The 10 RashiYomi Rules 
Their presence in Rashis on Parshat KeDoShiM
Vol 1#10 - Adapted from Rashi-is-Simple 
Visit The RashiYomi Website: http://www.RashiYomi.Com/
(c) RashiYomi Incorporated, Dr Hendel President, May 5, 2005
English translations of the Bible come mostly from the Davka translation with changes made by me

The goal of this Weekly Rashi Digest is to use the weekly Torah portion to expose students at all levels to the ten major methods of commentary used by Rashi. It is hoped that continual weekly exposure to these ten major methods will enable students of all levels to acquire a familiarity and facility with the major exegetical methods.

2. RASHI METHOD: WORD MEANINGS / new meanings 
This example applies to Rashis Lv19-02a
URL reference:(c) http://www.RashiYomi.com/gn06-12a.htm

The word meaning method seeks to present dictionary meaning. Rashi uses 10 vehicles to infer word meaning. One component of word meaning is the identification of the varied nuances of special connective words like the words also, all, because, on, in etc. Lv19-02a states Speak to all the children of Israel [and tell them the commandments]. The Hebrew word all, like the English word all, can be used in four senses: (a) it can connote every individual without exception, (b) it can connote all subgroups, (c) it can connote even borderline cases that you might think are not included, (d) it can connote all parts, the whole. Rashi interprets all in Lv19-02a to mean even borderline cases that you might think are not included. Hence the Rashi: The laws must be taught even to minors even though you might argue that since they are not adults and hence not obligated to follow the commandments, therefore they should not be taught them[Rashi's point is that you begin training minors in the observance of the commandments when they are young to facilitate observance when they are older].

3. RASHI METHOD: GRAMMAR / conjugation
This example applies to Rashis  Lv19-10a
URL reference:(c) http://www.RashiYomi.com/lv19-10a.htm

The grammar method seeks to apply and teach Hebrew grammar. One function of grammar is to enable semantic shift of grammatical function---for example, changing nouns to verbs. Thus in English we coin the verb to flower from the noun flower, the verb to build from the noun building, the verb to redden from the adjective red, the verb to dust from the noun dust, the verb to hammer from the noun hammer. Notice how the semantical shift from noun to verb can take on distinct forms: For example to build and to flower mean to create the building and flower; by contrast to dust means to remove the dust while to hammer means to use the hammer. With these examples we easily understand the Rashi on Lv19-02a: The Biblical text states Don't young your vineyard. Rashi states younging is the verb form of the noun young and means to remove young grapes, [just as to dust means to remove dust]. The law requires that when doing agriculture certain items be left over for the poor.

4. RASHI METHOD: ALIGNMENT
This example applies to Rashis  Lv19-12a
URL reference:(c) http://www.RashiYomi.com/ex20-01b.htm

The alignment method seeks to extract nuances from the minor differences in the alignment of two almost identical verses. The contrast of the two almost identical verses points to an emphasis and equality in the minor aligned nuances. Another goal of alignment is the discovery of meaning. Today we consider the following verses describing the leprosy impurity that can occur in clothes. 
 
Todays example of alignment is classical and typical. Much can be learned from it. We cite two verses prohibiting false oaths.
=========================================================
•	Lv19-12a:don't swear 	by my name			falsely
•	Ex20-07:	don't bear    	the name of God...	for nought
=========================================================
Note how the three sentence components, the verb, object, and adverbial modifier all align and clearly show differences. In this case we may go beyond Rashi and cite the reason for all three differences, only one of which is brought by Rashi from the Talmud; the other two are also cited in the Talmud. Here are the three inferences made from these three alignments:

•	Don't swear, don't bear: Hence a person violates the law of false oaths whether he actually swears and e.g. states I swear such and such or even if he uses accepted slang language, e.g., I s'ear such and such.

•	By my name, the name of God:  Hence a person violates the law whether he swears by the proper name of God, I swear by God, or whether he swears by attributes of God, e.g. I swear by the Almighty.

•	falsely, for nought: (Rashi) Hence a person violates the law whether he swears e.g. this tree is made of gold (false oath) or this tree is a tree (true but an oath for nought since it is a tautology).

Note the poetic elegance and conciseness in deriving so many laws from such simple contrasts.

5. RASHI METHOD: CONTRADICTION  / 2 cases 
This example applies to Rashis Lv19-13c
URL reference: (c) http://www.RashiYomi.com/lv19-20e.htm

The contradiction method, made explicit in Rabbi Ishmael's 13 exegetical principles, seeks to infer biblical content by resolving contradictory biblical verses. Rashi used 4 methods to resolve contradiction. The following 2 verses show a  contradiction in when a worker must be paid.

•	Lv19-13 You shall not defraud your neighbor, nor rob him; the wages of he who is hired shall not remain with you all night until the morning.
•	Dt24-14:15  You shall not oppress a hired person who is poor and needy, whether he is of your brothers, or of your strangers who are in your land inside your gates At his day you shall give him his hire, nor shall the sun go down upon this payment; for he is poor, and sets his heart upon it; lest he cry against you to the Lord, and it should be sin to you.

As the underlined words show, one verse requires payment by morning while the other verse requires payment by sunset. Rashi resolves the contradiction using the method of two cases: Lv19-13 speaks about a day worker; you have all night until morning to obtain money to pay him. By contrast Dt24-14:15 speaks about a night worker; you have all day until sunset to obtain money to pay him. In general the Torah allows the person hiring, one unit of time [that is, a half day, night or day] to obtain money to pay the worker.

6. RASHI METHOD: STYLE
This example applies to Rashis  Lv19-14b
URL reference:(c) http://www.Rashiyomi.com/lv19-14b.htm

 The Rabbi Ishmael Style rules are usually thought of as applying to technical legal matters. However in a broader sense they apply to paragraph styles. The fundamental focus of the Rabbi Ishmael style rules is to precisely delineate the relationship between paragraph themes and development details: Are the details examples of a general theme, or, do the details exhaust the paragraph theme? In other words should the examples and details be interpreted literally and exclusively or should they be interpreted broadly and generally? Still another way of looking at style is that it answers the question: How should the paragraph theme and details / examples be integrated? 

Lv19-14 states Don't place a stumbling block before the blind. Rashi generalizes: It is biblically prohibited to give a person who doesn't know better, bad advice (since the person would so to speak stumble on the bad advice).

Crisp, punchy and elegant. The style rules are basic exegetical techniques that enrich many laws.

7. RASHI METHOD: Bullets
This example applies to Rashis  Lv19-15d
URL reference:(c) http://www.Rashiyomi.com/lv19-15d.htm
 
The bullet method seeks to make inferences from the biblical text based on parallel structure which implies similarity among the parallel items. What we have called the bullet method is better known as the Rabbi Ishmael exegetical rule of context.  What we have added to the Rabbi Ishmael exposition is the idea that parallel structure is one method of making inferences from context. The Bible itself does not contain bullets but there are a variety of methods to infer parallelism. An important component of the bullet method is the careful examination of paragraph phrases and keywords. 

Lv19-15d states When a person has an affair with a bondmaid engaged to a man and [either]
•	she has not been redeemed, or
•	her freedom has not been given to her.
then there will be no death penalty because she is not yet free.

Rashi in commenting on this verse first points out that the biblical word redeem always connotes monetary redemption. Some typical verse examples, where redeem connotes monetary redemption are: Nu03-49 And Moses took the redemption money of them who were over and above those who were redeemed by the Levites, Ex21-29:30 But if the ox was wont to gore with its horn in times past, and its owner had been warned, and he has not kept it in, but it has killed a man or a woman; the ox shall be stoned, and its owner also shall be put to death. If ransom be laid on him, then he shall give for the redemption of his life whatever is laid upon him; Lv27-26:27 Only the firstling of the beasts, which should be the Lord’s firstling, no man shall sanctify it; whether it is an ox, or sheep; it is the Lord’s. And if it is of an unclean beast, then he shall redeem it according to your estimation, and shall add a fifth part to it; or if it is not redeemed, then it shall be sold according to the estimation.

Next, Rashi focuses on the two bullets. The bulleting indicated by the verse word or creates emphasis. Apparently there are two methods of redemption one by money and (Rashi) one by document. It is important to emphasize that Rashi is not making an inference based on word meaning. The biblical phrase giving her her freedom does not, in and of itself connote a writ of freedom. Rather, the bulleted structure explicitly hints at two methods of freedom. One of these methods is monetary and known. The other method is not explicitly mentioned so we assume it refers to a written document. Such inferences by hinting are characteristic of the bullet method. Although such inferences are not as punchy as inferences by word nuance they are nevertheless a valid exegetical method, which of course is frequently subject to controversy.

8. RASHI METHOD: DATABASES
This example applies to Rashis  Lv20-15a
URL reference:(c) http://www.Rashiyomi.com/gn06-14a.htm

The database method seeks to discover biblical ideas using the methods of modern database theory and structured query language (SQL). The Talmudic sages and Rashi were totally familiar and frequently used all aspects of modern database theory. 

Today we ask the query: Which of the several hundred biblical commandments naturally lend themselves to a symbolic interpretation encouraging moral values. This query produces the following examples:

Query result: In the following verses the commandment is naturally interpreted using the symbolic method of personification as indicated by the Rashi texts that follows it:

•	Example 1: Ex20-23b Neither shall you go up by steps to my altar, that your nakedness be not exposed there. Rashi: Because of the steps, the priests ascending them, expose their nakedness when they go from step to step...This law is certainly suggestive! If the Torah had pity on inanimate stones who cannot feel by preventing people from exposing their nakedness on them how much more should we pity humans by not exposing our nakedness to them.

•	Example 2: Lv20-15b And if a man lies with a beast, he shall surely be put to death; and you shall slay the beast. Rashi: The person sinned [and is therefore put to death]; but what has the animal done [that it should be put to death?]. But the Torah is suggestive: If this animal is put to death because it enabled a person to sin how much more so should a person who enables his fellow man to sin that he should be punished. [See continuation of this Rashi in example 3]

•	Example 3: Dt12-02 You shall completely destroy all the places, where the nations which you shall possess served their gods, upon the high mountains, and upon the hills, and under every green tree; Rashi: [Continuation of Rashi on Lv20-15b from example 2] Similarly we see that inanimate trees are destroyed because they enabled others to sin by worshipping them as idols; how much more so should people who enable their fellow man to sin to be punished.

Query Result: The following verses are naturally interpreted using the symbolic method of punning as indicated by the Rashi texts that follow it:

•	Example 4: Ex17-11a And it came to pass, when Moses held up his hand, that Israel prevailed; and when he let down his hand, Amalek prevailed. Rashi: Does raising a hand cause a military victory. But rather the raised hand  symbolically points to heaven: When Moses raised his hand to heaven and the Jews prayed they were victorious; when Moses did not emphasize prayer the enemy prevailed.

•	Example 5: Nu21-09a And Moses made a serpent of serpentine color[i.e. copper], and put it upon a pole, and it came to pass, that if a serpent had bitten any man, when he looked at the serpentine serpent and he lived. Rashi: (Nu21-08b, Nu21-09a) God only told Moses to make a metal snake; but on his own accord Moses added the requirement of serpentine color [to remind people of the snake]. ... Does looking up at a snake cure a person? But rather this is symbolic: If the people looked up at the snake and prayed upward to heaven they became cured; if the people looked down--that is, were depressed--and didn't pray, then they didn't become cured.

10. RASHI METHOD: SYMBOLISM
This example applies to Rashis  Lv20-15a
URL reference:(c) http://www.Rashiyomi.com/gn06-14a.htm
 
The symbolism method seeks to extract meaningful inferences from the symbolism of the biblical text.  The concept of symbolic interpretation is very involved. A good, compact, clear reference explaining when symbolism can be used and how to apply it may be found in my article Genesis 1 speaks about the creation of prophecy not the world which you can find at http://www.Rashiyomi.com/gen-1.htm.  

The Rashis brought in Rashi method #9, Databases, simultaneously illustrate both the database method and the symbolism method. We therefore urge the reader to re-read this passage.

Conclusion

This week's parshah contains no examples of the other verse and spreadsheet methods. This concludes this weeks edition. Visit the RashiYomi website at http://www.Rashiyomi.com/ for further details and examples.