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#*#*# (C) RashiYomi Inc. 2008, Dr. Hendel, President #*#*#
      2. RASHI METHOD: WORD MEANING
      BRIEF EXPLANATION: The meaning of words can be explained either by
      • (2a) translating an idiom, a group of words whose collective meaning transcends the meaning of its individual component words,
      • (2b) explaining the nuances and commonality of synonyms-homographs,
      • (2c) describing the usages of connective words like also,because,if-then, when,
      • (2d) indicating how grammatical conjugation can change word meaning
      • (2e) changing word meaning using the figures of speech common to all languages such as irony and oxymorons.
      This examples applies to Rashis Ex26-26a
      URL Reference: (c) http://www.Rashiyomi.com/w33n9.htm
      Brief Summary: Beth-Resh-Cheth refers to a paradox when an open space is protective as in FLEEING, CENTER-BOARDS.

Today is a peach of an example showing the greatness of the Talmudic sages in understanding all aspects of the Biblical text and language.

Rashi believed that Biblical verbs are conjugated using triliteral roots. Rashi also believed that just as 3 letter roots are useful for grammatical conjugation, so too, are 1 and 2 letter roots useful for semantic conjugation, that is, for understanding the meaning of the words. Rashi, like other Talmudic sages, used their great power of analyticity to expose underlying unities in the disparate meanings of the same root. These two techniques - the 2 letter root and the unifying meaning - are beautifully illustrated in today's example.

Verse Ex26-28 states And the center bar in the midst of the boards shall reach from end to end. Rashi explains: What is the center-bar. The wall of the Temple consisted of a series of upright boards. These boards were hollowed and a center-board was placed through them thus providing support for the wall.

Rashi inferred this from the Hebrew root used:Beth-Resh-Cheth. The Hebrew letter Beth means house. The Hebrew 2-letter root Resh-Cheth means open space. Using the 2-letter method we infer that Beth-Resh-Cheth means the open space is a house.

Let us test this proposed explanation - the open space is a house - against the two meanings of the Hebrew root Beth-Resh-Cheth. Beth-Resh-Cheth means fleeing. A Fleer is a person who finds a refuge and home in open spaces. There is a paradox here. The fleer does not feel at home in his own home and house. He must flee because of danger. The open space which homes normally protect from by giving shelter paradoxically gives the fleer a new home.

The second meaning of Beth-Resh-Cheth is center board. Here too we see a paradox. Normally a hollow in a board is a sign of structural weakness. However the center-board by filling this hollow creates home-like-protection precisely through this open space.

So both the center board and fleer find or give protection in an open space, where protection is normally not found. This confirms the etymological derivation a home in open space.

Praise be Him who chose them and their learning.


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