Rabbi Ishmael Example Method:#5 of 36
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# 10 YEAR Ayelet DAILY-RASHI-YOMI CYCLE #
# Aug 12, 2000 #
# Rashis 196-196 Of 7800 (2.5%) #
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# Reprinted with permission from Rashi-is-Simple, #
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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.
Briefly speaking the rule of CLIMAX states that at certain
times a sequence of 3 or more Biblical phrases will develop
a theme in a CLIMACTIC FASHION.
EXAMPLE: The best example of Climax is the Rashi on Dt19-11
According to Rashi this verse describes MURDER as occuring
in 4 stages:
------------------------------------------------------------
--The EMOTIONAL stage---"When a person HATES another person"
--The OBSERVATIONAL stage--"& he spys/STALKS on that person"
--The CONFRONTATION stage--"& he CONFRONTS him"
--MURDER-------------------"& he MURDERS him".
------------------------------------------------------------
In other words Rashi uses the CLIMACTIC development of this
verse to show HOW a murder occurs--you don't just get up
and murder somebody. First you hate them; then you spy alot
on them; finally you can pick a fight with them and this
leads to murder.
The principle of CLIMAX is particularly useful for purposes
of OUTREACH. For every climactic development teaches us
HOW to stop something from developing. Thus the best way
to stop murder is to stop the hatred and stalking that
leads to it. Many other useful examples of outreach will
be presented in this module.
We will now spend 2-3 days reviewing a very basic set of
Rashis on Climax--namely the Rashis on Lv26-14:15. This
set of Rashis shows an interesting interchange between
----Rashis on 6 Biblical phrases
----5 subtle distinctions in these 2-3 verses
----what looks like arbitrary distinctions in Rashi
Remember our goal is to show how the principle of
CLIMAX itself contributes to the Rashis.
For those interested this entire set of Rashis was first
published at
http://www.RashiYomi.Com/h2n5.htm
The explanations I gave had significant improvements from
my Rashi class at the Lower Merion Synagogue which I gave
for several years.
#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*# (C) Dr Hendel, 2000 *#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#
VERSE: Lv26-14
BACKGROUND
----------
We begin very slowly. Today we first
---state the distinct verse phrases
---state the corresponding CLIMATIC interpretation
---state some subtleties in these verses
We will then spend 1-2 more days trying to make the
Rashis clear and spontaneous.
BIBLICAL TEXT WITH RASHIS INTERPRETATION
-----------------------------------------
We translate Lv26-14:15 which speaks about Jews who
DONT LISTEN to the commandments.
BIBLICAL TEXT RASHI
------------- -----------------------
If you
1) Don't LISTEN = Don't STUDY
2) don't PRACTICE = Don't OBEY
3) DESPISE my laws = Ridicule OTHERS
4) COURT DECISIONS loathesome = Ridicule COURT DECISIONS
5) DON'T PARTICPATE IN DOING = DON'T participate in
COMMUNAL performances
6) MY commandments = You deny they come from GOD
7) TILL you annul my convenant = TOTAL BLASPHEMY
Notice at this point how the Rashis all appear ad hoc;
For example why should we interpert "DESPISE MY LAWS"
as "RIDICULE THE RELIGIOUS PERFORMANCE OF OTHERS".These
interpretations are possible but not necessary.To fully
appreciate Rashi we review certain subtleties in the verse
phrases. As already mentioned the review of these subtleties
was encouraged by my Lower Merion Synagogue class. These
subtleties are presented using the technique of ALIGNMENT
of verses. To fully appreciate these lists you will need
a FIXED WIDTH FONT LIKE COURIER. Certain email programs
remove spaces which makes the alignments harder to read.
We list 5 subtleties.
Tomorrow and the next day we will use these subtleties to
make Rashis interpretation simple.
SUBTLETIES IN VERSE PHRASES
---------------------------
{LIST1} {The first 4 rebukes use the word IF
The last 2 rebukes use the word UNTIL}
VERSE TEXT (Note CAPPED word)
------- ---------------------------------------
Lv26-14 IF you do not listen to me
IF you do not do the commandments
Lv26-15 IF my statutes are despised
IF my judgements are loathesome
UNTIL you don't do my commandments
UNTIL you break my convenant
{LIST2} {Lv26-14 refers to THE commandments
Lv26-15 refers to MY commandments}
VERSE TEXT (Note CAPPED word)
------- ---------------------------------------
Lv26-14 If you don't listen to me
If you do not do THE COMMANDMENTS
Lv26-15 If MY STATUTES are despised
If MY JUDGEMENTS are loathesome
Until you don't do MY COMMANDMENTS
Until you break MY CONVENANT
{LIST3}
{Lv26-14 uses a VERB-OBJECT order(NOT DO-MY COMMANDMENTS)
Lv26-15 uses a OBJECT-VERB order(MY COMMANDMENTS-NOT DONE}
VERSE TEXT (Note CAPPED word)
------- ---------------------------------------
Lv26-14 If you don't listen to me
If you do not DO THE COMMANDMENTS
Lv26-15 If MY STATUTES are DESPISED
If MY JUDGEMENTS are LOATHESOME
Until you don't DO MY COMMANDMENTS
Until you BREAK MY CONVENANT
{LIST4} {A variety of disobediences are described:
DON'T DO, LISTEN, DESPISE, LOATHESOME....
Similarly the commandments are described in
a variety of manners
COMMANDMENTS, STATUTES, JUDGEMENTS,CONVENANT}
VERSE TEXT (Note CAPPED word)
------- ---------------------------------------
Lv26-14 If you don't LISTEN
If you do not DO THE COMMANDMENTS
Lv26-15 If MY STATUTES are DESPISED
If MY JUDGEMENTS are LOATHESOME
Until you don't DO MY COMMANDMENTS
Until you BREAK MY CONVENANT
{LIST5} {Note the difference in the TYPE of verbs used}
-------------------------------------------------------------
The following are ACTION verbs--activities of DOING
-------------------------------------------------------------
Lv26-14 If you don't LISTEN
If you do not DO THE COMMANDMENTS
--------------------------------------------------------------
The following are EMOTIONAL VERBS--activities of FEELING
--------------------------------------------------------------
Lv26-15 If MY STATUTES are DESPISED
If MY JUDGEMENTS are LOATHESOME
---------------------------------------------------------------
The following are INFINITIVE VERBS--verbs of ongoing activity
---------------------------------------------------------------
Until you are not DOING MY COMMANDMENTS
Until you are BREAKING MY CONVENANT
#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*# (C) Dr Hendel, 2000 *#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#