1. RASHI METHOD: REFERENCES BRIEF EXPLANATION: Commentary on a verse is provided thru a cross-reference to another verse. The cross references can either provide (1a) further details, (1b) confirm citations, or (1c) clarify word meaning. This examples applies to Rashis Dt16-11a URL Reference: (c) http://www.Rashiyomi.com/rule1304.htm Brief Summary: Dt16-11a requiring sharing Holiday happiness with family, levites, widows, orphans and poor REFERENCES Dt14-29 which makes blessing dependent on this sharing.

Verse Dt16-11a discussing the enjoyment of the festivals states ##### Rashi notes that the underlined words, and the Levite who is inside your gates, and the non-citizen, and the orphan, and the widow, who are among you references verses Dt14-28:29 discussing the enjoyment on festivals which requires remembering the poor. Hence the Rashi comment The statement that besides rejoicing with your family you must rejoice with the Levite, non-citizens, orphans and widows references verse Dt14-29 which explicitly states that in order to merit God's blessings you must share with these underprivileged groups.

Text of Target Verse Dt16-11a	Text of Reference Verse Dt14-28:29
#####	At the end of three years you shall bring forth all the tithe of your produce in that year, and shall lay it up inside your gates; #####
Rashi comments: The statement that besides rejoicing with your family you must rejoice with the Levite, non-citizen, orphan and widow references verse Dt14-29 which explicitly states that in order to merit God's blessings you must share with these underprivileged groups.

Advanced Rashi: Rashi literally says There are four household members mentioned: 1) your son, 2) your daughter, 3) your male servants and 4) your female servants. I, God added four members who are so to speak my household members: 1) The Levite 2) The non citizen, 3) the widow and 4) orphan. If you help my household members I will help your household members.

It appears that Rashi is aligning the four and four. However there is no Rashi rule which would justify this. Furthermore, you cannot make inferences based on such numerical alignments. Therefore I sought a standard Rashi rule that would justify Rashi's inference. I found that the idea that gladdening these 4 categories will earn you God's merit explicitly referenced in Dt14-29. It immediately follows that this Rashi is using the reference rule. Rashi's language is a formulation of his comment as a clever pun on numerical coincidence to help people remember the comment - however the real driving force of the Rashi comment is the reference rule.

The serious student of Rashi is encouraged to review the above example until they fully understand it since this example shows how to differentiate between the true reason for Rashi vs. the form in which he states his comments. This study will lead to a more meaningful acceptance of Rashi comments since they are accepted based on rules that may be repeatedly used!