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VERSE: Lv16-03b
RASHIS COVERED: Lv16-03b Lv16-06a Lv16-24e Lv16-24f Lv16-25a
======== THE RASHI PRINCIPLE OF OVERALL STRUCTURE ==============
While Rabbi Dr. Boncheck was in the states I had a discussion
with him about his approach of starting the learning of Rashi
with the question WHAT IS BOTHERING RASHI. Rabbi Boncheck
of course follows in the footsteps of Dr Leibowitz who
started the learning of Rashi by seeking WHAT WAS RASHIS
QUESTION.
However the point of view on this email list is that many
Rashis can be better understood using the concept of STYLE
and OVERALL STRUCTURE
Here is an analogy. Suppose I am writing a book on Holidays.
CHAPTER 1 might deal with Shabbath. Chapter 2 might deal
with Passover. Chapter 3 might deal with Shavuoth.
Now Chapter 7 might deal with the prohibition of doing
work. Chapter 7 might mention what is prohibited on Shabbath
and what is prohibited on other holidays.
A Rashi-type commentator on my Chapter 7 might rashi my
chapter by cross referencing the earlier chapters that
dealt with these holidays. For example when I say in
Chapter 7 that you can cook on the holidays but not on
Shabbath I would be rashied with a cross reference to
the place in Chapter 1 where the prohibition of cooking
on Shabbath is mentioned and I would be similarly rashied
to the place in earlier chapters where the permissability
of cooking on the holidays is mentioned.
It would not be productive to ask WHAT IS BOTHERING
RASHI? WHAT IS RASHIS QUESTION?
Rather a more productive approach is that Rashi is
dealing with the overall structure of the book. Rashi,
by providing cross references, enables the reader
to see the book as a cohesive whole rather than a collection
of chapters.
Similarly in Lv16 Rashi provides numerous cross references
of procedures. Rashi is simply enabling a cohesive viewpoint
of the entire chapter. Rashi in effect is asking the student
to paragraph the chapter and see where everything belongs.
Rabbi Boncheck responded to me that he did not see my
emphasis on style as disagreeing with his approach.
We now present the Rashis showing the cohesive unity
of Lv16. The chapter deals with the sin and burnt
offerings of the priest and nation. As a footnote #1
shows, already Lv16-03b requests the reader to consider
this chapter as a whole.*1
=================================================================
ITEM VERSE(S) SIN OFFERINGS BURNT OFFERINGS
============== ========== ==================== ==================
Priest Lv16-03*2 SIN OFFERING=Ox BURNT OFFERING=Ram
Nation Lv16-05 SIN OFFERING=2 goats BURNT OFFERING=Ram
Sin procedure Lv16-06:11
Burnt procedur Lv16-24*3 Rams
Fat of Sin Lv16-25*4 Ox & Goats
NOTES
=====
*1 Lv16-01:03 states AARON CAN NOT COME INTO THE HOLY OF
HOLIES EXCEPT WHEN HE BRINGS AN OX AND RAM
Rashi brilliantly points out that Lv16-03 has 2
interpretations: The verse could refer ONLY to that
verse or else it could refer to the whole chapter.
INTERPRETATION 1: Thus Lv16-03 could mean that AARON
CAN COME INTO THE HOLY OF HOLIES WHENEVER HE WANTED TO
BY BRINGING AN OX SIN OFFERING AND RAM BURNT OFFERING
INTERPRETATION 2: Or Lv16-03 could mean that
AARON CAN ONLY COME INTO THE HOLY OF HOLIES WHEN HE
BRINGS THE PARTICULAR OX-SIN-OFFERING and RAM-BURNT-
OFFERING DESCRIBED IN THIS CHAPTER which deals
with the Yom Kippur procedures.
Interpretation 1 would allow Aaron to visit the holy
of holies many times a year besides Yom Kippur. By
contrast, interpretation 2, would only allow Aaron
to visit the holy of holies on Yom Kippur.
The issue is whether the Ox and Ram offerings mentioned
in Lv16-03 refers to the whole chapter or whether it
refers just to that verse.
Rashi explains Lv16-03 as referring to the entire
chapter--it is only on Yom Kippur when Aaron brings
the Ox and Ram offerings that he visits the holy of
holies.
In modern notation we would regard Lv16-03 as a
SECTION HEADING. E.g. We might print it in bold
and a bigger font. Lv16-03 INTRODUCES the chapter,
it is not a sentence by itself.
Rashi knew to interpret Lv16-03b as referring to
the entire chapter because Lv16-34 explicitly
says that THIS PROCEDURE (Lv16) OF ATONEMENT
ONLY OCCURS ONCE A YEAR.
*2 The priest offerings are mentioned in both Lv16-03
and Lv16-06. Rashi cross references Lv16-06a to Lv16-03.
Rashi explains that
* The ANIMALS used by the priest are indicated in Lv16-03
* THe SOURCE OF PAYMENT for priest offerings is in Lv16-06
The priest offerings come from Priest funds while the
nations offerings come from national funds.
*3 Rashi cross references Lv16-24 to Lv16-03 and Lv16-06.
* Lv16-03: The ANIMAL used by the PRIEST for burnt offering
* Lv16-05: The ANIMAL used by the NATION for burnt offering
* Lv16-24e:The ACTUAL OFFERING of the PRIEST burnt offering
* Lv16-24f:The ACTUAL OFFERING of the NATION burnt offering
*4 Rashi cross references Lv16-25 to Lv16-03 and Lv16-06
* Lv16-03: Identifies the PRIEST sin-offering from OXEN
* Lv16-06: Identifies the NATION sin-offering from GOATS
Hence when Lv16-25a speaks about the FAT OF THE SIN OFFERING
Rashi explains that this refers to the FAT of the OXEN &GOATS
================================================================
RASHI RULE USED: OVERALL STRUCTURE
---------------------------------------------------
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Volume 10 Number 2
#*#*#*#*# (C) 2001, RashiYomi Inc. Dr Hendel President #*#*#*#*#
Volume 10 Number 2