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VERSE: Lv25-04a
RASHIS COVERED: Lv25-04a Lv25-05a Lv25-05b Lv25-05c Lv25-05d
Lv25-06a Lv25-06c Lv25-20a Lv25-20b
======================== Lv25-04a =============================
VERY BRIEF SUMMARY
------------------
This is a real peach of a Rashi. Anyone who wishes to master
the rules of Rabbi Ishmael could start by reading this
posting. I shall therefore explain everything clearly in
a lucid manner. I shall write it in the style of a
chapter of Rambam so it will be clear to everybody
POINT 1
--------
Consider by way of introduction the verse Dt25-04
DONT MUZZLE AN OX WHILE THRESHING
POINT 2
-------
First note that there is no problem or question on this verse
Nothing is bothering Rashi.
POINT 3
--------
Nevertheless I have 3 methods of interpreting the verse
- LITERALLY: Only OXEN shouldnt be muzzled.Other animals
can be muzzled. After all, that IS what the verse says
POINT 4
-------
- BROADLY: NO ANIMAL should be muzzled. The Bible
only gave a typical example: (No OX should be muzzled)
But the rule should be broadly applied.
POINT 5
-------
- PARTIALLY BROADLY: ANIMALS should not be muzzled
But beasts are ok to muzzle.
POINT 6
-------
So in summary we have 3 ways of interpreting any Torah
Verse: LITERALLY (Only it), BROADLY (see the verse as
an example); PARTIALLY BROADLY.
POINT 7
--------
We call the selection of an interpretation method, STYLE
That is, it is not a matter of logic but rather a matter
of style whether you interpret literally or broadly.
POINT 8
--------
Rabbi Ishmael laid down style rules.
- A simple verse is ALWAYS GENERALIZED and seen as
an example. Hence Rabbi Ishmael requires
interpreting DONT MUZZLE AN OX as DONT MUZZLE
ANY ANIMAL
POINT 9
--------
- A GENERAL-DETAIL verse is seen as literal. For
example if the Torah had said: DONT MUZZLE ANIMALS;
DONT MUZZLE AN OX...then ONLY oxen would be prohibited
but not other animals. For the word ANIMAL is
GENERAL and the word OX is DETAIL and the
GENERAL DETAIL method requires LITERAL INTERPRETATION
POINT 10
--------
- a DETAIL-GENERAL or GENERAL-DETAIL-GENERAL style
requires PARTIAL GENERALIZATION. The basic idea
is to see the GENERAL-DETAIL-GENERAL style as
defining a PARAGRAPH whose main theme is the
GENERAL STATEMENT and whose details are given
in the DETAIL section. So the DETAILS are only
meant to DEVELOP and ILLUSTRATE the general theme
You can generalize them provided they are
consistent with the general theme.
POINT 11
--------
Reviewing Lv25-02:07 we clearly see a GENERAL-DETAIL-GENERAL
structure. In fact in the list below (LIST411a) we simply
list all phrases in the verses but break them out
according to whether they are general or detail.
POINT 12
--------
There are 4 clear sections. The GENERAL THEME is easy to see
-- Make a SABBATICAL FOR THE LAND
-- The SABBATICAL LAND IS FOR FOOD FOR EVERYONE
POINT 13
--------
The DETAIL THEMES are also clear.
-- no SOWING
-- No PRUNING
-- No gathering leftovers from the field
-- no basketing vines
POINT 14
--------
Applying the Rabbi Ishmael rules we see that SOWING, PRUNING,
GATHERING LEFTOVERS, BASKETING are perceived by Rabbi
Ishmael as examples of doing a SABBATICAL. Hence we
partially generalize and conclude that ALL AGRICULTURAL
ACTIVITY DONE FOR HARVESTING & OWNERSHIP are prohibited
even if sowing is not involved
POINT 15
--------
There are many more details. In fact this Chapter is
a rare case of a GENERAL-DETAIL-GENERAL structure with
a nested GENERAL-DETAIL structure (Rashi does not discuss
this, but it is brought down by the Talmud).
POINT 16
--------
Furthermore there are several subparagraphs. For
example Lv25-06:07 states
-- Sabbatical is for FOOD (General)
-- to YOU, SERVANTS, MAIDS, WORKERS, RESIDENTS, ANIMALS..
-- Sabbatical is for FOOD(General)
This GENERAL-DETAIL-GENERAL theme shows that EVERYONE
can eat from the food and as such contradicts a verse
in Ex23-11 which states that the poor should eat. Thus
because of the GENERAL-DETAIL-GENERAL style we see
the verse in Ex23-11 as an EXAMPLE: That is TYPICALLY
POOR WILL EAT FROM THE SABBATICAL BUT IN TRUTH EVERYONE
CAN EAT. Thus we have another example where a Torah
verse can be interpreted literally or else seen as
an example.
POINT 17
--------
A person who reviews these 17 points and carefully
studies the 4 sections in Lv25-02:07 will acquire
a deep understanding of this concept of style. It will
no longer just be a RULE HANDED DOWN FROM SINAI but
rather it will become something intuitive and plausible
which the student can then apply by himself to reach
inferences from the Biblical text. It is for this
reason that I have called the Rabbi Ishmael rules the
EXAMPLE METHOD. For further details and discussion as
well as a free download please visit
http://www.RashiYomi.com/ishmael.htm
============================================================
ITEM DETAIL
============================= ==============================
RASHI RULE CLASS RABBI ISHMAEL STYLE
RASHI SUBRULE CLASS GENERALIZED
RASHI WORKBOOK PRINCIPLE #25
SEE BELOW LIST411a
GENERAL-DETAIL-GENERAL style in Lv25-02:07(Sabbatical)
----------------------------- ------------------------------
SEE BELOW LIST411b
Relating Rashis & structure in Lv25-02:07
============================================================
========================= LIST411a ============================
The list below simply cites Verses Lv25-02:07 which speak
about the sabbatical year requirements.
However the list breaks out the verse phrases according to
-- GENERAL THEMES (Sabbatical)
-- DETAILS (No sowing, pruning,gathering leftovers,basketing)
The sister verse in Ex23-11 is also cited
From this list and its GENERAL-DETAIL-GENERAL style we
infer many laws
-- SABBATH TO EARTH BUT OK TO EAT:
' ------------------------------
So harvest-ownership is prohibited but
gathering-eating is permitted
-- PROHIBITION OF a) SOWING GATHERING and b) PLAIN GATHERING
' ------------------------------------------------
The contrast in the phrases (SECTIONS B1 B1a and B2 B2a)--
SOWING-GATHERING-LEFTOVER and PRUNING-BASKETING VINES--
shows us that BOTH a) sowing and harvesting is prohibited
as well as b) harvesting leftovers (without sowing)
-- FOOD PERMITTED TO RICH and POOR
' -------------------------------
Compare SECTIONS C and D which explicitly state this.
Please see the sister LIST411c for a collection of all
Rashis and what is learned
===============================================================
VERSE GENERAL THEMES DETAILS SECTION
======== ======================== ===================== =======
Lv25-02 Sabbatical to the Earth ' A*1
Lv25-03 ' 6 years of sowing A1*2*10
Lv25-03 ' 6 years of pruning A2*2
Lv25-03 ' HARVEST PRODUCE A3
Lv25-04 7th year sabbatical ' A B
Lv25-04 ' no sowing B1*2
Lv25-05 ' no pruning B2*2
Lv25-05 ' no gathering leftover B1a*2
Lv25-05 ' no basketing vines B2a*2
Lv25-05 A Sabbatical to earth ' B
Lv25-06 Sabbath for your food ' C
Lv25-06 ' to you C1
Lv25-06 ' to your servant C2
Lv25-06 ' to your maid C3
Lv25-06 ' to your laborer C4
Lv25-06 ' to your residents C5
Ex23-11 ' to your poor C6 D*3
Lv25-07 ' To your animals C7a*4
Lv25-07 ' To beasts C7b*4
Lv25-07 all food for eating ' C
NOTES
-----
*1 All phrases from the verses are here. But they have
been broken out into two columns. The GENERAL column
uses the following phrases
-- SABBATICAL TO LAND
-- FOOD FOR YOU
The DETAIL column uses the phrases
-- No Sowing
-- No pruning
-- No gathering leftovers
etc
This contrast clearly shows us eg that the term
SABBATICAL refers to abstention from GATHERING
FOR HARVEST but GATHERING FOR FOOD IS OK
*2 Note the exquisite delicate contrast of phrases--
- A1 says SOW 6 years
- B1 says dont SOW on 7th year
- B1a says dont GATHER LEFTOVERS
The contrast of these 3 phrases clearly suggests that BOTH
- SOWING AND GATHERING
- PLAIN GATHERING (LEFTOVERS) (EVEN WITHOUT SOWING)
BOTH of these are prohibited.
Note how this nuance does not come from a picky emphasis
on the word LEFTOVER (which would imply no sowing). Rather
this nuance and inference naturally comes from the contrast
of the 3 phrases.
*3 Of course Ex23-11 (TO YOUR POOR) occurs in Exodus.
If we combine Ex23-11 with Lv25-06 we see the overall
structure--namely, this Sabbatical food can be used
-- by the poor (Ex23-11)
-- you (Lv25-06)
-- animals (Lv25-07)
-- servants
-- laborers
In short by anybody.
Again this is a triumph of the GENERAL-DETAIL structure
We could have also used the Rabbi Ishmael
CONTRADICTION method
*4 Note how the word YOUR is absent with BEASTS.
This prompts a famous Rashi comment. But it uses
a method (HEYKESH) which we havent really studied
that much. Thus we leave this for a future digest
------------------------ LONGER FOOTNOTES ----------------------
*10 Note the BULLET like effect created by the repetition
of the word 6 YEARS
- 6 YEARS you should sow
- 6 YEARS you should prune
This is following by particular examples of SOWING
and PRUNING (GATHERING LEFTOVERS and BASKETING GRAPES)
(See A1 B1 B1a vs A2 B2 B2a).
The Rambam following the Talmud derives various laws
In fact we have a GENERAL-DETAIL-GENERAL structure
followed by a GENERAL-DETAIL structure.
That is the GENERAL-DETAIL-GENERAL
of SABBATH--NO PRUNING--SABBATH
following the GENERAL-DETAIL structure of
NO SOWING--NO GATHERING LEFTOVERS
The Talmud delicately analyzes these two clashing
styles. Since this is advanced Rashi left it out
I also will not go into details but I do point
it out since it stands out blatantly in the
paragraph above.
=================================================================
====================== LIST411b ===================================
Please read the sister LIST411a first. There we review the
verses in Lv25-02:07 and the simple meaning of the text.
In this LIST411b we review 9 Rashis and show how each one
is derived.
EXAMPLE
-------
Lv25-04 states IT WILL BE SABBATH TO THE LAND. Rashi explains
' that it is a Sabbath from sowing and pruning. Rashi
' derives this from the contrast of the GENERAL COLUMN
' (SABBATH, EAT FROM LAND) and the DETAIL COLUMN
' (Dont Sow, harvest, prune) etc..
EXAMPLE
-------
Lv25-05 states not to sow etc Rashi explains that this doesnt
' eg mean that we cant pluck a grape and eat it. Rather
' the contrast of phrases in sections A1,B1,B1a or A2,
' B2,B2a shows us that HARVEST GATHERING is prohibited but
' HARVEST FOR EATING is permitted
Similarly for the other sections.*10
===================================================================
RASHI RASHI COMMENT DERIVATION
======== ================================= ========================
Lv25-04a SABBATH means DONT SOW GENERAL vs DETAIL Column
Lv25-05a No leftovers Even not sown A1-B1-B1a or A2-B2-B2a
Lv25-05b HARVEST prohibited;FOOD GATHER OK Section B vs Section C
Lv25-05c Root N-Z-R means PROTECTED vine Section B vs Section C*1
Lv25-05d HARVEST prohibited;FOOD GATHER OK Section B vs Section C
Lv25-06a NO harvest/ownership;OK eating Section B vs Section C
Lv25-06c Both Poor and Rich can eat Section C vs Section D
-------- --------------------------------- ------------------------
Lv25-20a We dont GATHER=GATHER INTO HOUSE Section B vs Section C*2
Lv25-20b No lefover produce(no sowing) Section A2-B2-B2a*2
NOTES
-----
*1 See http://www.Rashiyomi.com/lv25-05c.htm
In that posting we show that the Hebrew root N-Z-R
means UPPER CLASS. Thus we would translate Lv25-05
as
----------------------------------------------------
Do not UPPER-CLASS your vines (for gallant affairs)
----------------------------------------------------
Rashis comment is then understood as follows
--------------------------------------------------
Do not separate and fence off these vines for
upper class affairs. Rather they are to lie lose
for any one to pick them
--------------------------------------------------
Thus Rashis point is NOT that the root N-Z-R means
SEPARATE but rather Rashis point is that we shouldnt
act UPPER CLASS--the vines are for everybody.
Please read the above URL to see that this is
the simple meaning of the text.
*2 These 2 Rashis occur on Lv25-20. Note that Rashi is NOT
making an inference from the Lv25-20 text itself.
Rather Rashi is using his knowledge of Lv25-02:07 to
explain the Lv25-20. Thus Rashi is using the technique
of OTHER VERSES.
------------------------ LONGER FOOTNOTES ------------------------
*10 Note how we have elegantly derived all Rashis without
the usual nitpicking on words and phrases.
That is because this Rashi is derived from style not
from extra words, questions and problems.
The GENERAL-DETAIL-GENERAL structure defines a style
and this style speaks to us with nuances and inferences
It is not necessary (in this case!) to delve into the
nuances of particular words which appear extra or
out of place---rather it is the contrast of phrases
that generates the inferences.
If you understand this principle of style you will
have received the key to understand many Rashis
which cannot really be explained otherwise.
===================================================================
---------------------------------------------------
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Volume 17 Number 20
#*#*#*#*# (C) 2001, RashiYomi Inc. Dr Hendel President #*#*#*#*#
Volume 17 Number 20