Rabbi Ishmael Example Method:#17 of 36
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#     10 YEAR Ayelet DAILY-RASHI-YOMI CYCLE               #
#              Aug 26, 2000                               #
#          Rashis 226-229 Of 7800 (2.9%)                  #
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REFERENCE:
----------
Todays module is extracted from Rashi is SImple volume 5
Number 17. To see the whole issue visit
http://www.RashiYomi.Com/h5n17.htm


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


Todays posting deals with the "ideal lecture" and shows the
4 stages needed by a good teacher.

#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*# (C) Dr Hendel, 2000 *#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#

Dt32-02a Moses teaching Torah is compared to Heaven raining water
Dt32-02c DEW everyone likes;RAIN not liked by people on journey
Dt32-02d SAR=Windy Mist. Mist grows grass::Torah grows students
Dt32-02e RVV = Rain (From RVH KSHATH=Archer=Forceful-drop-rain)

(Examples 46-49)

Dt32-02--THE TEXT (Please read with COURIER 10 Fixed width font)
-----------------------------------------------------------------
My TEACHINGS will BREAKOUT like RAIN
My SAYINGS   will DRIP     like DEW
                           like MIST   on a MEADOW
                           like STORMS on   GRASS
   *1             *2            *3          *4
-----------------------------------------------------------------


Nuances to emphasize
--------------------
Note the following nuances
*1 Teachings<---->Sayings
*2 Breakout<----->Drip
*3 Rain<---->Dew<---->Mist<---->Storms
*4 Meadow<------>Grass


The Symbol
----------
The text clearly compares "my TEACHINGS and SAYINGS"
to TYPES OF RAIN





The Ideal Lecture
-----------------
An Ideal Lecture (Shiur), Sermon, or Family rap has
four stages.


Stage 1: A "Lecture stage" (or a "Sermon stage")

Stage 2: A pithy "Summary" or "(Sharp) Sayings" stage at the end
       of the lecture, sermon or rap which summarizes everything

Stage 3: A (student)"Dialogue stage" in which students debate
         the pros and cons of the lecture(or Congregants debate
         the pros and cons of the sermon; or children debate
         the pros and cons of the parent rap)

Stage 4: The "Application" Stage in which students "understand"
         and apply what they have learned (or congregants apply
         what they learn; or children apply what they have
         learned and live up to the expectations of parents




The Analogy
-----------
Using the "rain analogy" (water droplets=words) we have

Stage 1: The Lecture=A sudden outbreak of words/water
         In other words, the STORM OUTBREAK


Stage 2: The Summary=Pithy Short Sayings summarizing everything
         In other words "Dew DROPS(vs a storm)


Stage 3: Student dialogue = "Chatty exchanges by students on
         the lecture" = the MIST

Stage 4: Understanding And Application--Students become
         proficient and can apply ideas---The HEAVY STORM


Summary
-------
So we have 4 stages of rain/teaching


1: Sudden outbreak of words/drops--Lecture:Outbreak
2: Short terse summary: Sayings: Dew
3: Chatty dialogue: Dialogue-review:Mist
4: Mature Application: Application: Heavy Storm


CLIMAX
-------
Thus the verse climactically develops the ideal lecture
and uses a rain metaphor to illustrate its ideas.

There is a certain nostalgia here---Moses the father of
all Teachers, spent 40 years teaching 600,000 adults
Torah---at the end of his life he summarized his methods
for good teaching in one verse! (Sort of reminds you of
the book on the Lubavticher Rebbe, "40 Years, One hour")


FURTHER DEVELOPMENT:
--------------------
There are actually 7 Rashis. We have only developed 4.
The remaining Rashis discuss the MEANINGS of words. We
will present these tomorrow.


#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*# (C) Dr Hendel, 2000 *#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#