FAQ FOR THE RASHI RULES

Where can I read about the Rashi rules?
What is unique about your approach to Rashi rules?
How many Rashi rules are there?

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-------------- THE RASHI RULE COMPENDIUMS ----------
The first Rashi rule list gives The quickie version
A little skimpy, without too much rhetoric, but a good set of examples
The second Rashi rule list is called Quickie 2
Also a little skimpy, without too much rhetoric, but a good set of examples
We recommend the 1st Rashi essay
A compact 6 page essay reviewing 6 classes of Rashi rules,
with many classes of subrules and several dozen examples.
The writing is fast, easy but not bulleted.
For broader study we recommend the Rashi workbook (Recommended)
A bulleted list of 30 Rashi rules.
Each rule is hyperlinked to a posting illustrating it
Most of the examples are crisp and too the point.
However you cant read this in one sitting.
We highly recommend our intended book: 30 Chapter Workbook
Each Rashi rule is explained by a 4 page essay
which slowly and carefully explains all ideas
Each rule is illustrated with examples and exercises
The examples are suited to teaching situations
The examples are presented at the advanced, intermediate and elementary level
To date only 8 chapters are written
Completion of the project is expected Dec 2005
For in-depth study we recommend our Lists Database
The LISTS database contains hyperlinks to all LISTS we have compiled
Lists of verses illustrating meaning; or lists of roots; or lists of verses illustrating a Rashi rule
You can click on LEFT HAND FRAME which contains all 60 Rashi rules
For example you can click on WORD MEANINGS / synonyms
The RIGHT HAND FRAME then lists all Rashi-is-Simple lists illustrating the SYNONYM rule
You can click on each LIST to read it
You can also click and read the whole posting containing the list
Using the database anyone can familiarize themselves quickly with many examples of one Rashi rule
----What are Rashi rules? What is unique in our approach ---------------
The Rashi rules are a collection of mechanical methods
that if properly and consistently applied to verses
enables any layman to derive the Rashi comments
There are 6 classes of Rashi rules with about 30-50 rules total
---------------- WHAT IS UNIQUE IN YOUR APPROACH --------------
- Rules are Specific
  For example the Torah says Reuven slept with Bilhah--
  Rashi says: Reuven inteferred with his fathers choice of partners by swapping bedspreads
  Why does Rashi contradict the simple meaning which says Reuven slept with her?
  A classical approach is that Reuvens sin is inconsistent with being son of a Patriarch
  This uses the rule Righteous people dont sin suddenly
  such a rule is vague and non-specific
  We use the mechanical rule of Other verses
  An other verse states that Reuven played with his fathers beds
  Hence the Rashi that he switched bedding not actually slept with her
  Notice that our Rashi rule--OTHER VERSES--is specific and mechanical
- Rules are backed up by lists of comparable examples
  If you browse LIST210Z you will see many Rashis based
  on the OTHER VERSE method;
  such LIST support enriches appreciation of the Rashi technique
- Rules are consistently applied
  For example everyone knows that colors
  can be named by items with those colors--oranges, cherrys, verdent--
  this uses the Rashi rule of naming by appearance.
  We apply this rule consistently.
  Hence when Rashi states that the Hebrew root
  Sin-Aleph-Tauv means white we notice that the root of Sin-Aleph-Tauv
  is Nun-Sin-Aleph which means cloud---by consistently applying the
  rashi rule of appearance we infer Sin-Aleph-Tauv means Cloud-white