
NOTES
-----
*2 Rashi also explains the word TAXES (this word is well known)
(5) Lv03-09a Offer Its "fat"--THAT IS The tail
(6) 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
(7) Dt11-28a "If you don't listen to Gods commandments"
"and you deviate from Gods path"
"to serve other gods and worship them"
RASHI: Thus "Deviate from Gods path" (or "Don't
listen to commandments" are like headlines. The
details are "worshiping other Gods." In other
words the only way to violate **ALL** of Gods
commandments is to worship idolatry.
AN ALTERNATIVE DERIVATION
-------------------------
I have already explained the principle of CLIMAX--a set of 3
or more Biblical phrases **should** be interpreted as
climactically developing towards a Goal. I have also
explained that this principle of CLIMAX corresponds to
the Rabbi Ishmael prinicple of DETAILS-GENERAL---that is
we view the first few phrases as DETAILS leading to a climax
So an alternative explanation of Dt11-28a is
a) First you don't listen to Gods commandments
b) Then you deviate FROM Gods path(you don't do some Mitzvh)
c) Then you get involved with other religions.
RASHI: Part (c), Worshiping idols is deviating from ALL of
Gods path. Part (b) deals with deviating FROM Gods path.
Even though we have presented 2 interpretations of this Rashi
my own personal opinion is that there is too much
of a jump from (b) to (c)---you don't violate a few
commandments and then worship idols. So I prefer the 1st
explanation given above.
RULE USED: RabbiIshmael
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VERSE: Dt14-13a
We compare the 2 chapters on Kosher birds In each case the
Bible lists the names of the non-kosher birds. There are
4 differences as shown. Rashi explains two. We explain the
remaining 2 using similar methods
--------------------------------------------------------------
Dt14-11:18 Nesher Peres Azniah Raah Ayah Dayah-species
Lv11-14:19 Nesher Peres Azniah Daah Ayah-------species
*1 *2
Dt14-11:18 Orayv-species Bat-Yaanah Tachmas Shacaf Naytz-species
Lv11-14:19 Orayv-species Bat-Yaanah Tachmas Shacaf Naytz-species
Dt14-11:18 cos yanshuf tinshameth kaath rachama shalach
Lv11-14:19 cos shalach yanshuf tinshameth kaath racham
*3 *4 *3
Dt14-11:18 chasidah anafah-species doochifat atalef
Lv11-14:19 chasidah anafah-species doochifat atalef
---------------------------------------------------------------
NOTES
-----
*1aNote that Raah and Daah differ only in one letter.
Further note that "R" and "D" (Resh and Dalet) in Hebrew
have almost identical written symbols(So they easily
interchange)
*1b RAAH=SEE==A bird who sees(scans) far
AYAH=ISLAND=A bird who eg hangs around islands
(So apparently it hangs around Islands and sees afar to
get its food)
So RAAH(See) and AYAH(Island) name the bird by two
different attributes
*2 AYAH and DAYAH sound alike
Note how the word "species" seems to make AYAH and DAYAH
correspond (AYAH-species vs DAYAH-species)
Summary:
-------
RASHI: The 3 names here, RAAH, AYAH, DAYAH all refer to the same
bird. The Torah listed all possible names so that no one
should claim "Well in my dialect we don't call it by that
name and hence the bird is not prohibited to me
Note how Rashi exhausted 3 methods of name-confusion
Names that are WRITTEN similarly (Raah-Daah (RESH DALET)
2 attributes with the same MEANING (SEE--ISLAND)
Names that SOUND alike (AYAH-DAYAH)
While Rashi does not explain the other 2 differences in the
chapters we can explain them using his methods
*3 RACHAM vs RACHAMA--They name the same bird--one is
masculine and one is feminine.
*4 Note how the SHALACH bird is placed in different groups
in the two chapters. Possibly the taxanomic classification
of this bird is different in different places. Thus one
locale considers the SHALACH as belonging to the KOS
YANSHUF class while another locale considers the bird
as belonging to the KAATH-RACHAM class.
Thus the law would be that a bird is prohibited independent
of HOW you classify it.
SUMMARY: A bird is prohibited independent of 5 different
ways of naming. Here are the 5 ways
{LIST} {Different ways of looking/naming birds}
METHOD OF NAMING EXPLANATION EXAMPLE
---------------- ---------------------- ------------------------
WRITTEN Names look alike RESH vs DALET(Raah,Daah)
SOUND Names sound alike AYAH vs DAYAH
MEANING 2 different attributes SEE FAR;ISLAND BIRDS
GRAMMAR masculine-feminine RCHAM RACHAMA
TAXANOMY Which group SHALCH
RULE USED: DOUBLE PARSHAS
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VERSE: Dt13-09a
BACKGROUND:
----------
The Bible is speaking about someone who tries to get you to
worship idols. This is a crime punishable by death.The Bible warns
against having mercy on such a person. It lists 5 levels of
mercy
RULE:
----
3 or more similar Biblical phrases **should** be interpreted
climactically as developing towards a goal. This climactic
requirement, in and of itself, justifies determination of
meaning of ambiguous phrases and their reinterpretation.
TEXT: (Talking about a person who asks you to worship idols)
----
Dont acquiesce
Dont listen
Dont pity
Dont care
Dont cover up
So without the principle of climax we would say that the verse
simply emphasizes not to have pity on him. But with the
principle of climax we interpret these 5 similar phrases as
climactically leading up to a description of not having ANY
mercy
APPLICATION OF CLIMAX
---------------------
Dt13-09a "Dont acquiesce"---eg
Dont debate him about idol worship--but bring him to court
Dt13-09b "Dont listen to him"--(when he pleads for mercy)
Dont WARN him---he **does** know what he is doing
Dt13-09c "Dont pity him"--dont avoid a trial
Dt13-09d "Dont care about him"--dont advocate defenses during trial
Dt13-09e "Dont cover up"---dont cover up prosecution arguments
NOTES
-----
Dt13-09a ie Don't think "It is only a verbal crime--I will debate
with him..and when he retracts his sin will be cancelled
Dt13-09b ie Don't argue that "It is only a verbal crime--he had
a bad day and eg I am obligated to help people with
bad days Let me warn him that I will squeal---perhaps
he will retract"
Dt13-09c ie Dont argue that "It is only a verbal crime"--maybe
we should just ignore it; Maybe we should avoid the
trial
Dt13-09d Don't argue in trial that "In other capital cases we
always encourage bias towards defense so let us do
the same here"
Dt13-09e Dont say (after an acquital) that I will keep quiet
about an appeal to reverse and convict him(since in
other capital cases it is prohibited to reverse an
acquital)
FURTHER NOTES
-------------
Rashi hilights that the trial of the person who advocates
idolatry is different then all other capital crimes. In fact
Rashi lists several Biblical verses showing that we normally
do the above things in cases. That is we DO try and talk him
out of the crime; we do listen to his passions and warn him and
if he then retracts we do NOT bring him to trial.
we do try and acquit. We do NOT reverse acquittals even
if there was a court error. Here are the Biblical commandments
that Rashi lists (Also cited by Rambam in Courts Chapter 11)
LOVE THY NEIGHBOR LIKE THYSELF--so eg if someone wanted to kill
someone you would and should try and talk him out of it
HELP YOUR NEIGHBOR UNLOAD HIS ANIMALS
DONT STAND ON THE BLOOD OF THY NEIGHBOR--so you try and
save someone who is about to die or sin
AND THE COURT SHALL SAVE---so in capital cases we always
try and save the accused (Cf Rambam Courts 11)
DONT KILL ACQUITTED PEOPLE (even if the court erroneously
acquitted him).
SUMMARY: Typical of Biblical methodology we infer 5 levels
of mercy from a commandment NOT to have mercy. Here are
the 5 levels of mercy on a proposed wicked act
1) ACQUIESCE-------DEBATE pros and cons of act
2) LISTEN TO HIM---WARN him of consequences
3) MERCY-----------Dont bring to TRIAL (eg "out of court")
4) PITY------------Bias court proceedings towards DEFENSES
5) COVER UP--------If accidentally acquitted dont REVERSE trial
Again as mentioned, except for (3), all these things are done
during a capital-crime trial. (In passing many people are
surprised to learn that Jewish Law is biased towards defense!!
Did you know that
--conviction in a capital case requires a majority of 2 while
acquital in a capital case requires a majority of 1
--law/rabbinic students who advocate defenses are promoted to bench
law/rabbinic students are prohibited from advocating conviction!
--an erroneous court decision of conviction should be reversed
an erroneous court decision of acquittal can NOT be reversed)
COMMENT: Again we emphasize that the words used by the BIble
---acquiesce, listen, mercy, pity cover-up--these words are
all synonyms. However it is the principle of CLIMAX that
requires me to be specific in these 5 words and refer them
to 5 periods of time from crime to execution
-DEBATE-------BEFORE ACT
-WARN---------DURING ACT
-MERCY--------BEFORE COURT (Dont bring to court)
-PITY---------DURING COURT (Advocate defense)
-COVER UP-----AFTER COURT (reverse decision)
RULE USED: CLIMAX
#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*# (C) Dr Hendel, 2000 *#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*
VERSE: Dt11-27a
RASHIS COVERED: Lv04-01 Nu33-55a Dt11-27a Gn06-04d
Dt18-22a Gn30-38c Gn410-55b
RULE: The Hebrew word ASHER, which means THAT, can also mean IF
ASHER generally means IF vs THAT if it
a) doesn't modify a word (eg the sentence begins with that)
b) it has an IF--THEN form
RADACK in his book ROOTS lists "IF" as one of the meanings
of ASHER and cites the first two examples.
EXAMPLES (In all these verses ASHER is translated as "IF")
--------
1) Lv04-01 IF a person sins (no Rashi) *1
2)Nu33-55a IF you don't conquer the land THEN
IF you leave these people to live THEN
they will be thorns in your eyes ON
the land that you dwell in*2
3)Dt11-27a "I give...A blessing: IF you listen to Gods words*3
4)Gn06-04d IF the giants came to women THEN
their offspring were giants like them*4
5) BACKGROUND: The Bible is speaking about a False prophet
who must receive a death penalty. The Bible discusses
how we known that a prophet is false.
Dt18-22a How do we know what God didn't command?
IF he says something in the name of God and it doesn'thappen
THEN he spoke willfully and you should not be afraid of him*5
6) Gn30-38c
Jacob placed the spotted sticks in the water containers:
IF sheep came to to drink opposite other sheep THEN they
became aroused *6
7)Gn41-55b
Egypt came to Pharoh for bread and Pharoh said go to Joseph:
IF he tells you anything THEN do it
RASHI: He asked them to circumcise*7
#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*# (C) Dr Hendel, 2000 *#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*
NOTES:
-----
*1 There is no Rashi...but this is the classical example
of a chapter that begins with "IF you do such and such..."
but uses the word ASHER(THAT)
*2 SIFSAY points out that the above Biblical sentence lacks the
word THEN. Hence Rashi had to indicate where the IF part of
the sentence begins and where the THEN part of the sentence
begins(This is a big theme in modern computer languages)
The simple meaning of the sentence is that "If you Jews
have mercy on the Canaanites and eg live outside of Israel
and say 'let us live in harmony with the Canaanites and not
kill them' then these Canaanites will be 'thorns in your eyes'
and attack you. Therefore you must kill them off.
*3 ie IF you listen to Gods words THEN you will obtain a
blessing.
Reversal of the IF and THEN parts of a sentence
happens in modern computer languages (eg PERL)
*4 We interpret this ASHER as IF since it is not modifying
any noun
*5 There is more to this Rashi since there is an extra phrase
in the verse which we will discuss next week.
*6 The Emphasis is on sheep among sheep aroused by
wood with spots--There is no need for the more
complicated interpretation of the sifsay chachamim
*7 As the sifsay chachamim says this statement of Rashi
that "Joseph asked them to circumcise" drives all the
commentators up a wall. Sifsay chachamim suggests that
Rashi learned this from the word "SAY"
But the simplest explanation comes from interpreting
the word ASHER as IF. Not "That which he says do" but
"IF he says something, THEN do it."
Rashi simply picks an extreme example and suggests that
Joseph demanded they circumcise...since Joseph married
an Egyptian and wanted to bring his children up as Jews
we suppose that he demanded that everyone circumcise.
Also a 'natural' reaction to Joseph having been placed in
jail for a dozen years because of his bosses' wife's
advances would be to try and curb Egyptian desire--and this
is what circumcision symbolizes.
#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*# (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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