Rashi-Is-Simple Mailing List
VISIT the RASHI DATABASE archives AT
http://www.RashiYomi.com/
Surfing the Talmudic Seas
(C) RashiYomi Incorporated, 2001
Written by Dr Russell Jay Hendel
Volume 9 Number 10
Produced Feb 25, 2001
WARNING: USE FIX WIDTH FONTS (eg COURIER (NEW) 10)
Verses/Topics Discussed in This Issue with quicky explanations
NEW NEW NEW
2 PAGE JEWISH PRESS ARTICLE APPEARS
NEW on Rashi Yomi NEW
GET THIS WEEKS ISSUE--STILL AT YOUR NEWSTANDS
NEW NEW NEW
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
===============
Acknowledgement is given to Yocheved Golani from
my Shomrey Emunach Rashi class for writing this
article about my Rashi methods, as well as for
the persevarence of pestering the JP staff to
publish it (It was written a year ago but only
published now). Yocheved has also been very helpful
in class asking provocative questions.
READER QUESTIONS
================
v9-2-25a
Ron Mitnick wants to know how Rashi knew that
the wood beams for the Mishkan were made from
trees planted by Jacob (Ex26-16a). [I responded
that this is one of those Rashis that I dont
yet have a clue on--but I will look at it again]
WEEKLY PARSHAH SERIES
=====================
Many Rashis on this weeks parshah are presented
In particular note:
Ex25-16a
Should we infer nuances from Rashis special use
of words. Most Rabbis think we should. I bring
this Rashi to show that it is dangerous and
even criminal to infer nuances from Rashis
specific use of words! This is indeed a peach
of a Rashi--please read it.
For more Rashis on this weeks Parshah visit
http://www.RashiYomi.Com/parshah.htm
Rashis covered in this issue
----------------------------
VERSE RULE BRIEF DESCRIPTION
======== =============== ===================================
Ex25-10a PICTURE The ark was like a legless CHEST
Ex25-11a RabbiIshmael Ark was made by gluing 3 arks together
Ex25-16a SPECIAL WORDS >TO< can mean >IN<
Ex25-16b OTHER VERSES The ARK only had the 10 Commandments
Ex40-20a OTHER VERSES The ARK only had the 10 Commandments
-----------------------------------------------------------------
#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*# (C) Dr Hendel, 2001 *#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#
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 REFERENCE: 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, 2001 *#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#
VERSE: Ex25-10a
THE VERSE
=========
The verse states >You shall make an ARK OF WOOD<
RASHI
=====
Rashi states that the ark resembled a legless chest.
It was a sort of rectangular box with 4 sides, and
a bottom, but open at top.
COMMENT
=======
I refer to the Rashi rule used as >PICTURE<---Rashis goal
is simply to clarify a description using a visual image
familiar to the reader.
Today we have many books with pictures, particularly about
the Mishkan, which fulfill this need.
In the past I have vacillated as to whether to include this
>PICTURE< principle among the Rashi rules. But in light
of Rashis like the one on Ex25-10a I think it proper to
reintroduce it.
RASHI RULE USED: PICTURE
#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*# (C) Dr Hendel, 2001 *#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#
VERSE: Ex25-11a
HOW THE ARK WAS MADE
====================
The ark was made by
---making 3 arks--a gold, wood and gold ark
---the gold ark was placed >INSIDE< the wood ark
---and then this wood-gold ark was placed inside an OUTER gold ark
In this way the middle wood ark was surrounded INSIDE & OUTSIDE
with gold.
DERIVATION USING RABBI ISHMAELS RULE OF CONTRADICTORY VERSES
============================================================
This is best understood using our series on >CONTRADICTORY
VERSES< which are resolved in one of 5 ways. See
http://www.RashiYomi.Com/ri-14.htm for a list of
examples.
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Ex25-11 Make an ark of wood...cover it inside & outside with gold
Dt10-01 Make an ark of wood... ------1--------
-----------------------------------------------------------------
NOTES
-----
*1 Thus one verse emphasizes that the ark was >WOODEN< while
the other verse emphasizes that it was >WOOD OVERLAYED WITH
>GOLD<
Rashi resolves this contradiction, using a method of resolution
which looks at the 2 verses as describing 2 separate >COMPONENTS<
of a process.
In other words, the finished ark must clearly have both
--a wooden component (Dt10-01)
--gold overlays
By making 3 arks we simultaneously achieved that
--the middle wood ark was surrounded by gold arks
--the wood ark retained its individuality as a wooden ark
OTHER APPROACHS OF CONSTRUCTION
===============================
If the ark had instead been made by overlaying a wood ark
(inside and outside) with gold then the wooden component
of the ark would not be separate from the gold components
but rather intermingled with them. By making 3 arks we
allow the wooden ark to be a separate component and yet be
overlayed with gold.
COMMENTS
========
(1) RESPONSE TO SIFSAY CHACHAMIM
============================
I believe that the above approach using Rabbi Ishmaels
methods of resolving contradictory verses satisfactoraly
answers the questions for a source for this construction
method, a question raised by the Sifsay chachamim
(2) SYMBOLIC MEANING OF THE 3 PART ARK
==================================
Rav Hirsch suggests that
-- >WOOD< symbolizes the capacity for growth (trees grow)
-- >GOLD< symbolizes strength and steadfastness
Thus the ark symbolizes that a persons learning should rest
on a solid foundation of steadfast principles (GOLD) but
should nevertheless grow and respond continuously to
changing world conditions (WOOD)
Equivalantly the ark symbolizes that a persons life should
be governed by immutable prophecy (symbolized by Gold which
resembles the color the fire visions of prophecy).Within this
prophetic structure a person should retain his/her
individuality and grow in his/her personal physical life
(symbolized by wood which represents the plant word of
reproduction and eating).
RASHI RULE USED: RabbiIshmael
#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*# (C) Dr Hendel, 2001 *#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#
VERSE: Ex25-16a
=====
RULE
====
The Hebrew word >EL< normally translated as >TO<
can also mean >IN<.
EXAMPLES
========
{LIST}
In the following verses the Hebrew word >EL< which is
normally translated as >TO< instead means >IN<
=====================================================
VERSE TEXT OF VERSE WITH >EL< TRANSLATED AS >IN<
======= ============================================
Ex25-21 And you will place >IN< the ark, the tablets
1Sa10-22 Behold he is hiding >IN/AMONG< the utensils
Ez44-30 To leave a blessing >IN< your house
Gn37-36 & The Medanim sold him >IN< Egypt
Gn23-19 & afterwards Abraham buried Sarah >IN< the Machpaylah
Ecc1-6 Roaming >IN< the north & revolving >IN< the south
{END OF LIST}
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
===============
The above LIST comes from the RADACK, Book of ROOTS.
Notice how the above LIST is semantic, based on meaning.
No current CD ROM could have produced it.
RASHI RULE USED: SPECIAL WORDS
#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*# (C) Dr Hendel, 2001 *#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#
VERSE: Ex25-16b
RASHIS COVERED: Ex25-16b Ex40-20a
RASHI
=====
RASHI translates Ex25-16b and Ex40-20a to mean that
>Moses placed the 10 commandments in the ark< Such
a translation is consistent with other Torah verses.
COMMENT:
=======
This is a peach of a Rashi since it shows HOW NOT TO TREAT RASHI
Sometimes it is very dangerous and even criminal to harp on
every nuance in Rashi. Rashi was the king of databases but
otherwise Rashi could be very lose in his use of words!
THE OTHER VERSES
================
Several verses explicitly state that only the 10 commandments
written on the two tablets were in the Holy Ark. Here are a
few such verses
---------------------------------------------------------
Dt10-01 Make new tablets and an ark and I(God) will write
the same items (ie the 10 commandments) that I
originally told you...And God wrote on the tablets
the words he spoke in Fire Visions and I (Moses)
placed the tablets in the ark.
Dt31-26 Take the scroll of the Torah and place it on the
SIDE of the ark.
1K8-9 There was nothing in the ark Except the 2 tablets
of stone that Moses had placed there in Chorev
(Which contained the 10 commandments)
RADACK Radack (on 1K8-9) points out that this verse
refutes the idea that the broken tablet peaces
or a copy of the scroll of Law was also in the
ark since the verse explicitly says >THERE WAS
NOTHING IN THE ARK EXCEPT THE 2 TABLETS OF STONE<
(Radack brings other proofs)
RALBAG Ralbag (on 1K8-9) dissents from the Radack. Ralbag
agrees that from Biblical passages only the 10
commandments were in the ark. But Ralbag argues
that certain items like the Manna might have also
been in the ark since it says about the Manna that
>Aaron left it before God< (Ex17-34)
-------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY
=======
With this background of >OTHER VERSES<, which explicitly
state that the ark only had the two tablets, we can now
review the verses, Rashis and commentators. Everything
is clear.
* Ex25-16 The Torah says >Place the TESTIMONY in the ark<
* Ex40-20 The Torah says >Moses placed the TESTIMONY in the ark<
* Rashi Ex40-20a: >THE TESTIMONY< = >THE TWO TABLETS< with
the 10 commandments. (Rashi inferred this from the explicit
statement made in all the verses above)
* Rashi Ex25-16: >THE TESTIMONY< = >The TORAH< which is
a testimony to Israel.
It is this Rashi comment on Ex25-16 which drove the Rashi
commentator Sifsay Chachamim into a frenzy. Notice how
the Rashis on Ex40-20a and Ex25-16b differ: One says that
he placed the >TORAH< while the other says that he placed
the >TABLETS<. The sifsay Chachamim following other Rashi
commentators comes to the conclusion that BOTH the Torah
and Tablets were in the ark! After all Rashi says so!
As I indicated earlier we see here the danger of emphasizing
nuances in Rashi! Yes it is true that in one place he
says >The TABLETS were in the ark< while in another place
Moses says >The TORAH was in the ark<.
But this contradicts the explicit statement of many verses
that ONLY the tablets were in the ark.
The simplest way of interpreting Rashi is that
>The Tablets were in the ark which contain the
10 commandments which encompass the whole Torah
which is a testimony for Israel (eg Cf Dt31-26)
In other words the 2 tablets encompassed the
Torah and the Torah is called a testimony(Dt31-26)
Hence it is legitimate to call the Tablets a
testimony.<
Thus Rashi had no intention of violating several verses
and claiming that something besides the tablets were in
the ark.
Finally in response to the Sifsay Chachamims question that
the verse Ex25-16 says >And you should place in the ark
the TESTIMONY that I WILL give you< indicating that this
refers to the TORAH which WILL be written (at the end of
40 years) I refer to my comments at
http://www.RashiYomi.Com/ex24-01a.htm which shows that
Ex24-01 explicitly says that this whole set of chapters
was said >BEFORE< the completion of the 40 days and hence
before the 10 commandments were given in stone.
Therefore the verses statement >Place the TESTIMONY that
I will give you in the ark< is consistent with what happened
SUMMARY
=======
Rashi is best understood by reviewing database queries.
By contrast, the attempt to invest meaning in every word
of Rashi is dangerous and criminal. Rashi never went
beyond the simple meaning of the text as illuminated by
database queries and further nuances should not be
read into Rashi UNLESS of course the database methods
support it.
RASHI RULE USED: OTHER VERSES
#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*# (C) Dr Hendel, 2001 *#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*
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, 2001 *#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*