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Surfing the Talmudic Seas
(C) Dr Russell Jay Hendel, 2000
Volume 7 Number 4
Produced Aug 10 2000
WARNING: USE FIX WIDTH FONTS (eg COURIER (NEW) 10)
Verses/Topics Discussed in This Issue with quicky explanations
v9-8-10 Because of Tisha Beav one issue this week will
go out tonight while the other will go out
tomorrow by Afternoon. However they will both
be very short and packed with verses.
In this issue we cover the famous Rashi on
"LOVE thy Lord thy God". Rashi explains HOW
to Love God. Our job is to show that his
explanation is rooted in simple stylistic
principles.
Surprisingly the principle Rashi enunciates
is the principle of the HYPERLINK--it states
that a nifty way of presenting an idea is
FIRST to present a SHORT SUMMARY and THEN
to give DETAILS. This principle is explicitly
stated in a rather long Rashi.
Dt15-19b SERIES ON RABBI ISHMAEL'S RULES CONTINUED
The typical view is that 'every letter and word'
in the Bible has some meaning. A surprising Rashi
in Pesachim shows that Biblical examples were
usually not meant to be literal--but were meant
to be generalized. "The Bible used human conversational
style and was not picky on examples"
Dt06-06a WEEKLY PARSHAS SERIES CONTINUED
Rashi translates these verses by adding the word "BY"
"You should love your God, thy Lord BY placing
the words of the Torah on your heart and
making sharp summaries of them"
RASHI: In other words, the method of loving God
is by learning Torah and making sharp
Rashis covered in this issue
----------------------------
VERSE RULE BRIEF EXPLANATION
======== ============== =================
Dt15-19b RabbiIshmael Biblical examples should be generalized
Ex21-28a RabbiIshmael Biblical examples should be generalized
Ex21-17a RabbiIshmael Biblical examples should be generalized
Ex22-21a RabbiIshmael Biblical examples should be generalized
Ex22-30b RabbiIshmael Biblical examples should be generalized
Dt22-23a RabbiIshmael Biblical examples should be generalized
Dt23-11a RabbiIshmael Biblical examples should be generalized
Dt13-07f RabbiIshmael Biblical examples should be generalized
Dt25-04a RabbiIshmael Biblical examples should be generalized
Dt06-06a RabbiIshmael 1st state the HEADLINE:Then the DETAILS
Gn02-08a RabbiIshmael 1st state the HEADLINE:Then the DETAILS
Gn09-11a RabbiIshmael 1st state the HEADLINE:Then the DETAILS
Nu03-06a RabbiIshmael 1st state the HEADLINE:Then the DETAILS
Nu05-12d RabbiIshmael 1st state the HEADLINE:Then the DETAILS
Dt02-04a RabbiIshmael 1st state the HEADLINE:Then the DETAILS
Dt04-33c RabbiIshmael 1st state the HEADLINE:Then the DETAILS
Ex01-11b RabbiIshmael 1st state the HEADLINE:Then the DETAILS
Lv19-35a RabbiIshmael 1st state the HEADLINE:Then the DETAILS
Lv03-09a RabbiIshmael 1st state the HEADLINE:Then the DETAILS
Gn45-23a RabbiIshmael 1st state the HEADLINE:Then the DETAILS
Gn49-04b RabbiIshmael 1st state the HEADLINE:Then the DETAILS
Lv01-03a RabbiIshmael 1st state the HEADLINE:Then the DETAILS
--------------------------------------------------------------
#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*# (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/
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VERSE: Dt15-19b
RASHIS EXPLAINED: Ex21-28a Ex21-17a Ex22-21a Ex22-30b
Dt22-23a Dt23-11a Dt13-07f Dt15-19b
Dt25-04a
BACKGROUND:
-----------
In this volume, volume 7, of Rashi is Simple, we are presently
reviewing Rabbi Ishmael's Biblical rules of interpretation. Our
basic position is that Rabbi Ishmael's 13 rules of Biblical
interpretation govern EXAMPLES. Thus when learning the Chumash
you have to know
--Rules of GRAMMAR
--Rules of LOGIC
--Rules of STYLE & NUANCES
--Rabbi Ishmael's rules of EXAMPLES
The simplest illustration of Rabbi Ishmael's rules occurs
in Ex21-28a which states
"When the OX of an adult gores the ox of another person
...then payment shall be made (for damamges)"
A literal reading of the text would suggest that payment
is ONLY made if an OX did the goring. Of course, the law
is that you make payment if ANY animal of yours did damage.
In other words, the EXAMPLE, OX, is generalized to mean
any ANIMAL. Rashi on the tractate Pesachim 6 explicitly
states the rule
RULE:
-----
Every Biblical example of a law SHOULD be generalized
(unless otherwise indicated).*1
EXAMPLES
--------
(1) Ex21-28a When an OX gores..then pay damages
RASHI: The law applies when ANY animal gores
The Bible used 'OX' since that was a typical animal owned
(2) Ex21-17a A FEMALE witch should not be allowed to live
RASHI: The law applies to ANY witch--male or female
The Bible used 'FEMALE' witch since most witches were
women
(3) Ex22-21a If you hurt an ORPHAN or WIDOW I(God)will punish you
RASHI: God will punish you if you cause anguish to ANY person
The Torah used 'ORPHAN/WIDOW' since these people are usually
picked on.
(4) Ex22-30b A DISEASED ANIMAL in a FIELD should not be eaten
RASHI: ALL DISEASED ANIMALS should not be eaten. The
Torah used 'diseased animals in a FIELD' because that
is typically where they are typically found
(5) Dt22-23a '..& he found her IN THE CITY & raped her...'
RASHI:The laws of rape apply even if he raped her in the
HOUSE. The Torah used 'in the CITY' because that is where
rapes typically happen
(6) Dt23-11a 'A man who is Not Pure from a NOCTURNAL emission'
RASHI: These laws apply to ANYONE who has an emission.
The Torah used 'NOCTURNAL emission' because that is the
typical time they occur.
(7) Dt13-07f When someone seduces you IN PRIVATE to worship idols
RASHI: These laws apply even if the seduction was in public
The Torah used 'IN PRIVATE' because that is the normal way
seduction takes place (steathily)
(8) Dt15-19b Don't WORK with 1stborn of OX,
Don't SHEAR 1stborn SHEEP
RASHI:It is also prohibited to WORK with the 1stborn of SHEEP
or to SHEAR the hide of an OX. But the Torah used 'WORK..OX'
and 'SHEAR..SHEEP' because this is the typical usage.
(9) Dt25-04a Don't muzzle an OX while it works
RASHI: It is prohibited to muzzle ANY ANIMAL while it works
The Torah used 'OX' because this is the typical animal owned
NOTES
-----
*1 This rule appears strange and contradicts the usual notion
that every 'letter and word' in the Bible has SOME meaning
Actually though Rabbi Ishmael had a dictum that
the Bible uses human style--it prefers a good example, like
"ox" to an abstract concept like "animal".
#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*# (C) Dr Hendel, 2000 *#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*
VERSE: Dt06-06a
RASHIS EXPLAINED: Gn02-08a Gn09-11a Nu03-06a Nu05-06a Nu05-12d
Dt02-04a Dt06-06a Dt04-33c Ex01-11b Lv19-35a
Lv03-09a Gn45-23a Gn49-04b Lv01-03a
BACKGROUND
----------
In the last posting, Dt15-19b, we saw that EVERY Biblical
example is generalized. For example, Dt25-04a says DO NOT
MUZZLE AN **ox** WHILE IT WORKS. The law turns around and
prohibits muzzling any **ANIMAL** while it works.
It follows that IF the Bible wanted to ONLY prohibit muzzling an
OX it cannot just say"Dont muzzle an OX"(For we would generalize)
It follows that we need ANOTHER BIBLICAL STYLE to prohibit
muzzling ONLY oxes.
This other Biblical style would say something like "FROM AMONG
ANIMALS do not muzzle OXEN". Or it might say "Do not muzzle
certai ANIMALs-that is the OXEN".Thus this other Biblical style
indicates both the GENERAL CATEGORY ("animals") and the
PARTICULAR category("OXEN"). In this manner the Bible would
prohibit ONLY OXEN and would prevent unnecessary generalization
This then is the new Biblical style.
This other Biblical style is therefore called GENERAL-PARTICULAR.
We could also call it HEADLINE-DETAILS or HYPERLINK-ARTICLE.The
examples below will amply illustrate this.
RULE:
----
A SHORT GENERAL statement--eg 'FROM ANIMALS'---followed by a
DETAILED particular statement--eg 'OXEN & SHEEP'--can be
interpreted by
--adding the word BY(eg Love God **BY** learning Torah)
--adding the phrase THAT IS (eg Offer animals--ie ox, sheep)
--regarding the general statement as a sort of HEADLINE
that hyperlinks to the details.
The GENERAL-PARTICULAR style indicates that ONLY
the particular item is spoken about and that generalization
is unwarranted.
EXAMPLES
--------
-----------------------------------------------------------
In the following verses Rashi connects the 2 parts of the
sentence by inserting the word "BY" thereby indicating
that ONLY these examples are governed by the law
-----------------------------------------------------------
(1) Gn09-11a I will fulfill my CONVENANT with Noach (BY)
placing the rainbow in the clouds as a symbol
that I will not destroy the world
RASHI: Thus the only terms of the convenant is that
God will not destroy the world
(2) Nu03-06a & The Levites will SERVE Aaron: (BY)
Watching the Temple
RASHI: Thus the only service that the levites must do
is Watch the temple
(3) Nu05-12d & She DESECRATES her marriage: (BY)
Sleeping with another man
RASHI: In other words it is only for SLEEPING with
another man that we perform the 'suspected-
wife' ceremony mentioned in Nu05 (Eg if she
desecrated her marriage in some other way by
eg insulting her husband we do not perform
the ceremony)
(4) Dt02-04a ..Jews Watch yourself when you come to Esauv:(BY)
Not starting up with them
RASHI: In other words the only thing you have to watch
is not to start up with them.
(5) Dt06-06a You should love your Lord God (BY)
placing the Torah on your heart and making
sharp summaries
RASHI: In other words the only way to love God is by
placing the Torah on your heart and making
sharp summaries *1
NOTES
-----
*1 This Rashi (and the corresonding Rambam Foundations of
Torah 2:1) are sometimes seen as homiletic and not the
simple meaning of the text. But in reality they are
the simple meaning of the text--for this paragraph has
a GENERAL-PARTICULAR form: Love thy Lord thy God BY learning
----------------------------------------------------------------
In the following verses Rashi connects the 2 parts of the
sentence by inserting the word "THAT IS" thereby indicating
that ONLY these examples are governed by the law
----------------------------------------------------------------
(6) Ex01-11b The Egyptians placed TAXES on the Jews...:
(THAT IS) They built cities*2
RASHI: Thus the taxes consisted of labor to build cities
(7) Lv03-09a Offer Its "fat"--THAT IS The tail
(8) Lv01-02c If you offer sacrifices then offer them from
the Animals--THAT IS, from Cattle and sheep
RASHI: Thus the only animals that can be offered for
sacrifices are cattle and sheep
(9) Lv19-35a Don't pervert JUSTICE:
(THAT IS) in measures, in weights,in liquid measures
RASHI: From the context of this chapter we see that they
are talking about the individual (not the courts)
While there are many crimes that an individual
can commit (like stealing) nevertheless the crime
of false weights is the only crime that is punished
like the crime of perverted judges (and leads to
destruction of the land)*3
NOTES
-----
*2 Rashi also explains the word TAXES (this word is well known)
(by)
*3 The point is that stealing and damages of an individual
can be punished by a court.You can get caught. But
sins of bad weights (like sins of a perverted judge)
lead the individual totally helpless for which God
destroys the country if the people do not stop it.
----------------------------------------------------------------
In the following verses The Biblical sentence itself connects
the 2 parts of the sentence by using the 2nd part to explain
the first part
----------------------------------------------------------------
(10) Gn45-23a & He sent as follows to his father: (NAMELY)
10 Mules etc ....*3
(11) Gn49-04b Your impetuousness prevents you from taking the
birthright... BECAUSE you played with your father's beds
(12) Dt04-33c ..Has anything this great happened?--(THAT IS)
Has a nation heard God
NOTES
-----
*3 Note the complicated explanation brought by
commentaries to this Rashi. Our way of taking it is
simple: Rashi simply explains the verse as indicating
what was sent
----------------------------------------------------------
The following verse is an example of a HYPERLINK or
HEADLINE-ARTICLE style. For those readers who think
this comment obvious read the footnotes
----------------------------------------------------------
(14) Gn02-08a
Gn01-27 And God created Man
Gn02-07:09 And God created man FROM earth and placed
him in the Garden of Eden and placed their trees
RASHI: It **looks** like there are two stories of creation
The 1st creation in Gn01-27 and the 2nd creation in
Gn02-07:09.
Actually however, following Rabbi Eliezers
(Son of Rabbi Yosi the Galileean) who had 32 styles
by which to interpret the Bible we see Gn01-27 as a
sort of HEADLINE that HYPERLINKS to Gn02-07 which gives
the story in complete detail (How God made him--where
he put him etc
#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*# (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 *#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*