#*#*#*#*# (C) 2001, RashiYomi Inc. Dr Hendel President #*#*#*#*#
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| Rashi is Simple Version 2.0 |
| (C) RashiYomi Inc., Dr Hendel President |
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VERSE: Lv13-45d
======================== MEM means PLACE =======================
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TODAYS RULE: WORD MEANINGS
TODAYS SUBRULE: RASHI 1 LETTER ROOT THEORY
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BRIEF EXPLANATION OF RULE AND SUBRULE
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One of Rashis 6 main goals is to function as a dictionary
and explain the meanings of words. There are many
methods to infer the meanings of words.
Rashi and following him Rav Hirsch believed in each
of the Hebrew letters had individual meanings. Rashi
like other grammarians believed that Hebrew consists
of 3 letter roots which are conjugated to indicate
who (me, you, he) when (past, present future) and
other parameters.
But just as Rashi believed in 3 letter roots for
purposes of conjugation Rashi also believed in
1 and 2 letter roots for purposes of meaning. In
other words the 3 letter roots govern CONJUGATION
while the 2 and 1 letter roots govern MEANING.
STANDARD EXAMPLE
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Job38-28 uses the Hebrew word EGEL which means droplet.
Now the last two letters of EGEL are GEL which means ROUND
The first letter of EGEL is ALEPH which according to Rashi
means THING. Putting this together we find that
- EGEL, the droplet is a THING, aleph, that is ROUND (GEL)
EXERCISE
--------
Go thru a standard list of Hebrew roots, such as may be
found in the Konkordance or Hebrew grammar books and try
and find other examples where ALEPH means THING.
RAV HIRSCHS/MY SOLUTION
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- EVEN, rock, is a THING (ALEPH) you BUILD with (BNAH)
- EGEL, droplet, is a THING (ALEPH) that is ROUND(GEL)
- ESHEL, a desert inn, is a THING, that gives REST(SHLVAH)
- EGAM, a pond, is a THING(ALEPH), where REEDS (GAM) grow
- EVER, the wing, is a THING(ALEPH) you FLEE (BRACH) with
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
----------------
Rav Hirsch throughout his commentary developed this idea
of Rashi. He held that ALEPH could mean THING, or PERSON
or INDIVIDUALITY. He shows many examples of each.
I have followed thru on Rav Hirschs idea and suggested that
all 3 letter roots have meanings which can be derived from
their one letter root and two letter components.
Although there were 2 letter theorists before me, I
explicitly suggested that the 3rd letter had a meaning.
I also suggested that the 2 letter theorists did not
disagree that 3 letter roots were used for conjugation.
Finally, I suggested the principle of poetry---that an
assessment of the theory should treat 1+2 letter roots
the same way it treats poetic passages.
STANDARD REFERENCES
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http://www.rashiyomi.com/means-32.htm
This presents 13 methods of inferring meaning.
Method #2 is the root-letter method. About
2 dozen examples are given.
HOW TO USE THESE LISTS FOR SCHOOL PROJECTS
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Suggest a root letter meaning of a letter.
For example: Suggest that ALEPH means THING
or that MEM means PLACE. Then ask students
to use a standard list of verbs such as found
in a Konkordance to see how many examples they
can uncover to support this suggestion.
TODAYS EXAMPLE
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I have contended that MEM can mean PLACE.
Hence SAFAM, the mustache, means the PLACE(MEM)
where the MOUTH is (SAFAH). This is example
number 12 in the list below
Read the other examples below (and enjoy). This
rule in my opinion is one of the cuter rules
(cuteness and truth supplement not contradict
each other).
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# WORD MEANING ETYMOLOGY USING MM=PLACE
==== ======= ============ ======================================
(1) MZBaCh Altar Place (M) of Sacrifice (TVCh)
(2) MShKN House-Palace Place (M) where you dwell (Schan)
(3) MREH Mirror Place (M) of Sight (RAH)
(4) MGDOL Tower Place (M) that is tall ( GDL)
(5) MKDSH Temple Place (M) of Holiness (KDSH)*a
(6) MSPCH Skin Growth Place (M) where added skin is forming
(11) M-D-N Municipality Place(MEM) where Laws hold(D-Y-N)*g*h
(12) SFM Mustache On Place (M) of Mouth*g
(19) MKDASH Temple PLACE(M) of Holiness(KDSH)
(20) MDINAH Government Place(MEM) where LAWS(DAN) hold
(21) MSHAYL REIGN The PLACE(MEM) that is MINE(SHeli)
NOTES
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RASHI RULE USED: WORD MEANINGS
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WARNING: The following additional references may be too wordy
However they frequently contain additional information & lists
The hyperlinks only work on the main website
Volume 13 Number 17
#*#*#*#*# (C) 2001, RashiYomi Inc. Dr Hendel President #*#*#*#*#
Volume 13 Number 17