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      7. RASHI METHOD: FORMATTING
      BRIEF EXPLANATION:Inferences from Biblical formatting: --bold,italics, and paragraph structure.
      • Use of repetition to indicate formatting effects: bold,italics,...;
      • use of repeated keywords to indicate a bullet effect;
      • rules governing use and interpretation of climactic sequence;
      • rules governing paragraph development and discourse
      This example applies to Rashis Dt06-05d       URL Reference: (c) http://www.Rashiyomi.com/rule1302.htm
      Brief Summary: Love God a) in all emotional circumstances b) even if you must give up your life c) even if it involves monetary sacrifice.

The climax principle asserts that a sequence of similar phrases should be interpreted climactically even if the words and grammatical constructs used do not directly suggest this. That is the fact of the sequence justifies reading into the Biblical text a climactic interpretation even if no other textual source justifies it. For this reason we consider the climax method a distinct and separate method.

    Verse Dt06-05d discussing the requirement to observe God's commandments is written in a climactic manner as shown. For convenience we have inserted the Rashi comments clarifying the nature of the climax in brackets
  • Love your God [ ]
  • with all your passions [ e.g. observe commandments prohibiting forbidden foods and relations ]
  • with all your soul [ e.g. if martyrdom is required ]
  • with all your muchness [ in all conditions of wealth and poverty; e.g. even if observance requires a lower paying job or monetary sacrifice ]

Advanced Rashi: We make two points. First we have combined both interpretations of Rashi: a) the interpretation that muchness refers to money and b) the interpretation that muchness refers to all trials, successes and failures, of life.

Rashi notes the oddness that the climax ends with money. Rashi explicitly answers this For many people money is more important than their life. I think Rashi's point is that money is something you leave your heirs and therefore it is less distasteful to terminate your life if you have money to leave your heirs but if you have to lose your wealth you might not be willing to do so for the sake of religion. Note: This aspect of Rashi affects the way we analyze end-of-life issues since frequently a silent aspect of these decisions is that for example people are relunctant to fund non-conscious continuation of life. 


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