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(C) RashiYomi Incorporated, 2001
Written by Dr Russell Jay Hendel
Volume 9 Number 19
Produced March 29, 2001
WARNING: USE FIX WIDTH FONTS (eg COURIER (NEW) 10)
Verses/Topics Discussed in This Issue with quicky explanations
-- COMING ATTRACTIONS --
Passover Torah nuggets up
on website next week. Stay
tune for details.
HILIGHTS
========
v9-3-29a
JOHN LOIKE comments on various Rashis.
Dt07-07b
We continue the series on Rashis use of the word >THE<
started in Volume 9 Number 14 in dt04-32c. Please see
the following previous postings on this subject:
http://www.RashiYomi.Com/dt04-32c.htm
http://www.RashiYomi.Com/dt06-16a.htm
http://www.RashiYomi.Com/lv01-02c.htm
http://www.RashiYomi.Com/h9n14.htm
http://www.RashiYomi.Com/h9n18.htm
http://www.RashiYomi.Com/h9n16.htm
Dt07-07b
DR HENDEL meets RABBI-DR-BONCHECK
Our comments on Gn42-27a supplement recent comments
by Rabbi-Dr-Boncheck on this Rashi made during
his visit to America.
WEEKLY PARSHAH SERIES
=====================
For Rashis on this weeks Parshah visit
http://www.RashiYomi.Com/parshah.htm
Rashis covered in this issue
----------------------------
VERSE RULE BRIEF DESCRIPTION
======== =============== ===================================
Dt07-07b SPECIAL WORDS >THE< can be used in 4 ways
Gn01-21a SPECIAL WORDS >THE< can be used in 4 ways
Gn06-02a SPECIAL WORDS >THE< can be used in 4 ways
Gn09-24a SPECIAL WORDS >THE< can be used in 4 ways
Dt07-07a SPECIAL WORDS >THE< can be used in 4 ways
Gn28-11a SPECIAL WORDS >THE< can be used in 4 ways
Gn41-01b SPECIAL WORDS >THE< can be used in 4 ways
Gn41-14a SPECIAL WORDS >THE< can be used in 4 ways
Gn42-27a SPECIAL WORDS >THE< can be used in 4 ways
Nu14-37a SPECIAL WORDS >THE< can be used in 4 ways
-----------------------------------------------------------------
#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*# (C) Dr Hendel, 2001 *#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#
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 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
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, 2001 *#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#
VERSE: v9-3-29a
From: "John D. Loike"
To: Russell J Hendel
Date: Wed, 28 Mar 2001 09:52:12 -0500
Subject: Re: Hi
I am so sorry that I have not made more contributions on Rashi. I
still enjoy reading your postings and saw the article about you in
the Jewish Press.
With respect to your theory on Genesis. I think you did a
great job even though I dont agree with your theory. But that
is OK.
-------------------------------------------------------------
Kindly give reasons for disagreement (so I can answer them!)
-------------------------------------------------------------
More importantly, I have used your theory when
presenting Evolution vs creationism to High School kids from
either Catholic schools or Secular schools and it causes alot
of excitment and discussion. I thank you for that.
--------------------------------------------------------
[MODERATOR: The reference is to the idea that GENESIS 1
describes the creation of PROPHECY not the creation of
the WORLD. See http://www.RashiYomi.Com/gen-1.htm]
--------------------------------------------------------
I cant help but at least include one interesting approach of
Rashi. The famous Rashi of BeTzalel where he interprets the
name as BeTzel EL. (in the shadow of God). Applying that
approach to AHaLiAV who was in charge of weaving and designing
the coverings of the Mishcan yields that he is AV Ohel. the
father of all coverings. Similarly ACHiShamach which in fact,
the Kli Yakar discusses.
--------------------------------------------------------------
[MODERATOR: Thanks JOHN for the extra examples. I will post
this in full in a few weeks. For the while I have already
reviewed about half a dozen examples of Rashi/Chazals approach
to the etymology of 4-letter roots. The most famous example
is
>MMZR(Illegitimate) = MM (Blemished) by a ZR (stranger)<
See http://www.RashiYomi.Com/gn49-12a.htm. In passing, Rav
Hirsch dissents from Rashi and Chazal in this matter. A further
point to make is that Johns etymology of >AHALIAV = FATHER OF
TENTS< corresponds to identical etymologies of similar names
in Gn04-19:22]
---------------------------------------------------------------
I am super busy these days with work and now Columbia U is
expanding its educational resources to the Web and I was
appointed to co-head the Virtual Institute of Jewish Medical
Ethics This is a very exciting new direction.
---------------------------------------
[MODERATOR: John, Congratulations!!]
---------------------------------------
QUESTION: Can you direct me to Rashi's view of Medical Ethics.
I dont have alot of his sources.
----------------------------------------------------------
[MODERATOR: With PR like youv'e given me the least I could
do is to show you the few Rashis on Medical Ethics which
dont seem to exist!? I will try and find a few and let
you know]
-----------------------------------------------------------
Chag Kasher.
John
------------------------------------------------------------
[MODERATOR: Ditto: Happy Passover & Holiday to the Entire
Rashi-is-Simple family]
------------------------------------------------------------
#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*# (C) Dr Hendel, 2001 *#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#
VERSE: Dt07-07b
RASHIS COVERED: Gn01-21a Gn06-02a Gn09-24a Dt07-07b Dt07-07a
Gn28-11a Gn41-01b Gn41-14a Gn42-27a Nu14-37a
CROSS REFERENCE
===============
http://www.RashiYomi.Com/dt04-32c.htm
http://www.RashiYomi.Com/dt06-16a.htm
http://www.RashiYomi.Com/lv01-02c.htm
http://www.RashiYomi.Com/h9n14.htm
http://www.RashiYomi.Com/h9n16.htm
http://www.RashiYomi.Com/h9n18.htm
RULE
====
The word >THE< can be used in 4 methods
--->THE< can refer to a PROPER NOUN
e.g. Dt06-16a >Dont test God as you tested him by THE-TEST<
RASHI: THE-TEST is the name of the place mentioned in Ex17-07
-->THE< can refer to something mentioned NEARBY
eg Dt04-32c >Has anyone heard THE GREAT THING-that God ...<
-->THE< can refer to a concept, story or
thing mentioned ELSEWHERE
eg Nu13-33a >We saw there THE Nefilim<
>THE NEFILLIM< nation however is mentioned in Gn06-04
-->THE< can refer to the >BEST< known of a class
eg Dt01-07e >THE Mount< -- This refers to The Kings Mountain
EXAMPLES (More examples next time)
========
{LIST}
---------------------------------------------------------------
In the Following verses the word >THE< refers to
something special and best
---------------------------------------------------------------
VERSE BIBLE PHRASE RASHI: >THE< = SPECIAL & BEST
======== ============= ====== ===================================
Gn09-24a >THE younger< RASHI: >THE younger< = YOUNGEST *1
Dt07-07b >THE smaller< RASHI: >THE smaller< = SMALLEST *1
Gn41-01b >THE canal< RASHI: >THE canal< = The NILE*2 *3
Gn41-14a >THE Pit< RASHI: >THE Pit< = Prison
Gn06-02a >THE gods< RASHI: >THE gods< = ANGELS*4
Gn28-11a >THE place<*5 RASHI: >The PLACE<=The Temple(Place of God
Gn01-21a >THE monster< RASHI: >THE monster< = The Leviathan*6
Gn42-27a >THE ONE..< RASHI: >THE one< = The LEADER*7
Nu14-37a >THE Plague< RASIH: >THE Plague<=Divine Punishment*8
NOTES
=====
*1 The words >YOUNGEST< or >SMALLEST< can equally mean
---physically smallest/youngest
---emotionally immature
---spiritually humble
But in response to the content of the verses at hand it is:
--not the case that NO nation is smaller in numbers than the
Jews
--At least 3 verses suggest that CHAM was >NOT< the youngest
son of Noach but rather the 2nd son out of 3. 2 verses are
Gn05-32, Gn06-10. Finally Gn10 lists the descendants in the
following order
---YEFETH (Gn10-01:14)
---CHAM (Gn10-15:20)
---SHAYM (Gn10-21:32)
Furthermore Gn10-21 explicitly states that YEFETH, the
first mentioned son in Gn10, was in fact the oldest!
This implies that CHAM was not the youngest but rather
SHAYM was youngest.
Hence if Gn09-24a refers to CHAM
as >THE YOUNGEST< it should preferably be translated as
>THE MOST IMMATURE<.
Similarly since the Jews arent the >SMALLEST NATION< we
are justified in interpreting Dt07-07 as meaning that
the Jews are >HUMBLE<. Rashi applies this spiritual-emotional
interpretation in both Dt07-07a and Dt07-07b. Rashi
therefore reads Dt07-07 as follows
------------------------------------------------------------
>God did not chose you because of your haughty
ambitions (to conquer nations) because you Jews are a humble
nation...rather God chose you because of His Love of you
and because of the oath to the Patriarchs...<
-------------------------------------------------------------
*2 The NILE would overflow and thereby fill up all Egyptian
canals. Thus the NILE was indeed >THE CANAL<.
*3 The Hebrew word >YeOR< by itself can refer to ANY
>CANAL< (not just the NILE); for an example see Jr46-07
*4 The Hebrew word >E-Lo-Him< can equally mean
--God
--god
--Angel
--Prophet
--Judge
--Leader
A brief summary is as follows: Rashi interprets Gn06-02
as >And the sons of PROPHETS-ANGELS took women from
whomever they wanted<. Rashi prefers this interpretation
over >And the sons of JUDGES-LEADERS took women from
whomever they wanted< because of the word >THE< which
indicates that the verse is speaking about the BEST &
MOST SPECIAL of E-LO-HIM, that is, the PROPHETS.
See URL http://www.RashiYomi.Com/dt04-28a.htm
for a discussion and presentation of examples of this word
as well as the Rashi-Radack controversies on which meaning
to select. Again: We decide the Rashi Radack controversy
in favor of Rashi because of the word >THE<.
*5 The phrase >THE PLACE< refers to the TEMPLE. This is similar
to the English phrase, >THE WHITE HOUSE<: This phrase
refers not to ANY white house but rather to the PRESIDENTIAL
WHITE HOUSE.
This is discussed in http://www.RashiYomi.Com/gn47-02a.htm
I have combined the Radack and Rashi on this verse.
Radack cites 4 verses where >PLACE< can mean >PLACE OF GOD<
They are Ez03-12, Dt33-27, Es04-14, Gn28-11.
Rashi suggests 2 interpretations: PLACE=GOD; PLACE=TEMPLE
However it makes things more readable if we combine these 2
interpretations and interpret PLACE=PLACE OF GOD, THE TEMPLE.
As indicated this combines the approaches of RADACK-RASHI
As an example of this approach we translate Ez03-12 >Blessed
be God from his PLACE OF HOLINESS<
In the above cited posting I also point out that the word
>PLACE< is repeated in Gn28-11. Such repetitions encourage
broader interpretations of terms.
(I also suggest that besides focusing on the nuances of the
word >THE< we should also focus on the repetition of the
word >PLACE< in Gn28-11. A repetition of a noun vs use of
a pronoun indicates a broadening of meaning--so >PLACE<
would refer not to any place but rather >THE PLACE OF GOD<)
*6 The >LEVIATHAN< is a Biblical symbol of >THE MONSTER<.
--In Jb40-25, LEVIATHAN is the symbol of the SEA MONSTER
--In Ps74-14 it is explicitly mentioned that LEVIATHAN
will be >Food for the righteous<
--In Isa26 and Isa27 it also speaks about God killing
Leviathan for the righteous at the time of redemption.
{LIST}
We can now review Gn01 for words of creation.
========================================================
VERSE WORD USED TEXT
===== ============ ====
Gn01-03 Let there BE And there WAS LIGHT
Gn01-07 MADE God MADE the SKY
Gn01-16 MADE God MADE the SUN-MOON
Gn01-21 CREATED God CREATED the sea monsters
Gn01-25 MADE God MADE the animals
Gn01-27 CREATED God CREATED Adam and Eve
{END OF LIST}
So we clearly see that the usual words used for CREATION are
either >MADE< or >LET THERE BE<. Only by 2 items--by the
creation of MAN and the SEA MONSTERS--do we find the word
>CREATE<. Apparently these creations were special
ADAM is the pinacle of creation so we understand the word
CREATE by Adam. Rashi similarly interprets the word CREATE
by the SEA MONSTERS to refer to something spiritual
----------------------------------------------------------
God created the LEVIATHAN which God will slaughter in the
future world for the meal of the righteous
----------------------------------------------------------
Although this Rashi appears quite wild nevertheless..
--The word CREATE denotes something spiritual
--The phrase THE MONSTERS indicates THE BEST KNOWN-LEVIATHAN
--OTHER VERSES clearly indicate that the LEVITHAN will be
slaughtered in the next world for the righteous.
Thus RASHI-IS-SIMPLE.
*7 If Gn42-27 had said >& one opened his packsacks and found
his money< it would mean that ANYone (we dont know which
one) opened his sack.
But when Gn42-27 says >& THE one opened his packsacks & found
his money< it means that the LEADER opened his packsack. In
other words >THE ONE< means >THE LEADER<
Rashi identifies the >LEADER< as Levi: Rashi seems to infer
this from Gn34 where LEVI-SHIMON initiated the retaliatory-
defensive war against Chivite city that Raped their sister.
Since Shimon wasnt here (he was imprisoned) LEVI was left
alone to lead (It is clear from Gn37-19:27 that Reuven
and Judah had only a secondary place in leadership).
In passing Rabbi Boncheck spoke about this Rashi while
he visited the United States. He pointed out that
Joseph used a birth hierarchy in dealing with leaders
---Joseph imprisoned SHIMON
---Joseph framed LEVI (by placing his money in his sack)
---Joseph forced JUDAH to confront him to get back BINYAMIN
SHIMON-LEVI-JUDAH were the 2nd-3rd-4th son. Joseph left
REUVEN alone because he protested Jospeh being sold.
I have simply supplemented Boncheks idea by emphasizing the
grammatical aspect of the derivation--->THE ONE< means
>THE LEADER<. I have also brought in the explicit
Gn34 to show that Shimon and Levi were the natural leaders
(a stronger proof then Boncheks >order of birth< argument).
As the Rav, (Rabbi Soloveitchick) frequently said
------------------------------------------------------------
When learning Chumash it is better to avoid the stormy
waters of philosophic analysis and prefer the placid
waters of grammar
------------------------------------------------------------
*8 An ordinary plague simply denotes many people dying.
By contrast the phrase >THE plague< denotes a plague
with Divine retribution. Throughout the Bible, Divine
retribution is identified with people being punished
in a way comparable to the way they sinned. Hence
here also we have the Rashi
----------------------------------------------------------
The plague was a punishment for the sin of slander
of the spys who said that God could not help the Jews
conquer the land. Hence, since they sinned with their
tongue their punishment was a plague of elongated tongues
-----------------------------------------------------------
In understanding this Rashi it is helpful to focus
not on the details of how they got sick but on the general
idea that their sickness mirrored their sin.
For another source that Divine Retribution mirrors sin
see Ex18-11.
{END OF LIST}
RASHI RULE USED: SPECIAL WORDS
#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*# (C) Dr Hendel, 2001 *#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#
THE 2 DOZEN RASHI-IS-SIMPLE RASHI RULES
=======================================
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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