FULL-DEFICIENT:3 methods:#6 of 12
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# 10 YEAR Ayelet DAILY-RASHI-YOMI CYCLE #
# May 22, 2000 #
# Rashis 60-61 Of 7800 (0.8%) #
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# Reprinted with permission from Rashi-is-Simple, #
# (c) 1999-Present, Dr. Hendel #
# http://www.shamash.org/rashi #
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In this series we will review all Rashis on
>FULL &
>DEFICIENT SPELLINGS
A person completing this module will be able him or herself to
naturally produce the same interpretations as Rashi and Chazal.
We 1st illustrate the meaning of these terms using simple English
examples. There are two methods
METHOD 1
--------
The word
>SLEEP
can be spelled
>SLEP (deficiently spelled without the extra e)
>SLEEP (fully spelled with all e's)
In METHOD 1 if a verse said
>He tried to get some SLEP
the proper midrashic response would be
>He tried to get a good night SLEP
but
>did not succeed.
The argument would be
>Since the word SLEP is spelled deficiently
>we learn that the sleep itself was deficient.
In other words in METHOD 1 we transfer the
>deficiency in the SPELLING (SLE P)
to a
>deficiency in the OBJECT or ACTIVITY spoken about(Can't sleep)
METHOD 2
--------
The word
>KITE
can be spelled
>KIT (Deficiently--it is missing (deficient) 1 letter e)
or
>KITE (Fully with the E)
In METHOD 2 we interpret the deficiently spelled word as a pun.
We actually give the sentence a double meaning. Thus if a sentence
said
>The father bought his son a KIT to fly in the park
Then since KITE is spelled KIT, we would midrashically interpret
this to mean
>The father bought his son a KITE
>The father also bought his son a KITten!
Rashis position is that this interpretation of FULL vs DEFICIENT is
a grammatical rule and is part of the intended meaning of the
sentence.
In this unit we again give one more example of
>interpreting DEFICIENT spelling using the PUN method
>interpreting DEFICIENT spelling using the DEFICIENT person method
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EXAMPLE 11: Gn19-01c
----------
>Gn19-01c And Lot WAS SITTING in the gates of Sedom
>RASHI: The word
>SAT
is spelled deficiently.
The FULL spelling would be interpreted
>WAS SITTING
We will see below that in the Bible
>SITTING = Member of the BENCH=JUDGE
The DEFICIENT spelling would be interpreted
>HAD SAT
We will see below that in the Bible
>SITTING AMONG= an accepted CITIZEN
This suggests using a PUN.
Lot both
>SAT and WAS SITTING
This suggests
>He was appointed as JUDGE that DAY
So Since he was appointed
>he WAS SITTING
Since it was THAT DAY,therefore, before then,
>he only SAT (amongst the people)
>he was just an ordinary citizen
REVIEW of Gn19-01 and Gn23-10
------------------------------
Notice how we interpreted Gn19-01c and Gn23-10a the same way.
One verse is speaking about EPHRON and one verse about LOT
In both of them the word
>SAT
is spelled deficiently.
*In both of them
>the FULL SPELLING = HE WAS SITTING
>the DEFICIENT SPELLING = He (had) SAT
*In both of them we interpret this as a pun
*In both of them we interpret
>SITTING IN A COMMUNITY=A prestegious appointment
*In both of them we interpret as a separate sentence (PUN)
>SAT = He Had SAT (Among the people)=Was a citizen
*So in both of them we interpret
>SAT/SIT = He was appointed THAT day
>
>THAT day he WAS SITTING
>Before then he HAD SAT
--------------------------------------------------
|Homework Exercise 8, 9, 10 |
|---------------------- |
|In the above verse we interpret |
| >SITTING in a community=an APPOINTMENT |
|In fact we intepreted |
| >SITTING = Member of the BENCH=Judge |
|But perhaps |
| >SITTING in a community=he was a citizen! |
|We in fact suggested this alternate CITIZEN |
|interpretation by EPHRON. Here in Gn19-01 by |
|Lot we interpret it as JUDGESHIP, the BENCH |
|Why? |
| |
|Question 8: Can you find a verse in Gn19 |
|---------- supporting Rashis claim that Lot |
| was a Judge? |
| |
|QUESTION 9: Can you, using a Konkordance find |
|----------- another very obscure hint that |
| Lot was a judge? (hard question) |
| |
|QUESTION 10: I suggested that |
|------------ >Sitting among the people=citizen|
| |
| Using a Konkordance or CD ROM |
| can you find a verse where |
| SITTING = A CITIZEN |
--------------------------------------------------
In EXAMPLE 11 we used the PUN method of interpreting DEFICIENT
spelling. In EXAMPLE 12 we use the DEFICIENCY/BAD method
EXAMPLE 12: Lv26-42a
----------
>Lv25-42a And I will remember my convenant with Jacob
>RASHI: The word
>JACOB
is spelled FULL
So we see JACOB "FULLY", in all his characteristics
Normally Jacob symoblizes EXILE
However the full meaning of JACOB symbolizes BOTH
>EXILE and REDEMPTION
Since JACOB is spelled FULL in the sentence
>I will remember my convenant with JACOB
a reasonable interpretation is that
>the FULL Jacob = The REDEMPTIVE aspect of Jacob
----------------------------------------------------
| QUESTION 11: |
| ------------ |
| We just said that |
| >JACOB |
| symbolizes |
| >EXILE/REDEMPTION |
|Why? How do I know this? |
| |
|Can you find an explicit verse where it says that |
| >JACOB = REDEMPTION |
|HINT: Look in the Parshah of VAYCHI |
----------------------------------------------------
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| QUESTION 12: |
| ----------- |
| We have had 3 examples where |
|>DEFICIENT/FULL = a DEFICIENT(Bad)/FULL(Good) person|
| (They are Gn38-27b, Gn25-24b and Lev25-42a ) |
| |
| Tomorrow we do a 4th example |
| Gn23-16a EPHRON (is spelled deficientlY) |
| Can you read the chapter Gn23 and find out why he |
| he was considered a DEFICIENT/BAD person |
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ANSWERS: #8) Gn19-09, #9) "Sitting in GATE (Gn19-01) cf Amos5-15
#10) 2King04-13 #11) Gn49-01
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