13 Methods for inferring meaning:#17 of 32
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# 10 YEAR Ayelet DAILY-RASHI-YOMI CYCLE #
# June 15th, 2001 #
# Rashis 792-793 Of 7800 (10.2%) #
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GOALS:
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I decided its time for a longer unit.
This unit will focus on a major Rashi task--explaining
the MEANINGS OF WORDS.
Explaining the MEANINGS of WORDS is more than looking
something up in a dictionary. There are METHODS to
explaining WORDS.
Thus in this module we will explore HOW Rashi determines
the meanings of words -- that is, we will explore WHAT
RASHIS METHODS ARE
TODAYS UNIT
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For the next few days we will explore HOW objects
can be named by a distinguishing property.
REFERENCE:
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This module comes from the following references in the
Rashi-is-Simple series. Many further cross references
are presented on that page.
http://www.RashiYomi.Com/ex16-16a.htm
http://www.RashiYomi.Com/h5n1.htm
#*#*#*# (C) RashiYomi Inc., 2001, Dr. Hendel, President #*#*#*#*#
BACKGROUND
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Recall we are studying how Rashi analyzes the objects
that are named by a PROPERTY vs by WHAT THEY ARE. Thus e.g.
(*) BLUE is not anything blue but rather
a THREAD died BLUE (Ex25-04a)
(*) RED is not anything RED but rather a
THREAD died RED (Ex25-04b)
(*) SEDUCE doesnt refer to any type of seductive activity but
rather refers to an attractive dress worn by women (Gn49-11d)
Let us now look at more examples
THE VERSE and RASHIS
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EXAMPLE 42: Ex16-16a
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In Ex16-16a Rashi simply explains that the Hebrew word
OMER is the name of a dry measure. The word OMER in
Hebrew means a BUNDLE (as in Ruth2-7) or the activity
of SHOVING SOMETHNG AROUND LIKE A BUNDLE (Dt24-07)
Thus BUNDLE is a fitting word for a dry measure.
A similar example might be the Hebrew SEAH which
means a BURDEN or to CARRY A BURDEN and also
refers to a BIG DRY MEASURE.
Hence,Rashis comments on the Hebrew word OMER in ex16-16a
is an example of how something was named by a PARTICULAR
ATTRIBUTE (Like a bundle) vs by a GENERAL CATEGORY(measure).
OMER is not any measure but a big enough measure that
you BUNDLE it (The OMER measure was the BUNDLE of food
needed for one day -- see footnote *1 for details)
EXAMPLE 43: Ex16-36a
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In Ex16-16a Rashi just gave the GENERAL idea that
the Hebrew word OMER means SOME dry measure.
But then in in Ex16-36a Rashi further explains that
OMER is equal to the volume of 43.2 eggs
See the footnote, *1, for some interesting pedagogical
and dietary comments.
----------------------------- NOTES ----------------------------
*1 Rashi used the teaching technique known as
SPIRAL CURRICULUM. SPIRAL CURRICULUM means that
when explaining the meaning of a word Rashi might first
indicate the GENERAL category(ie a type of MEASURE,
Ex16-16a) and then later indicate its PARTICULAR
meaning(ie its exact volume - Ex16-36a)
Here are the volumes of Hebrew words denoting measure
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* One egg = The volume of one egg = smallest unit of measure
* REVIITH = Volume of 1.5 eggs = Like American CUP
* LOG = Volume of 6 eggs = Like American QUART
* KAV = Volume of 24 eggs = Like American GALLON
* OMER = Volume of 43.2 eggs = Food needed for 1 DAY
* HIN = Volume of 72 eggs = Like a POT (3 gallon)
* SEAH = Volume of 144 eggs = Like a FLOUR BAG(6 gal)
* AYFAH = Volume of 432 Eggs =
* COR = Volume of 4320 Eggs
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Note how most of these words seem plausible in meaning:
Thus KAV=HOLLOW, OMER=BUNDLE, SEAH=BURDEN, AYFAH=TO BAKE.
I will not try and argue why BUNDLE means 43.2 eggs
while SEAH=144 eggs. Rather I will suffice with pointing
out that the words for MEASURE mean HOLLOW/BUNDLE/BURDEN etc
In http://www.RashiYomi.Com/h5n1.htm we go a little beyond
Rashi and indicate WHY the Bible bothered indicating the amount
of Manna each day. Presumably the Bible indicated the
recommended food amounts needed each day.
I used the modern DASH diet, a highly recommended diet, which
advocates roughly per meal, as presented below. In
making this correspondence I assume e.g. that a medium
size fruit like an apple,pear, orange LOOKS like the volume
of 2 eggs. Here is the DASH DIET per meal
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3 servings of bread = 1.5 cups = Volume of 3 eggs
2 Fruits = 2 cups = Volume of 4 eggs
2 Vegetables = 1 Cup = Volume of 2 eggs
1 Cup of milk = 1 Cup = Volume of 2 eggs
Tablespoon of oil = negligible
1 Serving of fish/meat = 1 Cup = Volume of 2 eggs
Occasional nuts = negligible
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GRAND TOTAL per meal Volume of 13 eggs
GRAND TOTAL per day Volume of 39 eggs
TORAH VOLUME OF OMER Volume of 43.2 eggs
Agreement between GRAND TOTAL and OMER seems satisfactory
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Thus the Torah, by informing us that Jews ate one OMER of
Manna per day, might have simply indicated to us what the
recommended quantity of food per day is.
#*#*#*# (C) RashiYomi Inc., 2001, Dr. Hendel, President #*#*#*#*#