Rabbi Ishmael Example Method:#14 of 36 ########################################################### # 10 YEAR Ayelet DAILY-RASHI-YOMI CYCLE # # Aug 22, 2000 # # Rashis 215-215 Of 7800 (2.8%) # # # # Reprinted with permission from Rashi-is-Simple, # # (c) 1999-Present, Dr. Hendel # # http://www.RashiYomi.Com/ # # # #Permission to reprint with this header but not for profit# # # # WARNING: READ with COURIER 10 (Fixed width) FONTS # ########################################################### TREAT ----- Today and tomorrow I am bringing you verbatim postings from the current issue of Rashi is Simple the parent email group to the Chevruta Rashi Yomi. This email group is published twice weekly---those who want to subscribe can do so at the Rashi website whose URL is above. There is alot new here so please read the whole thing. THIS MODULE ----------- This module deals with the principle of CLIMAX. We review Rashis on verses where the motivating interpretive force of Rashi is the climactic development of verses. WHAT IS THE RULE OF CLIMAX -------------------------- a) 3 or more consecutive similar phrases **should** be interpreted as developing CLIMACTICALLY. 1st step one, then step 2, then step 3 etc EXAMPLE: The verse Dt19-11 describes murder using 4 phrases -------- --When a person HATES somebody --and he STALKS him --and CONFRONTS him --and HITS HIM LETHALLY so that he dies. We **could** interpret this to mean "When someone murders someone". But because of the principle of CLIMAX we interpret the 4 phrases as CLIMACTICALLY leading to MURDER. Murder happens in 4 stages a) EMOTIONAL: You HATE the person b) OBSERVATIONAL: You OBSERVE the person CONSTANTLY(obsession) c) SOCIAL: You CONFRONT the person The above 3 will naturally lead to murder. CLIMAX WITHOUT GRAMMAR ---------------------- b) This principle of CLIMAX, **by itself** can be used to decide the meaning of ambiguous phrases(even if nothing else besides CLIMAX supports the decision) EXAMPLE: In the above example from Dt19-11 I could have interpreted RISE UP ON HIM to **either** mean KILL or CONFRONT. For the verb to RISE UP does mean both. The only reason I chose CONFRONT vs KILL is that the principle of CLIMAX requires a CLIMACTIC development. CLIMAX vs SIMPLE MEANING OF THE TEXT ------------------------------------ c) Note that it is legitimate to hold the position that "These 3 or 4 phrases all say the **same** thing and this is common in poetry;but BECAUSE of the principle of CLIMAX I am justified in assuming that each phrase has a distinct meaning and that the 3 or 4 phrases build up to a CLIMAX." EXAMPLE: There is nothing wrong in Dt19-13 in stating that "The Bible is simply talking about murder and is using a conversational style. However the principle of CLIMAX additionally teaches me HOW murders take place." In general the principle of CLIMAX can be vigorously used to teach outreach. For each example of CLIMAX, by teaching us HOW something happens can be reversed and show us how to stop it. CLIMAX & RABBI ISHMAEL'S PRINCIPLES ----------------------------------- d) The principle of climax is associated with the RabbiIshmael principle of the DETAIL-GENERAL style. EXAMPLE: The last phrase in Dt19-13 is MURDER, something GENERAL. The other phrases---HATRED, STALKING, CONFRONTATION are DETAILS associated with murder. The RabbiIshmael Rule of DETAIL-GENERAL requires a broad interpretation of the DETAILS to be consistent with the GENERAL principle---and this is exactly what the principle of CLIMAX teaches---that the DETAILS lead up to the GENERAL #*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*# (C) Dr Hendel, 2000 *#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*# EXAMPLES -------- Ex 33) Dt06-13a ------------------- FEAR God WORSHIP God SWEAR by his name. RASHI (rephrased): ----------------- The Torah teaches psychology: A person tends to swear by those things that -a) he is AFRAID of -b) he is INVOLVED in and WORKS at. APPLICATION ----------- (1)(Rashi) If you really FEAR God and really WORSHIP him then when you spontaneously swear you will swear by Gods name. (2)(Not in Rashi) Those people who are INVOLVED in a physical life and who continuously WORRY about their standing in the physically oriented life style community tend to swear using foul language (ie physical language). This is well known...we merely point out how this is consistent with Rashis principle The two components necessary for swearing--WORRY and INVOVLEMENT are both present. #*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*# (C) Dr Hendel, 2000 *#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#