How Rashi uses dataabase methods:#1 of 3
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# 10 YEAR Ayelet DAILY-RASHI-YOMI CYCLE #
# July 11th, 2001 #
# Rashis 852-852 Of 7800 (10.9%) #
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# VISIT THE RASHI YOMI ARCHIVES #
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# http://www.RashiYomi.Com/calendar.htm #
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# Reprinted with permission from Rashi-is-Simple, #
# (c) 1999-2001, RashiYomi Inc., Dr Hendel President #
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========= SPECIAL FEATURE ====================
This unit shows the difference in approach
DR HENDEL vs THE YELLOW BOOK (Shaaray Aaron)
ALSO Please visit my RASHI-WORD SUMMARY at
http://www.Rashiyomi.com/words.htm
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GOALS:
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We have completed the previous units. The GRAND
SUMMARIES will be up Sunday.Today we start a
short unit. We show how DATABASE methods can help
resolve an impossible Rashi that contradicts
many verses.
TODAYS UNIT
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We present the basic methodology of understanding
Rashis from Databases and apply it to Gn15-05a.
REFERENCE:
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This module comes from the following reference in the
Rashi-is-Simple series.
http://www.RashiYomi.Com/gn15-05a.htm
http://www.RashiYomi.Com/h10n21.htm
#*#*#*# (C) RashiYomi Inc., 2001, Dr. Hendel, President #*#*#*#*#
==== THEOSAURUS OF SEE: Some words mean WATCH,SPY,GAZE ====
The synonym (Theosaurus) Database
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The key to understanding Gn15-05a is to review synonyms
of the word TO SEE. Standard Theosaurii (SYNONYM
databases) yield the following entries as synonymous
with TO SEE:
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LOOK EXAMINE SCRUTINIZE GAZE APPRAISE GLANCE
STARE ASCERTAIN SPY WATCH ASSESS SURVEY
OVERLOOK SCAN OBSERVE
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Let us now apply this to Gn15-05a
THE RASHI ON Gn15-05a
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Rashis approach is that it is a mistake
to simply translate a variety of Hebrew roots -- such
as NBaT, ShKaF, SeVeH, RaAH, TzaFeH -- as TO SEE.
Rashis contribution is that NEBAT doesnt just mean
to see, but rather NEBAT means TO ASSESS. By selecting
the right SYNONYM of seeing (assessment) Rashi makes a
contribution to our understanding of meaning. And Rashi
does this by reviewing the SYNONYM DATABASE for TO SEE.
FURTHER INSIGHTS ON THIS VERSE
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Finally footnote *1 contains a beautiful Midrash Rabbah
listing 7 methods of Repentance and explains the 3 opinions
cited by the Midrash Rabbah
Let us now look at the Rashis for synonyms of TO SEE. The
footnotes provide verse support for our translations.
The following list shows the SYNONYMS that best translate
the Hebrew roots. We also cite Rashi as well as indicate
what database queries support his claim.
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ROOT SYNONYMS OF TO SEE RASHI DBase-1 DBase-2
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RaAH To see
NeBT To assess/examine Gn15-05a verses*1
NOTES
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*1 Rashi seems to say that NEBAT means looking from ABOVE
to below. But In The following verses
--the SEEING is from BELOW TO ABOVE
--the translation TO ASSESS fits better
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1King19-06 He ASSESSED & above his head was a cookie
Nu21-09 ASSESS the copper snake(it is inanimate)&live
Ps34-06 I ASSESS to God--I stream to him my prayers
Isa22-11 You make defences but dont ASSESS the Maker
Gn15-05 ASSESS your heavenly (vs earthly) merit
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Thus using the database of VERSES we can find support
that NEBAT means to ASSESS.
As Maharzu explains God did not take Abraham off the
planet (indeed even Moses and Elijah never left the
planet). Rather God said to Abraham ASSESS HEAVEN..ASSESS
THE STARS...Other nations base themselves
on astrology (stars) while you have in your past already
relied on God (eg Abrahams wife Sarah was saved from Rape
by Avimelech because he was a prophet Gn20).
Thus Maharzu translates Gn15-05a as
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Please assess your heavenly merit--count the ways of
the astrologers--your heavenly merit has already
saved you from other nations (eg Avimelech); your
progeny will also surpass the astrological nations
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---Another approach on this verse suggests that God
commanded Abraham to repent from Astrology and become
spiritual. This Midrash Rabbah (44:12) lists the 7
famous methods which help annul bad decrees
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REPENTANCE PRAYER CHARITY CHANGE-NAME
CHANGE-PLACE GOOD-DEEDS FASTING
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Both these approaches interpret the verse to mean
that Abraham should ASSESS (NBT) his heavenly merit.
But one approach holds that God told him that HE ALREADY
was above the stars while another approach told him
that he WOULD be one day above the stars. Thus the two
approaches only differ in WHEN Abrham would reach this
level.
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#*#*#*# (C) RashiYomi Inc., 2001, Dr. Hendel, President #*#*#*#*#