13 Methods for inferring meaning:#5 of 32 ########################################################### # 10 YEAR Ayelet DAILY-RASHI-YOMI CYCLE # # May 27, 2001 # # Rashis 762-765 Of 7800 (9.8%) # # # # 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 # # # ########################################################### ------------------------------------------------ TODAY WE DO THE RASHI ON MEGED which means SWEET A SWEET SHAVUOTH TO EVERYBODY IN ACCORDANCE WITH OUR CHARTER DAILY RASHI WILL RESUME ON WEDNESDAY ------------------------------------------------ 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. TODAYS UNIT ----------- In todays unit we discuss the meaning of MEM in a root. Basically MEM refers to the SOURCE or PLACE of an activity. Besides the 3 Rashis we bring numerous other examples. REFERENCE: ---------- This module comes from the following references in the Rashi-is-Simple series. http://www.RashiYomi.Com/lv13-06b.htm http://www.RashiYomi.Com/dt33-13b.htm #*#*#*# (C) RashiYomi Inc., 2001, Dr. Hendel, President #*#*#*#*# =============== MEM in a root means SOURCE or PLACE ============ The following LIST contains a variety of Hebrew roots, containing the letter MEM, which means SOURCE or PLACE*0 ================================================================ # WORD MEANING ETYMOLOGY USING MM=PLACE == ====== ======= ======================== (1) MZBaCh Altar Place (M) of Sacrifice (TVCh) (2) MShKN House-Palace Place (M) where you dwell (Schan) (3) MREH Mirror Place (M) of Sight (RAH) (4) MGDOL Tower Place (M) that is tall ( GDL) (5) MKDSH Temple Place (M) of Holiness (KDSH)*1 (6) MSPCH Skin Growth Place (M) where added skin is forming*2 (7) M-L-Ch King*5 Source(MEM) of a nations walkings(HLCh) (8) M-S-R Turn over to Source(MEM) of Departing from (S-V-R) (9) M-Tz-DH Cave(?) Source(MEM) of Hunting (Tz-Y-D) *6 (10) M-R-D Rebellion Source(MEM) of Downfall(R-D) (11) M-D-N Municipality Place(MEM) where Laws hold(D-Y-N)*7*8 (12) SFM Mustache On Place (M) of Mouth*7 (13) MGD SWEET Source(M) of Sweetness*3*7 (14) M-A-N Refusal Source(MEM) of nothing(A-Y-N)*7 (15) M-A-R ThornPain Its Source(MEM) is plucking(A-R-H)*9*7 (16) M-D-A Why? Source(MEM) for Knowledge(Y-D-A)*7 (17) M-T-R Dew Source(MEM) of Pussiness (T-R-H) *4 *7 (18) M-Tz-R Gates Source(MEM) of Bundling(Tz-R-R) *7 NOTES: ------ *0 In some of these examples the M+ROOT and the ROOT have almost the same meaning (in other words we have lost knowledge of the nuances differentiating them). *1 EXAMPLE 11: Ex25-08a TEMPLE=PLACE(M) of HOLINESS(KDSH) ==================== Ex25-08a. Note Rashi simply says that TEMPLE IS A HOUSE OF HOLINESS. However Silberstein in his Chumash sees in this Rashi the use of the principle of MEM=PLACE and gives several examples. *2 EXAMPLE 12: Lv13-06b MISPACHATH=PLACE(M) of (impure) GROWTH(YSF) ==================== Again Rashi on Lv13-06b simply says that MISPACHATH is a RITUALLY PURE AFFLICTION. But the etymology of-- MiSPaChaTH = PLACE (M) OF A GROWTH (YSF)-- seems a reasonable description of a skin affliction that is ritually impure *3 EXAMPLE 13: Dt33-13b MGD= SWEET (GD) PLACE(M) ==================== The two-letter Hebrew root GAD can specifically refer to a CORIANDER SEED or to something SWEET/BEAUTIFUL (Cf its usage in Nu11-08 and Gn30-11). It is a rare word with multiple meanings and hence its meaning is difficult to pinpoint. From Gn30-11 it seems to mean SWEET so that MEGED would also mean SWEET or else a SWEET PLACE (e.g. a SWEET MEADOW) (Cf Rashi Dt33-13b) *4 That is the dew creates the "pussy like" texture in the morning *5 This etymology, MLCh = MoLiCh (KING=The Walker) is due to Rav Hirsch who sees the King as LEADING (=walking!!!) the people and guiding them. *6 That is the MTzuDaH is the source or hangout from which you can hunt (it wouldn't exactly be a cave but rather an ambush grounds) *7 There is an element of poetic lisence in some of these etymologies. For example THE MUNCIPALITY is not the SOURCE of LAWS but the SOURCE/PLACE where LAWS hold; WHY is not the SOURCE of KNOWLEDGE but the VEHICLE to get knowledge from its source; DEW is not the SOURCE OF PUSSINESS but the SOURCE of the PUSSY LIKE APPEARANCE in the morning; GATES create borders and APPEAR to BUNDLE up the city. Similary MGD is not a source of GD seeds but a source of things as sweet as GD seeds. *8 That is laws hold over the domain of the municipality (Outside the municipality they do not hold) *9 EXAMPLE 14: Lv13-51a: MMER=like PLACE(M)of PLUCKED (ARH)(thorn) ===================== Rashi on Lv13-51a--states A CURSED THORN (so this etymology would be almost explicit in Rashi) The word MAR like ARH means to CURSE and would correspond to the type of SHARP PAIN that comes from plucking a thorn ================================================================ #*#*#*#*# (C) RashiYomi, 2001 Inc. Dr. Hendel President #*#*#*#*#