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 7 Number 17
Produced Sept 22, 2000
WARNING: USE FIX WIDTH FONTS (eg COURIER (NEW) 10)
Verses/Topics Discussed in This Issue with quicky explanations
v9-9-22a NEW WEBSITE UP IN ISRAEL FEATURING JEWISH LEARNING
WEEKLY PARSHAH SERIES
Dt29-15a Some Rashis show meanings. Other rashsi show
the connections between various paragraphs
Dt29-18a The HITPAEL Grammatical mode indicates
INTERACTIVE activity. About a dozen examples
are presented from various Rashis.
Rashis covered in this issue
----------------------------
VERSE RULE BRIEF EXPLANATION
======== ============== =================
Dt29-15a OVERALL STRCTR Rashi shows CONNECTIONS of sentences
Dt29-17a OVERALL STRCTR Rashi shows CONNECTIONS of sentences
Dt29-17b OVERALL STRCTR Rashi shows CONNECTIONS of sentences
Dt29-17c OVERALL STRCTR Rashi shows CONNECTIONS of sentences
Dt29-18a USAGE The hitpael means INTERACTIVE activity
Dt29-18b USAGE The hitpael means INTERACTIVE activity
Gn26-20a USAGE The hitpael means INTERACTIVE activity
Gn26-20b USAGE The hitpael means INTERACTIVE activity
Ex08-05a USAGE The hitpael means INTERACTIVE activity
Gn06-09c USAGE The hitpael means INTERACTIVE activity
Nu22-29a USAGE The hitpael means INTERACTIVE activity
Ex10-02a USAGE The hitpael means INTERACTIVE activity
Nu11-18a USAGE The hitpael means INTERACTIVE activity
Dt01-21a USAGE The hitpael means INTERACTIVE activity
Dt04-37a USAGE The hitpael means INTERACTIVE activity
-----------------------------------------------------------------
#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*# (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: v9-9-22a
Arutz Sheva, the Israelie news station is experimenting with a
Jewish Learning Website.
On this website you can find links to many major Jewish Learning
sites such as Torah-Org (Formerly Project Genesis), the Chafetz
Chaiim institute, Learn with a buddy etc.
To visit this website go to: http://www.JewishUniverse.Net/
Then go to TORAH---->LEARNING LINKS
Oh...RashiYomi is at the bottom of the page
Pay a visit
#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*# (C) Dr Hendel, 2000 *#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*
VERSE: Dt29-15a
RASHIS COVERED: Dt29-15a Dt29-17a Dt29-17b Dt29-17c
RULE: Sometimes the Bible presents several sentences or
paragraphs whose meaning is clear. However the CONNECTION between
these paragraphs is not clear. In such a case Rashis job is NOT
to explain the meaning of WORDS but rather the CONNECTION of
PARAGRAPHS. We call this the rule of OVERALL STRUCTURE.
EXAMPLES
--------
1) A simple example would be the ARTSCROLL translation of the
Talmud. One of the novelties of the ARTSCROLL translation is
to not only translate the words but to emphasize the CONNECTION
between each Talmudic paragraph.
2) We present Dt29-09:13 with the CONNECTION of paragraphs
introduced by Rashi
-----1) Dt29-09:10 WHO IS HERE:"You are all here before God"
-----2A)--Dt29-11 WHAT'S THE GOAL:To make a CONVENANT
-----2B)--Dt29-11 WHAT'S THE GOAL:To make a CURSE
----------2A1) Dt29-12 THE CONVENANT: You will be Gods nation
----------2A2) Dt29-13:14 WHO IS CONVENANT WITH: You & children
-*1-------2B1) Dt29-15:16 THE CURSE: SINCE you saw idols in Egypt,
-*2-*3-*4-2B1) Dt29-17--------- PERHAPS you want to go astray
----------2B1) Dt29-18-------MAYBE you think you'll escape curse
------------------Know that if you go astray you'll be punished
NOTES:
------
*1 Dt29-15a"The word KI means SINCE
connecting it to the next verse"
Rashi explicitly says in Dt29-15a that the 4 verses Dt29-15:18
are all connected as one sentence. "SINCE you saw idols in
Egypt PERHAPS one of you wants to stray". Thus Rashi
translates the Hebrew word KI as SINCE. Other examples of
2 verses forming one sentence are:
{LIST} {2 verses which form one sentence}
2 VERSES COMPOUND SENTENCE
-------- -----------------
Gn01-29:30 I've given vegetation TO YOU to eat &
also TO THE ANIMALS
Dt02-16:17 When they all died,
God spoke to me
Dt29-10:11 You are all standing before God ..elders...
& Children, & wives.....
Dt29-15:17 SINCE you were in Egypt and many other nations
& you saw their idols
PERHAPS 1 of you is thinking about idol-worship
Eccl7-20:21 WHEN everyone in the country is sinning
THEN don't pay attention to what people murmur
about you
*2 Rashi Dt29-17a ingeniously identifies the word PERHAPS with
the CURSE-SWEAR formula. To illustrate this consider Reuvens
promise that he would bring back Benjamin from a trip to Egypt
In English,Reuven would say "I swear I will bring him back"
But in Biblical Hebrew Reuven said"May my sons die IF I DO NOT
bring him back" In other words the CURSE formula requires
an expression, not of affirmation, but rather of doubt, like
IF NOT or PERHAPS/LEST (Note that the Hebrew word PEN means
both PERHAPS and LEST).
Please find below a table of oaths/curses using the IF NOT
style.
{LIST2} {The language of OATH is I SWEAR IF I DIDN'T...}
VERSE LANGUAGE OF CURSE--"swear IF NOT..."
------- --------------------------------------------
Dt11-28 May I be CURSED IF I DOn't observe Gods laws
Ex22-10 Take an OATH IF he DID NOT violate property
Nu05-19 She will SWEAR her IF she DID NOT do adultery
Gn42-37 May my 2 sons die IF I DO NOT bring him back
Gn31-52 This monument is witness IF I will NOT violate it
Dt29-17 You will be cursed LEST you go astray
*3 Dt29-17b The Hebrew word PEN means PERHAPS or LEST
Rashi explicitly identifies the Hebrew word PeN with the
concept of LEST. As just shown in FOOTNOTE 2 this
corresponds to the concept of the "CURSE IF NOT" style.
Our explanation that Rashi is commenting on Structure
is in agreement with the Rashi commentator the RAAM.
We have also answered the question of the Rashi
commentator Sifsay Chachamim on why Rashi explained
that the meaning of the Hebrew word PEN means
PERHAPS/LEST: The answer is Rashi was emphasizing the
CURSE formula 'MAY YOU BE CURSED LEST'
(In passing the Hebrew word PEN always means PERHAPS or
LEST and never means DONT. However the compound phrase
WATCH YOURSELF ...LEST is an indication of a prohibition.
This explains the verses brought by the sifsay chachamim.)
*4 Dt29-17c The verse is addressing the curse part of the
convenant to the people standing there that day
Dt29-17 says "LEST there be a person whose heart goes astray
TODAY...." Rashi points out that the word TODAY links
back to the words TODAY that occur in many other verses
in this chapter
{LIST3} {Verses with the LINK word TODAY}
VERSE TEXT WITH TODAY
----- ---------------
Dt29-09 You are standing TODAY before God
Dt29-11 To make a convenant with you TODAY
Dt29-12 In order to make you TODAY to a nation
Dt29-14 The convenant is with those who stand with us TODAY
Dt29-17 Lest someone is thinking of going astray TODAY
In other words Rashi points out that Dt29-17 and Dt29-11
both refer to the CONVENANT and OATH/CURSE being made.
Dt29-11 To make a convenant TODAY
Dt29-17 You will be cursed if you think of going astray TODAY
RULE USED: OVERALL STRUCTURE
#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*# (C) Dr Hendel, 2000 *#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*
VERSE: Dt29-18a
RASHIS COVERED: Dt29-18a Dt29-18b Gn26-20a Gn26-20b Ex08-05a
Gn06-09c Nu22-29a Ex10-02a Nu11-18a Dt01-21a
Dt04-37a
RULE: Every Hebrew verb can be conjugated in any of 7 MODES.
Each MODE may have a different meaning. The HITPAEL mode
means to be INTERACTIVE with someone else.
EXAMPLES
--------
(1)Gn26-20a
Gn26-20b The Root Ayin-Shin-Kuf means WITHOLD WAGES
The Hitpael Form means to BICKER ABOUT PROPERTY
Hence Gn26-20a "And they BICKERED with him about the ownership"
(Note that we identify roots with a Shin and Sin; this can
easily be justified by a {LIST})
(2) Ex08-05a The root Pay-Aleph-Resh means to GLORIFY or BRAG
The Hitpael form means to CHALLENGE (that is to
BRAG thru interacting with someone else. Here is
the Rashi).
Ex08-05a Moses said to Pharoh...'you want the frogs removed
...well pick an exact time for their removal and
if my God doesn't remove them by then you can brag
how you outsmarted me'
(3) Gn06-09c The root Hey-Lamed-Caph means TO WALK
The hitpael form mean TO WALK WITH SOMEONE--ie
to FOLLOW HIS WAYS (eg so when used with God it
means to follow a Godly life--(Rashi further
distinguished between WALK TO and WALK OF...but
we have explained this on Gn06-09c)
(4) Dt01-21a
Dt04-37a The root Aleph-Nun-Pay means anger (eg Isa12-1,Ps2-12)
The Hitpael form means, according to Rashi, 'to be
FILLED with anger'
I suppose that means that you
are not only internally angry but you get picky
on everything the person does--you allow, the person
you are angry with, no way out---every attempt at
apology is met with more anger (So you are
INTERACTIVELY angry)
(5) Nu11-18a The root Kuf-Dalet-Shin means to PREPARE / DEDICATE
Thus it can be used to DESIGNATE a DAY of fasting
and prayer. Or it can be used to designate an
animal for a sacrifice. The Hitpael form would
mean to INTERACTIVELY PREPARE---TO PREPARE AS
A COMMUNITY. Thus on Nu11-18a Rashi says to the
community, "Prepare yourself for Gods punishment
for the way you have complained"
(6) Ex10-02a
(7) Nu22-29a
The original meaning of the root AYIN-LAMED-LAMED
is to prune grapes from a vine.
Hence in the Kal Mode it can also mean to HARASS
To eg continuously bicker away at somebody till
he gives in.
The clearest proof of this is Jer6-9 "And they
will HARASS (Ayin-Lamed-Lamed) away at the Jews
the way a grape-vine is pruned (Ayin-Lamed-Lamed)"
In the hitpael mode Ayin-Lamed-Lamed would mean
to interactively harass---I guess the closest
meaning would be 'to sport' with someone.
The difference between HARASS and SPORT is that
in HARASS you just want to eat away at someone.
By contrast, when you SPORT with someone you
don't just harass someone but you also provoke
them into fighting with you.
Rashi actually brings a list of verses to
support this distinction.
{LIST} {Verses where the root AYIN-LAMED-LAMED can mean
harass to 'to sport'}
VERSE Ayin-Lamed-Lamed Text
----- ---------------- --------------------------------
------------------------------------------------------
In the following verses Ayin-Lamed-Lamed means harass
------------------------------------------------------
Lam1-22 Harass Harass them,God,like they did to me
Lam1-12 Harass The harassment that God brought on me
--------------------------------------------------------
In the following verses Ayin-Lamed-Lamed means to sport
Thus God 'provoked' Egypt into fighting back by
hardening Pharohs heart in order to show Gods might
--------------------------------------------------------
Ex10-02a To Sport How I sported with Egypt
Jud19-25 To Sport*1 They sported with her all night
Nu22-29a To sport*1 I am the donkey you always sport with
*1 In both these verses 'to sport' is interpreted sexually.
Note how the Talmuds assertion that Bilam 'sported' with his
donkey means sexual interaction is based on grammar (use of
the hitpael) not on politics or a desire to defame him.
(8) Dt29-18a The root Bet-Resh-Caph means to BLESS
Gn26-04a In the hitpael it refers to INTERACTIVE BLESSING
Rashi gives the following example
eg When a father wishes to bless his son or friend
he will say 'May you be blessed like Abraham'
Similarly in Dt29-18a we could interpret it as
'The person who sins fancies himself as a blessing
to his people; he thinks he is a leader leading them
to peace.'
COMMENT: Note how this intepretation answers the question in
Rashi on Dt29-28a: The NATION is punished for the deeds of the
INDIVIDUAL because the NATION followed him and put up with him
See a similar theological Rashi on Lv20-05
#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*# (C) Dr Hendel, 2000 *#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*
THE 2 DOZEN RASHI-IS-SIMPLE RASHI RULES
http://www.RashiYomi.Com/rules.htm
=======================================
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 *#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*