Rashi-Is-Simple Mailing List
VISIT the RASHI DATABASE archives AT
http://www.RashiYomi.Com
Surfing the Talmudic Seas
(C) Dr Russell Jay Hendel, 2000
Volume 6 Number 22
Produced Jul 13, 2000
WARNING: USE FIX WIDTH FONTS (eg COURIER (NEW) 10)
Verses/Topics Discussed in This Issue with quicky explanations
--------------------------------------------------------------
WEEKLY PARSHAH
We finish our series of Rashis on the 4 methods by
which Rashi connects themes in consecutive paragraphs
This technique helps us understand the Rashis on
Nu20-01a and Nu20-02b which occur in this weeks Parshah
ILLUSTRATION OF THE TECHNIQUE OF LISTS
The Rashis covered today necessitate 8 lists
dealing with the overall structure of chapters.
Whoever wishes to learn the art of making lists
should carefully review the examples in this
posting.
Rashis covered in this issue
----------------------------
VERSE RULE BRIEF EXPLANATION
===== ==== =================
Nu20-01z Overall Strctr 4 methods for combining paragraphs
Nu13-02a Overall Strctr 4 methods for combining paragraphs
Nu26-64a Overall Strctr 4 methods for combining paragraphs
Nu27-12a Overall Strctr 4 methods for combining paragraphs
Nu15-41d Overall Strctr 4 methods for combining paragraphs
Dt33-07a Overall Strctr 4 methods for combining paragraphs
Nu08-02a Overall Strctr 4 methods for combining paragraphs
Ex17-08a Overall Strctr 4 methods for combining paragraphs
Ex21-01a Overall Strctr 4 methods for combining paragraphs
--------------------------------------------------------------
#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*# (C) Dr Hendel, 2000 *#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#
RASHI IS SIMPLE
GOALS: To grammatically defend all 8000 Rashis on Chumash.
METHOD:Rashis are defended with LISTS of comparable cases
INTENDED AUDIENCE: Laymen, Academicians, Yeshiva world
COMMENTS,QUESTIONS: EMail to address below
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS:If you want to ask anonymously please ask
(UN)SUBSCRIBE: Email to addresses below with "(UN)subscribe"
JOURNAL REFERECE: Pshat & Drash,TRADITION, Win 1980,R Hendel
NOTATION: eg Gn01-02a refers to Rashi "a" on Genesis 1:2
SPECIALS:...on Parshah,Rambam,Ramban,Pedagogy,Symbolism
RASHI-IS-SIMPLE RULES Complete set of rules on bottom
EMAIL: RJHendel@Juno.Com, rashi-is-simple@shamash.org,
WEB: http://www.RashiYomi.Com/
#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*# (C) Dr Hendel, 2000 *#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#
VERSE: Nu20-01z
In Nu20-01b we saw how Rashi and the Sages had 3 approachs
to the themes in consecutive paragraphs. We showed
3 methods of connecting consecutive paragraphs last time
--The 1st paragraph CAUSED the 2nd
--The 1st paragraph was a MERIT enabling the 2nd
--The 2nd paragraph holds EVEN THOUGH the 1st holds
We now deal with the 4th method---the 2 paragraphs have
a common theme.
In the following examples, Rashi sees a COMMON THEME in
consecutive paragraphs. However, to fully appreciate Rashi
we must not only superficially see this common theme in the
GIVEN TWO paragraphs, we must also see this common theme in
ALL SURROUNDING paragraphs.
EXAMPLE Nu13-02a
----------------
Let us take a simple but clear example. On Nu13-02a Rashi
notes that the story of the SPIES comes right after the
story of MIRIAM being punished with Leprosy.
SUPERFICIAL APPROACH TO RASHI
-----------------------------
On a superficial level Rashi says
"Both MIRIAM and the SPIES spoke SLANDER. Miriam spoke
slander against Moses (Nu12-02). Similarly the SPIES
slandered Gods promise to take us into Israel(Nu14-32)
Rashi even hilights this correspondence by ironically noting
"The spies should have learned from Miriam what happens
to people who slander"
PROFOUND APPROACH TO RASHI
--------------------------
But on a deeper level we note that a great deal of the book
of Numbers deals with the sin of SLANDER. We easily see
BOTH before and after Nu13-02a stories of slander
{LIST1} {Incidents of SLANDER in the book of numbers}
REF INCIDENT OF SLANDER VERSE
==== ============================================== ==========
Nu11 The people SLANDER God's food,the Manna,as bad Nu11-06:07
Nu12 Miryam SLANDERS Moses as being too haughty Nu12-02:03
Nu13 The spies SLANDER Israel Nu14-32
Nu16 Korach SLANDERS Israel Nu16-03
Nu20 Moses INSULTS/SLANDERS the Jews Nu20-10
Nu21 The people SLANDER the MANNA (again) Nu21-05
Nu22 Bilam attempts to CURSE the Jews Nu24-08
Furthermore EACH of the above incidents of slander was
accompanied by a specific punishment. Here is a list of
punishments
{LIST2} {List of punishments for SLANDER}
REF WHO SLANDERED WHO DID THEY SLANDER PUNISHMENT
=== ============= ==================== ==========
Nu11 Jews The Manna Vomiting disease
Nu12 Miriam Moses Leprosy
Nu13 Spies Land of Israel Death
Nu16 Korach Moses Earthquake/Fire
Nu20 Moses Jews Can't go to Israel
Nu21 Jews Manna Snake attack
Nu22 Bilam Jews Lost life in War
Thus the true understanding of Nu13-02a is not that Rashi
is being "cute" in pointing out the irony of "If the spies
had payed attention to what happened to Miriam they
wouldn't have been punished"---rather the true understanding
of Rashi is that Rashi is pointing out that the WHOLE book
of NUMBERS is dealing with slander which is a horrible sin
which is always punished.
The above example should prove typical of how to approach
Rashi in this matter. We now give the list of examples where
Rashi points out a commonality of theme. In each Rashi we
show how this theme permeates an entire book or chapter,
not just 2 or 3 verses. The footnotes detail this development
{LIST0} {Rashis noting a common theme to two consecutive
chapters. Please see the footnotes to see how
all surrounding chapters deal with the common
theme. For convenience we repeat the example
brought above dealing with slander}
# VERSE COMMON THEME CHAPTER 1 CHAPTER 2
=== ======== =============== =============== ================
*13 Nu13-02a Slander Miryam on Moses Spies on Israel
*14 Nu26-64a Entry to Israel Census Girl inheritance
*15 Nu27-12a Entry to Israel Girl inheritance Joshua and Moes
*16 Nu15-41d Important Laws Idolatry Sabbath
*17 Dt33-07a Repentance Reuven Judah
*18 Nu08-02a Temple gifts Gold vessels Service
*19 Ex17-08a God cares for us Water-Manna Defeat of Amalek
*20 Ex21-01a A Just life The Altar Monetary Law
*21 Nu20-01b Atonement Red Heiffer Miryam's death
NOTES
-----
*13 We have already explained that much of the book of numbers
deals with incidents of slander {LIST1} and punishments
for incidents of slander {LIST2}.
Thus Rashis real point is not so much that the incident
of the spies came after the incident of Miriam but
rather that the whole book of Numbers deals with this
sin.
Rashi will typically summarize a technical abstract
point by noting some irony or pun. In this case
Rashi says "If the spies had listened to Miriam
they wouldn't have failed".
{LIST1} {Incidents of SLANDER in the book of numbers}
REF INCIDENT OF SLANDER VERSE
==== ============================================== ==========
Nu11 The people SLANDER God's food,the Manna,as bad Nu11-06:07
Nu12 Miryam SLANDERS Moses as being too haughty Nu12-02:03
Nu13 The spies SLANDER Israel Nu14-32
Nu16 Korach SLANDERS Israel Nu16-03
Nu20 Moses INSULTS/SLANDERS the Jews Nu20-10
Nu21 The people SLANDER the MANNA (again) Nu21-05
Nu22 Bilam attempts to CURSE the Jews Nu24-08
{LIST2} {List of punishments for SLANDER}
REF WHO SLANDERED WHO DID THEY SLANDER PUNISHMENT
=== ============= ==================== ==========
Nu11 Jews The Manna Vomiting disease
Nu12 Miriam Moses Leprosy
Nu13 Spies Land of Israel Death
Nu16 Korach Moses Earthquake/Fire
Nu20 Moses Jews Can't go to Israel
Nu21 Jews Manna Snake attack
Nu22 Bilam Jews Lost life in War
*14 Rashis real point is that all of the surrounding
*15 chapters deals with the PREPARATION TO ENTER
ISRAEL {LIST3}.
Again Rashi expresses this as a pun---"The census
was taken because of the spies who did NOT want
Israel while the following paragraph dealing
with the inheritance rights of the daughters
of Zlafchad deals with girls who DID want
land in Israel"
Despite the cuteness the deeper approach is to
view the entire set of chapters as dealing
with the preparations for entering Israel
{LIST3} {Chapters dealing with preparations for
entering Israel}
VERSE TEXT--CONNECTION WITH ISRAEL
========== ===============================================
Nu26-52:56 Laws of inheritance upon entry into Israel
Nu26-57:65 No more deaths from spy sin;punishment complete
Nu27-01:11 Inheritance laws in families without men
Nu27-12:23 Moses appoints Joshua to succeed him
Nu28-01:39 The holiday sacrifices (Unites Jews in Israel)
Nu31-01:54 Moses' final defensive battle (Nu31-02)
Nu32-01:42 Request of Gadites to have land outside of Israel
*16 As Rashi explicitly says
"This entire chapter deals with laws which are EQUAL
in importance to the whole Torah and all of Judaism"
See {LIST4}
{LIST4} {Commandments equal in importance to the whole Torah}
VERSE MITZVAH WHY THIS COMMANDMENT IS FUNDAMENTAL
========= ======== ===================================
Nu15-22:31 Idolatry Acceptance of God is fundamental
Nu15-32:36 Sabbath Acknowledging Gods creation
Nu15-37-41 Tzitzith Helps remember ALL commandments(Nu15-40)
*17 Rashi--the master of puns and coincidences. Rashi notes
that Reuben repented from the sin of inteferring with
his fathers marital life. Rashi notes
"Reuben repenting from his sin encouraged Judah
to repent from his sins (of recommending selling
Joseph and of sentencing Tamar to death)"
Actually, Rashi suggests that the WHOLE chapter of Dt33
is organized by the theme of repentance. Those tribes
that are known for their repentance are listed first
while those who are not so well known are listed later
See {LIST5}
{LIST5} {Ordering of Dt33 by the common theme of repentance}
Tribe What sin did they abstain/repent from
====== =====================================
Reuben He inteferred with his fathers marital life (Gn49-04)
Judah He repented from trying to execute Tamar(Gn38-26)
Levi This tribe did not sin with the Golden calf(Ex33-26)
Bnyamin Binyamin never sinned(see our explanations of Gn45-14)
Joseph Joseph outgrew his immaturity & became king(Gn37-02)
*18 Rashis point is that
--the other tribes brought RESOURCES for the temple
such as animals for sacrifices and vessel
--by contrast the priests contribute SERVICES to the
temple
*19 Rashi again makes some puns and associations
"I (God)just gave you the Manna and you think I don't
care for you. So I will let Amalek attack you and
then you will have to pray to me and be aware that
I do care for you"
But Rashis real point is that ALL the surrounding chapters
(not just 2) deal with Gods care for the Jews {LIST6}
{LIST6} {Chapters showing Gods care for the Jews}
VERSE HOW GOD CARES FOR US
========== ============================================
Ex13-17:22 God takes us out of Egypt
Ex14-01:25 God splits the sea to save us from Egypt
Ex14-26:31 God drowns the Egyptians in the sea
Ex15-22:26 God sweetens sour water for the 600,000 Jews
Ex16-01:36 God provides the Jews with Manna food
Ex17-01:16 God saves the Jews from Amalek
*20 Again Rashi by way of pun notes that the Parliament sat
IN the temple and "therefore the altar is mentioned
near the Judicial code"
But Rashi is not connecting JUST 2 chapters but rather
Rashi is connecting a whole sequence of chapters dealing
with laws that enable us to live a just & good life
See {LIST7}
Some hilights are as follows: While Ex23 deals with
the laws for HOLIDAYS and the 7th YEAR nevertheless
the emphasis in Ex23 is on letting the STRANGER
and POOR have a respite(eg Ex23-09, Ex23-12)
Furthermore the ALTAR was an intrinsic part of the
Judicial code--for all law is based on the backup
of court procedures which in turn is based on the
oath. If a person took an oath falsely he had
to bring a sacrifice (Lv05). Similarly if a
person robbed a convert who had no children
then he needed a sacrifice to atone (Lv06).
Thus the altar was an intrinsic part of the
judicial code.
{LIST7} {Chapter deals with living a just & good life}
VERSE CONNECTION WITH THE "JUST AND GOOD LIFE"
========== ==============================================
Ex20-01:14 God gives the 10 commandments
Ex20-15:23 Altar atones for oaths & certain theft(Lv05:06)
Ex21:22 God gives us the Monetary Judicial Code
Ex23 God gives holidays & 7th year to help the poor
*21 Rashi superficially notes that both the Red Heiffer and
the death of the righteous (ie Miryam) atones. But on
a profound level the surrounding chapters are all
dealing with atonement. See {LIST8} which is greatly
curtailed but gives much food for thought.
{LIST8} {Chapters dealing with atonement}
VERSE CONNECTION WITH ATONEMENT
========== ===============================
Nu17-01:05 The robs of the rebellion ATONE
Nu17-06:15 The Ketoreth offering ATONES
Nu17-16:28 The flowering sticks ATONE
Nu18-01:20 The Priestly gifts ATONE
Nu18-21-32 The Levite gifts ATONE
Nu19-01:22 The Red Heiffer ATONES
Nu20-01:29 The death of the Righteous(Miriam,Aaron,Moses)ATONES
#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*# (C) Dr Hendel, 2000 *#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#
THE 2 DOZEN RASHI-IS-SIMPLE RASHI RULES
=======================================
I: RASHI gives MEANING
======================
A: NEW MEANINGS--(eg)"on the face of"=during the lifetime
Volume 2 Number 9, http://www.rashiyomi.Com/Nu04-04a.htm
B: SPECIAL WORDS--(eg)ACH=USUALLY;USUALLY observe shabbath!
Rashi Yomi Summaries,http://www.RashiYomi.Com/Ach-6.htm
C: SYNONYMS--(eg)AMR=to speak; DBR=to cite or to quote;
Volume 2 Number 1, http://www.RashiYomi.Com/Lv20-02a.htm
D: WORD MEANINGS-Thermos(TzNTzNTh)=doubly(TZN TZN) Cold(TZN)
Volume 1 Number 9,23,http://www.RashiYomi.Com/Ex31-15a.htm
E: UNIFIED MEANINGS-PAAM=Repeated action:To Ring,Hammer,Step
Volume 1 Number 3,http://www.RashiYomi.Com/Gn41-08a.htm
II: RASHI teaches GRAMMAR/STYLE
===============================
F: CLASSICAL GRAMMAR--(eg)QUESTION = HEY+CHATAF PATACH
Volume 3 Number 22,http://www.RashiYomi.Com/Gn04-09z.htm
G: USAGE(NEW GRAMMAR)--(eg)INFINITIVE="be involved in";
Volume 5 Number 24,http://www.RashiYomi.Com/Ex13-03a.htm
H: ROOT+PREPOSITION--(eg)ChZK B="to hold";ChZK M="overpower"
Volume 1 Number 7,http://www.RashiYomi.Com/Ex04-04a.htm
I: THE SENTENCE--2 verses can make 1 sentence-eg Dt02-16:17
Volume 3 Number 7,http://www.RashiYomi.Com/Dt19-06a.htm
J: STYLE--REPETITION denotes Endearment;eg 'Jacob Jacob'
Volume 1 Number 12,http://www.RashiYomi.Com/Gn46-02a.htm
K: DOUBLE NOUNS--(eg)"GIVE GIVE";if not CHARITY then LOAN
Double Noun page, http://www.RashiYomi.Com/DN.htm
L: PRONOUNS-(eg)IMCHAH=with you; ITCHAH=Accompanying you;
Volume 3 Number 13,http://www.RashiYomi.Com/Ex22-24c.htm
III: OVERALL TEXTUAL STRUCTURE
==============================
M: OTHER VERSES--Aaron SAW(Ex32-05)...the brawl(Ex32-18)
OTHER VERSE page, http://www.RashiYomi.Com/ov.htm
N: EXTRA SENTENCES-eg[GIVE HIM][WHAT HE NEEDS](Not if rich)
Volume 2 Number 20,http://www.RashiYomi.Com/Dt15-08c.htm
O: DOUBLE PARSHAS-'he WILL pray'-'he WON'T pray';So Optional
Volume 3 Number 12,http://www.RashiYomi.Com/Dt24-14a.htm
P: CLIMAX-(eg Dt19-11)(a)Hate, (b)spy, (c)confront,(d)Murder
Climax Page, http://www.RashiYomi.Com/Climax.htm
Q: OVERALL STRUCTURE-growing nails=despisement(from context)
Volume 3 Number 8,http://www.RashiYomi.Com/Dt21-11a.htm
R: SPREADSHEETS-What is the marriage loophole in inheritance
Volume 2 Number 23,http://www.RashiYomi.Com/Nu36-03a.htm
IV: BEYOND THE TEXT
===================
S: MORAL LESSONS/REASONS-God explains BEFORE punishing;
Volume 2 Number 12,http://www.RashiYomi.Com/Nu12-09a.htm
T: RabbiIshmael-(eg)"When an OX gores";(Or ANY animal gores)
Volume 4 Number 21,http://www.RashiYomi.Com/Dt25-04a.htm
End of Rashi-Is-Simple Digest
#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*# (C) Dr Hendel, 2000 *#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*