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VERSE: Lv19-25a

RASHIS COVERED: Lv19-30a Lv19-26a Lv19-25a

========================= Lv19-25a ==============================

SUCCINT SUMMARY:
----------------
One of Rashis 10 main goals is the explanation of grammar
similar to the explanations we find in modern textbooks. We
call this the Rashi rule of GRAMMAR.

In todays posting we deal with the grammatical rules
governing DEVELOPMENT in paragraphs and chapters: Given
a paragraph or chapter THEME, what types of sentences can
exist in that paragraph or chapter and what are their
relations to the central theme? We call this the rashi
subrule of CONSECUTIVE PARAGRAPHS.

Rashi knew 4 means of relating consecutive sentences or
consecutive paragraphs in a paragraph or chapter:
- CAUSE
- CONTRAST
- ENABLEMENT
- UNIFYING THEME.
Today we study the CONTRAST and UNIFYING THEME submethods.

EXAMPLE Lv19-30a
----------------
The Biblical text states
------------------------------------------------------
- Observe my Sabbaths
- [even when you] revere [building of] the Temple
------------------------------------------------------

Rashis comments are bracketed above
------------------------------------------------------
The verse clauses are contrastive:
- EVEN though you revere the temple and want to build it
- NEVERTHELESS you must ALWAYS observe the Sabbath
Hence the law: The building of the temple does not
override the observance of the Sabbath.
------------------------------------------------------

LIST061b below presents several Rashis exhibiting contrast
between verses.

Example Lv19-23:32
------------------
A powerful paragraph method is to have ONE THEME unifying
many disparate examples.  In such a case the UNIFYING
THEME sheds light and justifies reinterpretation or
modification of the examples. Such an approach is in fact
one of the Rabbi Ishmael rules: INFERRENCE FROM CONTEXT.

We illustrate this method with the paragraph Lv19-23:32.
The unifying theme is the folowing
--------------------- THEME --------------------------
ABSTENTION can paradoxically INCREASE YIELD/PRODUCTIVITY
------------------------------------------------------

Let us examine the 7 examples illustrating this Theme
-------------------- EXAMPLES ----------------------------
-1- Abstain 4 years from new fruit--increase fruit yield
-2- Abstain from blood=life source--increase nutrition
-3- Abstain from divining --        increase prediction
-4- Separate animal/human --        increase animality/human
-5- Abstain from early sex--        increase sexual awarenss
-6- Abstain from Sabbath work --    incresae productivity
-7- Abstain from seancing     --    Increase knowledge
----------------------------------------------------------

Hence the Rashis:
Lv19-26a The verse DONT EAT ON THE BLOOD means DONT EAT
while the animal is not completely dead (its BloOd flows)

Lv19-25a (Rashi) read the Biblical text with the following
bulleted structure
---------------------------------------------------------
-the first 3 years fruit [of new trees] is prohibited
-On the 4th year the fruit is Holy,dedicated to God
-On the fifth year you may eat the fruit
---[The above law is] in order to increase fruit yield
---------------------------------------------------------

Again the theme: Abstention increases productivity

================================================================
ITEM                     DETAIL
======================== =======================================
RASHI RULE CLASS:        GRAMMAR
RASHI SUBRULE CLASS:     CONSECUTIVE CHAPTERS
RASHI WORKBOOK PRINCIPLE #9
SEE BELOW                LIST061b
A list of paragraphs     having a CONTRASTING connection
------------------------ -------------------------------
SEE BELOW                LIST060a
List of verses of       consecutive paragraphs with same theme
================================================================


================= LIST060a ================================
List of verses of consecutive paragraphs with same theme
===========================================================
VERSE    COMMON THEME     1st Chapter      2nd Chapter
======== ===============  ===============  ================
Lv19-25a Abstain->incrse  No fruit 4 year  More fruit 5th*2
Lv19-26a Abstain->incrse  No eat living    more nutrition*2
Gn22-23a Isaac-Rivkah     Akaydah          Rivkah-born*1
Ex18-01a Gods miracles    Exodus           Defeat of Amalek
Nu13-02a Slander          Miryam on Moses  Spies on Israel
Nu26-64a Entry to Israel  Census           Girl inheritance
Nu27-12a Entry to Israel  Girl inheritance Joshua and Moes
Nu15-41d Important Laws   Idolatry         Sabbath
Dt33-07a Repentance       Reuven           Judah
Nu08-02a Temple gifts     Gold vessels     Service
Ex17-08a God cares for us Water-Manna      Defeat of Amalek
Ex21-01a A Just life      The Altar        Monetary Law
Nu20-01b Atonement        Red Heiffer      Miryam's death

NOTES
-----
*1 Actual there are 3 paragraphs as follows
   - Gn22-01:19  Akaydah
   - Gn22-20:24  Birth of Rivkah
   - Gn23-01:--  Death of Sarah

   Rashi points out that the TOPIC SENTENCE of Gn22-20:24
   is the birth of Rivkah. Rashi also points out that
   the 3 paragraphs form a TEMPORAL SEQUENCE
   For further details see LIST690B

*2 The paragraph contains 7 examples illustrating the theme
   ABSTENTION INCREASES PRODUCTIVITY
-------------------- EXAMPLES ----------------------------
-1- Abstain 4 years from new fruit--increase fruit yield
-2- Abstain from blood=life source--increase nutrition
-3- Abstain from divining --        increase prediction
-4- Separate animal/human --        increase animality/human
-5- Abstain from early sex--        increase sexual awarenss
-6- Abstain from Sabbath work --    incresae productivity
-7- Abstain from seancing     --    Increase knowledge
----------------------------------------------------------
===========================================================

======================== LIST061b =================================
A list of paragraphs     having a CONTRASTING connection
===================================================================
#    VERSE      TOPIC IN 1st CHAPTER     TOPIC IN 2nd CHAPTER
==== ========== ======================== ==========================
(--) Lv19-30a   Observe SABBATH          [Even when]BUILDING TEMPLE
(--) Ex18-05a   Jethro comes to DESERT   comes to Mount of GOD
(--) Ex04-11a   Moses cant speak         Moses did speak-Ex02-11:14
(--) Ex04-11b   Moses afraid of Pharoh   God protected Mshe-Ex02-15
(--) Gn47-25a*8 20% Tax:80% Yours        Thank you...Good deal
(--) Gn42-10a   JOE: You are spies       BROTHERS:NO-we are not.*7
(09) Lv26-01a   Being a slave to Non Jew Prohibition of Idolatry*1
(10) Dt29-12a   Curses                   We are before God*2
(11) Lv19-03c   Fear Parents             Watch Sabbaths*3
(12) Dt22-12a   No Shaatnez              Tzitzith*4
(--) Dt09, Dt10 Jews rebel against God   But God still loves Jews*5
(--) Gn31-13d   I will go GENTLY         You will PASS ME*6

NOTES
-----
*1  Rashi not only connects 2 paragraphs. He also connects
    all Biblical paragraphs in this chapter. See
    footnote *10 for further details


*2 Dt28 gives a long list of curses if the Jews violate
   the commandments.

   Dt29-12 says "You are all STANDING before God today" In
   other words despite the curses for disobediance you are
   still here before God(The implication being that no
   matter how angry God gets he will not destroy you)

   A further support for this theme can come from the
   General-particular-General form

        Dt28    GENERAL:    Curses for disobediance
        Dt29-12 PARTICULAR: You are standing here before God
        Dt29-19 GENERAL:    Curses for disobediance

  Thus the General-Particular-General form shows that Gods
  curses still allow us to "Stand before him"--in other
  words they are educative curses not punitive.


*3 In other words (always) "Observe the Sabbaths"
   DESPITE a request to the contrary "By your parents"

   This can happen if eg your parents ask you to
   desecrate the Sabbath.  You must observe the
   Sabbath even if your parents request to
   the contrary.

   And this can be generalized to all Torah laws(that
   they take precedence over your parents request)


*4 Wear Tzitzith DESPITE the fact that they may have Shaatnez
   Wool and linen together (In the priestly garments made of
   Linen the Tzitzith were made of wool--thus the commandment
   of Tzitzith OVERRIDES the prohibtion of wearing wool and
   linen)

*5 More specifically Rashi (Dt10-12a) states
   ---------------------------------------------
   Despite the 5 rebellions that the Jews did
   against God, nevertheless, God still loves
   the Jews. In fact Dt10-12 states that all
   the Jews need do to earn this love is to
   revere God
   ---------------------------------------------

*6 Rashis point is that Jacob did not ask Esauv
   ----------------------------
   Past me and leave me behind
   ----------------------------

   Rather Jacob suggested contrast
   ------------------------------------------------
   - I must go at a gentle pace
   - you go at a normal pace
   ------------------------------------------------

   A logical consequence of this contrast is that
   Esauv would pass Jacob and leave him behind.


*7 The full Biblical text shows two rounds of dialogs
   between Moses and Joseph
The Biblical text states as follows
----------------------------------------------------
Gn42-09    1     JOE:      You are Spies
Gn42-10:11 1     BROHTERS: NO(Contrast)--We are simple people
Gn42-12    2     JOE:      NO(Contrast) you are spies
Gn42-13    2     BROTHERS: We are 12 sons;we came for food
----------------------------------------------------

*8 Gn47-25b and Gn47-25a both deal with the contrast of offer
   vs Thank you.

---------------------- LONGER FOOTNOTES ----------------------
*10

   On a superficial level Rashi seems to be connecting 2
   verses.

   Avoid idolatry DESPITE your being a slave to a non jew
   (who encourages its violation). Do not think "I will
   worship idols now and when I am free I will go
   back to believing in God"

   On a profound level Rashi sees a unifying theme to this
   whole chapter. The chapter encourages observing the
   shimitah laws which encourage abstaining from agriculture
   once every 7 years so that people can devote themselves
   to God and study. If one violates these laws he is
   progressively punished. Here is the sequence of
   punishments

   {LIST} {Paragraphs in BEHAR}
   -------------------------------------------------------
   VERSE        LAW
   ------------ ------------------------------------------
   Lv25-01:12   Observe the 7 and 50 year Land sabbaticals
   Lv25-13:24   If not you will have to sell your MOVABLES
   Lv25-25:28   If not you will have to sell your LAND
   Lv25-29:34   If not you will have to sell your HOUSE
   Lv25-35:38   If not you will have to           LOAN
   Lv25-39:46   If not you will have to become a  SLAVE
   Lv25-47:54   If not you'll become a  NONJEWISH SLAVE
   Lv26-01:03   If not you'll be tempted to    IDOLATRY
   ---------------------------------------------------------


   Thus Rashi does not merely teach juxtaposition of verses
   but he also teaches juxtaposition of ALL paragraphs in
   the chapter.
================================================================
---------------------------------------------------
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Volume 25 Number 20


#*#*#*#  (C) 2000-2005, RashiYomi Inc. Dr Hendel President #*#*#*#
Volume 25 Number 20