13 Methods for inferring meaning:#22 of 32 ########################################################### # 10 YEAR Ayelet DAILY-RASHI-YOMI CYCLE # # June 21th, 2001 # # Rashis 808-809 Of 7800 (10.4%) # # # # VISIT THE RASHI YOMI ARCHIVES # # ----------------------------- # # http://www.RashiYomi.Com/calendar.htm # # # # Reprinted with permission from Rashi-is-Simple, # # (c) 1999-Present, RashiYomi Inc., Dr Hendel President # #Permission to reprint with this header but not for profit# # # # WARNING: READ with COURIER 10 (Fixed width) FONTS # # # ########################################################### 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. #*#*#*# (C) RashiYomi Inc., 2001, Dr. Hendel, President #*#*#*#*#