#*#*#*#*# (C) 2001, RashiYomi Inc. Dr Hendel President #*#*#*#*#
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VERSE: Lv01-02b
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT: This answers an anonymous question raised by
a fellow Baal Koray. See http://www.RashiYomi.Com/h9n20.htm
======The Hebrew word for PERSON is ISH. ADAM means MENSCH======
Many commandments begin IF A PERSON DOES SUCH AND SUCH. The
Hebrew word for PERSON is usually ISH. In only 4 cases is the
word ADAM used.
Rav Hirsch explains that ADAM refers back to ADAM the first
person. Thus ADAM has a connotation of someone distinguished.
We have therefore translated ADAM as the Yiddish MENSCH to
denote someone important. (The Zohar similarly lists 4 words
for PERSON---ADAM, ISH, GEVER, ENOSH--and states that ADAM
is the highest state).
Hence in commandments dealing with the animal lustful nature
of man use the word ISH for person. However commandments
which address mans special Divine nature, commandments
like Sacrifices and commandments dealing with Ritual purity
use the word ADAM. The LIST below gives the examples.
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VERSE TEXT OF VERSE WITH PERSON HEBREW WORD USED
======= ======================================= ================
Lv01-02 When a MENSCH offers a sacrifice ADAM *1
Lv13-02 When a MENSCH contracts leprosy ADAM *2
Nu19-14 When a MENSCH dies in a tent... ADAM *3
Ex30-32 A MENSCH shouldnt annoint with holy oil ADAM *4
Lv13-29 When a PERSON has head leprosy ISH
Lv15-16 When a PERSON has a seminal emission ISH
Lv17-10 When a PERSON eats blood ISH
Lv18-06 PEOPLE should not commit sexual sin ISH
Lv19-03 PEOPLE should revere their parents ISH
Lv20-02 If a PERSON offers to MOLECH ISH
LV20-09 If a PERSON curses his parents ISH
Lv20-10 If a PERSON commits adultery ISH
NOTES
=====
*1 In other words IF YOU OFFER A SACRIFICE OFFER IT AS A MENSCH
Thus Rashi sees in this verse an echo of the concerns of the
prophets that God says WHY DO I NEED YOUR SACRIFICES ... IF
YOUR HANDS ARE FULL OF BLOOD (E.g. Is01-10:17).
Rav Hirsch echoes similar sentiments.
It is instructive to see this in the language of Rashi.
In the sequel words in bracketed expressions are
added for clarity and not found in Rashi. Other words
are found in Rashi.
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Why does it say [ADAM]? Just as ADAM [was a mensch and]
never offered sacrifices from theft since all [sacrifices]
were from his own possessions, so to, you do not offer
sacrifices from theft.
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As we have often emphasized in this list one does not learn
Rashi by reading Rashi! Rather one learns Rashi by first
reading the LISTS on which Rashi was based. Such LISTS
facilitate focus on Rashis main point.
*2 (Rav Hirsch explains this). We wouldnt care if an animal
contracted leprosy. We wouldnt care if a person who
resembles an animal contracted leprosy. But if an ADAMITE
contracted leprosy, if a human created in the image of the
Supreme Being, defiles himself by uttering slander and
contracting leprosy, then this person should indeed
be ashamed of themselves and seek atonement.
For leprosy unlike say adultery or theft does not come from
a sin of passion but rather comes from slander which is a
violation of the appreciation of the Divine Image in all
humans.
*3 If an animal dies in a tent then it is no big deal--coming
into that tent should not confer a state of impurity.
And if a human resembling an animal died it similarly
would not be of concern. But when an ADAMITE dies, someone
created in the image of God, then indeed that shakes us up.
It makes us doubt. It makes us wonder if the Divine image
means anything seeing that death overtakes man. It is
this mental state of doubt which Rav Hirsch identified with
the Biblical State of Ritual impurity---hence we see that
it is precisely the death of an ADAMITE, not a mere animal,
but a human being created in the image of God, that confers
this state of impurity-doubt.
*4 Rav Hirsch does not bring this in his list. I would simply
state that the sin of annointing oneself with temple oil is
the sin of not recognizing ones intrinsic worth as a MENSCH,
as someone created in the image of God. For indeed, if you
really really believed that you were created in the image
of God then why would you seek to enhance your spiritual
status by annointing yourself with oil. It is only a
spiritually insecure person who doubts his impurity who
would do such an act and that is why it is prohibited (that
is we all have intrinsic holiness and do not need supplements
from holy oils)
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RASHI RULE USED: DOUBLE PARSHAS
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Volume 10 Number 1
#*#*#*#*# (C) 2001, RashiYomi Inc. Dr Hendel President #*#*#*#*#
Volume 10 Number 1