Rabbi Ishmael Example Method:#7 of 36
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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.


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VERSE: Lv26-15a
VERSE: Lv26-15b

BACKGROUND
----------
Yesterday We began very slowly. Today we
---review Rashis interpretation
---defend 2 obvious phrases in this interpretation




BIBLICAL TEXT WITH RASHIS INTERPRETATION
-----------------------------------------
We recall the translation of 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.


LISTS WITH PECULIARITIES
------------------------
Let us review two of the lists from yesterday
We also introduce a new {LIST6}


{LIST6} {The first 2 and last 2 rebukes use the word YOU
         The last 2 rebukes do not use the word YOU
         So there is a nuance on OTHERS vs YOU}

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



{LIST3}
     {Lv26-14 uses a VERB-OBJECT order(NOT DO-MY COMMANDMENTS)
      Lv26-15 uses a OBJECT-VERB order(MY COMMANDMENTS-NOT DONE
      So there is an emphasis on WHICH commandments are 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





EXAMPLE 15: Lv26-15b
--------------------
RASHI: 'If "my Judgement laws" are despicable'
--The word order emphasizes JUDGEMENTS
--The lack of the word YOU emphasizes a nuance of OTHERS
Together it would seem that they are talking about making fun
of Jewish Court procedures

EXAMPLE 16: Lv26-15a
--------------------
RASHI:The first 2 phrases emphasize "If YOU do not do..."
      The next 2 phrases  emphasize making fun of others doing

      Indeed
      "if YOU do not LISTEN to me"
      "if YOU do not DO my COMMANDMENTS"

      "if MY STATUTES become DISGUSTING"
      "if MY JUDGEMENT LAWS are LOATHESOME"

So Rashi takes the 1st two to refer to your inactions
while the last two refers to rediculing others.

Again, while the above does not prove this, Rashi is also
relying on the CLIMACTIC nature of the verses. It is this
developmental nature which demands that Rashi interpret
the verses in increasing intensity. This lends credibility
to the idea that others are being despised, whether Judges
or religious people



We will complete this series tomorrow with important
implications for outreach
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