13 Methods for inferring meaning:#22 of 32
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GOALS:
------
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
-----------
In the next few days we review examples where using modern
science helps us identify the precise nuances of what the
Chumash is speaking about.

REFERENCE:
----------
This module comes from the following reference  in the
Rashi-is-Simple series.

http://www.RashiYomi.Com/dt18-10b.htm

#*#*#*# (C) RashiYomi Inc., 2001, Dr. Hendel, President #*#*#*#*#

BACKGROUND
----------

Dt18-10:11 prohibit 8 cultic practices involving hypnotically
induced trances enabling a disassociative state where one
can utter future events.

In each case we will see how knowledge of modern science
enables a precise delineation of what the word in question
means.

The half a dozen examples in Dt18-10:11 occur in Rambam
Laws of Idolatry Chapter 11. This gives an exciting
opportunity to see how these two titans of Jewish law,
Rashi on Dt18-10:11 and Rambam Idolatry Chapter 11,
treat the same subject.

And indeed we will see that sometimes Rambam gives more
detail, sometimes Rashi gives more detail, sometimes they
say the same thing and sometimes they complement each other



EXAMPLE 59: Dt18-10d -- PROHIBITION OF NACASH
---------------------------------------------

We claim that NACASH refers to PSYCHOSIS. Here are details

EXPLANATION
-----------
The Rambam and Rashi both give the same examples here. They
   are in fact the examples derived from the Sifray
   * A BLACK CAT CROSSED MY PATH: HENCE I WONT GO TO WORK
   * I DROPPED MY BRIEF CASE: HENCE I WILL LOSE MY LAW SUIT

   This corresponds to the modern concept of psychosis:
   Psychosis refers to a person who views causality by
   SYMBOLIC means (e.g. black cat) not by ACTUAL means.

   In other words the psychotic person sees the black cat
   as a symbol of evil (something anybody can do); the
   psychotic person however also believes that reality is
   intrinsically symbolic -- that is  the psychotic person
   believes that the confrontation in the REAL WORD with
   a black cat CAUSALLY MEANS that he will personally
   confront bad luck (And that is why he is psychotic)

   The Rambam gives more detail than Rashi in that he
   mentions in 11:05 that one can make symbolic
   comments on the PAST e.g.: I WON THE LAWSUIT BECAUSE
   I BROUGHT IT ON PURIM WHICH IS A TIME FOR JEWISH
   VICTORY. Thus it is only prohibited to base future
   actions because of SYMBOLIC/PSYCHOTIC interpretation

   The root NACASH means SNAKE -- an animal which does not
   see reality but rather uses heat sensation to view
   reality (similar to the psychotic person who views
   reality not actually but thru symbolic lenses)




EXAMPLE 60: Dt18-10b -- The Prohibition of KoSaym
-------------------------------------------------

We claim that KOSAYM corresponds to the concept of HYPNOSIS

EXPLANATION
-----------
   Rambam gives more details than Rashi here. Both Rashi/Rambam
   however, without defining KOSAYM, give examples
   of WHAT is prohibited.

   Rashi only gives the example of INDUCING A TRANCE
   BY TAPPING A STICK and in fact Rashi only mentions
   TAPPING THE STICK TO INFER INFORMATION.

   Rambam however EXPLICITLY besides giving, not one,
   but many examples, also generalizes; he describes
   KOSAYM as inducing a trance state. The Rambam
   states HE LOOKS AT MIRRORS, TAPS STICKS etc.
   UNTIL HIS MIND IS BLANK AND HE DISASSOCIATES AND
   SAYS FUTURE EVENTS.

   It should be emphasized that modern science
   enables us to understand the Rambam  who is
   mentioning 3 classical methods of inducing
   a hypnotic trance
   * Mirror Gazing
   * Rhythmic tapping
   * Reduction of blood pressure (Bending backwards)
   Thus it is clear that KOSAYM is identical with
   induction of a hypnotic state where the person
   can disassociate and say future items.

   The root KOSAYM seems to come from KOSAYTH which
   occurs only once in the Bible (Ez17-09). It seems
   to refer not to a complete cutting of a tree but
   rather to a CONSTRICTION and SLASHING of plants
   that leads to DRYING and DEATH.

   In fact a classical(dangerous) method of hypnosis
   induction is CONSTRICTING the neck arteries till
   the hypnotic state is achieved.

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