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#*#*# (C) RashiYomi Inc. 2008, Dr. Hendel, President #*#*#
      9. RASHI METHOD: NonVerse
      BRIEF EXPLANATION: The common denominator of the 3 submethods of the NonVerse method is that inferences are made from non textual material. The 3 submethods are as follows:
      • Spreadsheet: Rashi makes inferences of a numerical nature that can be summarized in a traditional spreadsheet
      • Geometric: Rashi clarifies a Biblical text using descriptions of geometric diagrams
      • Fill-ins: Rashi supplies either real-world background material or indicates real-world inferences from a verse. The emphasis here is on the real-world, non-textual nature of the material.
      This example applies to Rashis Lv20-25a
      URL Reference: (c) http://www.Rashiyomi.com/w33n16.htm
      Brief Summary: Differentiate Kosher vs Non Kosher: a) Donkey vs Cow; b) Properly slaughtered vs improperly slaughtered.

    Verse Lv20-25a discussing knowledge requirements of kashruth states ###### Rashi clarifies the underlined words, differentiate between the Kosher beast and the non-Kosher:
      For example
    • Know the difference between a cow and donkey
    • Know the difference between properly slaughtered and improperly slaughtered
    The requirement to differentiate refers both to known differences such as the cow-donkey difference and to not-so-clear differences such as the properly-slaughtered-vs.-the non-properly-slaughtered.

Advanced Rashi: Two points should be made: First this Rashi is using Non-Verse logical methods. That is Rashi is not commenting on the meaning of words, grammar or comparisons with other verses. Rather Rashi is clarifying, through use of skillfully selected examples, a spectrum of applicable interpretations of the verse. Here Rashi uses raw logic to clarify the subtle shades of the verse's requirements.

A second point is that Rashi when literally translated seems to be saying something else: Does the verse mean I should know the difference between a cow and donkey. But this is well known. Rather the verse is teaching... However not all Kosher animals are known! For example we no longer know what the 24 birds mentioned in Lv11 refer to! So indeed, the verse is admonishing us that we must teach our children the obvious: the difference between a cow and donkey. Here is another way of looking at this: A person who teaches the difference between a cow and donkey, even though it is obvious, has thereby fulfilled the commandment in this verse to differentiate.

Rashi's literal language should therefore be interpreted contrastively. Besides teaching people the obvious - e.g. the difference between cow and donkey - one should also teach them the non-obvious - e.g. the difference between properly slaughtered and improperly slaughtered. Here is another way to look at this: The emphasis in the verse is on teaching the non-obvious - the difference between the properly slaughtered and non-properly slaughtered. However one should also teach the obvious differences such as the cow-donkey difference.


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