Weekyly Rashi Digest -

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The 10 RashiYomi Rules
Their presence in = Rashis on=20 Parshat VaYiGaSh
Vol 8, # 10 - Adapted = from=20 Rashi-is-Simple
Visit the RashiYomi = website: http://www.Rashiyomi.com/
(c) RashiYomi=20 Incorporated, Dr. Hendel, President, Dec 13, 2007

The goal of this Weekly Rashi Digest is to use the weekly = Torah=20 portion to expose students at all levels to the ten major methods = of=20 commentary used by Rashi. It is hoped that continual weekly = exposure to=20 these ten major methods will enable students of all levels to = acquire a=20 familiarity and facility with the major exegetical methods.=20

FULL HOUSE THIS WEEK ALL RASHI RULES ILLUSTRATED=20

1. RASHI METHOD:=20 REFERENCES
BRIEF EXPLANATION: Commentary = on a=20 verse is provided thru a cross-reference to another = verse.=20 The cross references can either provide=20 (1a) further details,=20 (1b) confirm citations, or=20 (1c) clarify word meaning. =This=20 examples applies to Rashis Gn44-18c
URL=20 Reference: (c) http://www.Rashiyomi.com/w33n6.htm=20
Brief Summary: Rashi supplements Judahs = statement YOU ASKED ABOUT OUR RELATIVES (Gn44-18c) by = citing=20 Gn42-07 IT WASN'T JUST ASKING BUT A HARASSING = INTERROGATION=20

Verse Gn44-19a discussing Judah's account of Joseph's=20 interrogation states My lord asked his servants, saying: = Have ye=20 a father, or a brother? Rashi notes The underlined words, = My=20 lord asked his servants references verse Gn42-07 which=20 explicitly states that Joseph's interrogation was not routine, but = intended to harass.

Text of Target Verse Gn44-19a Text of Reference Verse Gn42-07

My lord asked his servants, saying: Have ye a = father,=20 or a brother? And Joseph saw his brothers, and he knew them, but = spoke=20 estrangedly and roughly to them; and he said to them, = From where=20 do you come? They said, From the land of Canaan to buy food. =

Rashi comments: As shown by the = underlined=20 words asked, estranged, harshly Joseph's = interrogation was=20 not routine but intended to harass. =

2. RASHI METHOD: WORD=20 MEANING
BRIEF EXPLANATION: The meaning = of=20 words can be explained either by=20 (2a) translating an idiom, a group of words = whose=20 collective meaning transcends the meaning of its = individual=20 component words,=20 (2b) explaining the nuances and commonality of=20 synonyms-homographs,=20 (2c) describing the usages of connective = words like=20 also,because,if-then, when,=20 (2d) indicating how grammatical conjugation = can=20 change word meaning=20 (2e) changing word meaning using the figures of = speech common to all languages such as = irony and=20 oxymorons.This examples = applies to=20 Rashis Gn47-19b
URL Reference: (c) = http://www.Rashiyomi.com/w33n6.htm
Brie= f=20 Summary: holocaust land means NON-PRODUCING land.=20 =

Students of Rashi must bear in mind that Rashi could sometimes = use=20 universal principles applicable in all languages. This = particularly=20 applies to the meaning methods.

synechdoche

good example

category.

the word honey can mean anything sweet.
Similarly bread can refer to any food.=20
Man can refer to any person (male of female)=20
day can refer to the entire 24 hour period=20
heart can refer to the entire person as in = e.g.,=20 (Ps 43)My heart yearns for you, God which really = means=20 My entire person yearns for you God=20
The loss of a person can refer to the = destruction of=20 that person (Dt28-22i)

metonomy

Metonomy

synechdoche.

metonomy

hot refers to temper or pashion=20
going to bed refers to intimacy=20
by sweat will you obtain bread=20 metonomycally refers to by hard word will you = obtain=20 food=20
He is a man of the cloth refers to the = clergy=20
the pen is mightier than the sword = means that=20 publication can have greater impact than military=20 means

Verse Gn47-19b discussing the petition of the = Egyptians to=20 spare them and the land states Wherefore should we die before = thine=20 eyes, both we and our land? buy us and our land for bread, and we = and our=20 land will be bondmen unto Pharaoh; and give us seed, that we may = live, and=20 not die, and that the land not be a holocaust.' Rashi = explains:=20 The Bible uses the word holocaust to indicate = non-productive=20 land. Indeed a land made into a holocaust, for = example, by=20 fire or hurricane, cannot produce ordinary yield. Hence = holocaust=20 is a good example (Synechdoche) of = non-productiveness. The=20 reader might have also noticed that the use of holocaust to = indicate non-productive is an example of = exaggeration=20 another literary technique.

3. RASHI METHOD:=20 GRAMMAR
BRIEF EXPLANATION: Rashi = explains=20 verses using grammar principles, that is, rules = which=20 relate reproducable word form to word meaning.=20 Grammatical rules neatly fall into 3 categories=20 (a) the rules governing conjugation of = individual=20 words,Biblical roots,=20 (b) the rules governing collections of = words,clauses,=20 sentences=20 (c) miscellaneous grammatical, or = form-meaning,=20 rules.This examples applies to = Rashis=20 Gn46-28a Gn46-28b
URL Reference: (c) = http://www.Rashiyomi.com/w33n6.htm=20
Brief Summary: Nouns can be = transformed=20 into verbs in several ways: (a) CREATE: To flower (b) = REMOVE: To=20 dust (c) USAGE: To hammer. Hence the phrase YOUR WORDS = WILL BE=20 TRUTHIFIED means they will be PROVEN.=20 =

conjugation

nouns

verbs.

nouns

verbs:

create the noun: e.g. to flower=20
remove the noun: e.g. to dust=20
use the noun: e.g. to hammer=20
the verb(activity) done to this noun: e.g. = Dt21-04b:=20 neck the calf in other words kill it with a = blow to=20 the neck

Verses Gn46-29b discussing Jacob's journey to meet = Joseph after=20 22 years states And he sent Judah before him unto Joseph, to=20 instruct before him towards Goshen; and they came into the = land of=20 Goshen. Rashi explains: Instruct always occurs = either as a=20 non-transitive verb, to instruct, (e.g. Mi03-10) or = as a=20 verb with direct object: to instruct so and so (e.g. = Dt33-10,=20 Ex44-33, Dt24-08). The construction instruct before him = towards=20 Goshen is new. We interpret this as coining a verb from = a=20 verb: The phrase instruct before him towards Goshen = means=20 to create guidance material for Jacob about Goshen. Here we = have=20 taken the verb to instruct and converted it to another verb = create guidance materials. Rashi also suggests the = possibility of=20 create a guidance institution, a Yeshiva.

Advanced Rashi: First we ask: Why can't Rashi = simply=20 interpret Judah was asked to guide Jacob on the path towards = Egypt -=20 sketch a path and protect him from robbers? The answer to this = is=20 simple: As shown by the verses cited above, the Hebrew root in = question=20 always refers to teaching, intellectual guidance, it never = refers=20 to plotting a path.

A second issue is that Rashi states literally both Judah = was asked=20 to instruct Jacob on how to live in Goshen --- Judah created a = Yeshiva=20 (Institution of learning) for Jacob. My approach to this = Rashi is to=20 see it as part of spectrum of preparations of guidance when coming = to a=20 new place. When you come to a new place most people want to know = a) the=20 social norms of the place, b) how you can satisfy your own norms = in this=20 new setting, c) what contributions you can make in interacting = with the=20 place. Hence I have expanded Rashi's two interpretations Judah = gave=20 guidance on how to live in Goshen - Judah made an institution of = higher=20 learning to include an entire spectrum of guidances. Perhaps = Judah=20 simply made papers and brochures about the new place. Perhaps he = went=20 further and enabled Jacob to spread his unique style of = ethics.

To defend Rashi's statement about the creation of a Yeshiva, = recall=20 that Abraham and Jacob were shepards. The Bible relates how = Abraham's=20 shepards fought with Lot's shepards. The Bible also relates how = Jacob=20 created the idea of protective huts for animals (who before him = were left=20 out in the cold). Jacob also created honest ways of dealing with=20 manipulative people like his father-in-law. In simple terms = Abraham and=20 Jacob developed laws governing commercial interpersonal = interactions.=20 These laws were ethical in nature and created a socially pleasant = work=20 environment. Jacob undoubtedly won fame from his methods and sent = Judah,=20 who himself was an accomplished businessman, to create the = possibility of=20 continuing his methods of ethical dissemination.

By = interpreting the=20 Rashi comments broadly we don't negate the Rashi but supplement = and enrich=20 it with added insight.

4. RASHI METHOD:=20 ALIGNMENT
BRIEF EXPLANATION: Aligning two = almost=20 identically worded verselets can suggest=20 (4a) 2 cases of the same incident or law=20 (4b) emphasis on the nuances of a case=20 (4c) use of broad vs literal usage of words=20This examples applies to Rashis = Gn44-20a=20
URL Reference: (c) http://www.Rashiyomi.com/w33n6.htm=20
Brief Summary: Joseph ISN'T HERE = vs.=20 Joseph is DEAD. Judah white-lied to prevent being forced = to find=20 Joseph.

The table below presents an aligned extract of verses in = Gn44-20a, Gn42-12 Both verses discuss Joseph's status. The=20 alignment justifies the Rashi assertion that It was = unknown=20 what happened to Joseph. But Judah lied and said he was dead = because he=20 was afraid if he said he was not to be found that they would = demand Joseph=20 be found.

Verse Text of Verse Rashi comment

Gn44-20 And we said to my lord, We have a father, an old man, = and a=20 child of his old age, a little one; and his brother is = dead,=20 and he alone is left of his mother, and his father loves = him.=20 Here Judah says Joseph is dead.

Gn42-13 And they said, Your servants are twelve brothers, the = sons of=20 one man in the land of Canaan; and, behold, the youngest is = this day=20 with our father, and one is not to be found. = But the truth is that Joseph couldn't be found. = Judah=20 lied and said he was dead because he feared that if he = admitted the=20 truth they would force them to find Joseph.=20

Advanced Rashi: We could perhaps also classify = this Rashi=20 as using the contradiction rule. Both approaches yield the = same=20 result.

5. RASHI METHOD:=20 CONTRADICTION
BRIEF EXPLANATION:Rashi = resolves=20 contradictory verses using 3 methods.=20 (5a) Resolution using two aspects of the = same event=20 (5b) Resolution using two stages of the = same=20 process=20 (5c) Resolution using broad-literal = interpretation.=20This example applies to Rashis=20 Gn47-25c
URL Reference: (c) = http://www.Rashiyomi.com/w33n6.htm=20
Brief Summary: a) We like = what you=20 say b) Your ownership is [only] through monetary tax=20 =

The table below presents presents two contradictory = verselets.=20 Both verselets speak about the relationship of Pharoh to his = Egyptian=20 subjects The underlined words highlight the contradiction. = One=20 verselet says And they said: 'Thou hast saved our lives. = Let us=20 find favour in the sight of my lord, while the other = verselet=20 states we will be Pharaoh's slaves.' ' Which is it? = Were=20 they saved and happy about their new plight or were they becoming = slaves=20 (Slaves to not have a high mortality rate--you don't save somebody = by=20 making them your slave). Rashi simply resolves this using the=20 broad-literal method: Recall that the Egyptians were = totally=20 helpless and pawned all their goods and themselves for food. = Pharoh=20 literally owned them. He could have done whatever he wanted with = them. But=20 instead he gave them back their land, on a rental basis, and only = charged=20 them 20% of yield (as tax). Hence the people were grateful that = despite=20 their official slave status Pharoh only wanted money and only 20%. =

Summary Verse / Source Text of verse / Source

Egyptians received back their land Gn47-25c And they said: 'Thou hast saved our lives. Let = us find=20 favour in the sight of my lord,

The Egyptians had lost all ownership of both their land = and=20 themselves and were literally owned by Pharoh Gn47-25c we will be Pharaoh's slaves.'

Resolution: Broad-literal Recall that the Egyptians were totally helpless and = pawned=20 all their goods and themselves for food. Pharoh literally = owned=20 them. He could have done whatever he wanted with them. But = instead=20 he gave them back their land, on a rental basis, and only = charged=20 them 20% of yield (as tax). Hence the people were grateful = that=20 despite their official slave status Pharoh only wanted money = and=20 only 20%.

6. RASHI METHOD: STYLE
Rashi = examines=20 how rules of style influences inferences between = general=20 and detail statements in paragraphs.=20 Example: Every solo example stated by the = Bible must=20 be broadly generalized;=20 Theme-Detail: A general principle followed by = an=20 example is interpreted restrictively---the = general theme=20 statement only applies in the case of the = example;=20 Theme-Detail-Theme: A Theme-Detail-Theme unit = is=20 interpreted as a paragraph. Consequently the = details of=20 the paragraph are generalized so that they are seen as=20 illustrative of the theme.This = examples=20 applies to Rashis Gn45-12b

URL = Reference:

http://www.Rashiyomi.com/w33n6.htm=20

Brief Summary: GENERAL: "You my = brothers=20 see:" DETAIL: "My full brother Benjamin sees" (HINT: I = like you as=20 much as him).

Certain Biblical paragraphs are stated in a = Theme-Development=20 form. In other words a broad general idea is stated first = followed=20 by the development of this broad general theme in = specific=20 details. The Theme-Detail form creates a unified = paragraph. The=20 style rule requires that we interpret the general = theme with=20 special focus on the attributes of the illustrative detail=20 selected. Today's example illustrates this as shown below.

Gn45-12b

theme-detail

Theme-General: And, behold, your eyes = [the eyes=20 of my brothers] see,=20
Detail-Development: and the eyes of my=20 [full] brother Benjamin,
that it is my = mouth that=20 speaketh unto you.

style

thematic general

development.

I love=20 the rest of my brothers (some of whom sold me into slavery) = as=20 much as I love my full brother Benjamin.

Advanced Rashi: From time to time I am challenged = whether=20 the Rabbi Ishmael Style rules can be applied to non-legal = passages. I=20 think the present example shows the great simplicity of = interpretation=20 that results from such an application.

7. RASHI METHOD:=20 FORMATTING
BRIEF = EXPLANATION:Inferences from=20 Biblical formatting: --bold,italics, and = paragraph=20 structure.=20 Use of repetition to indicate formatting = effects:=20 bold,italics,...;=20 use of repeated keywords to indicate a=20 bullet effect;=20 rules governing use and interpretation of = climactic=20 sequence;=20 rules governing paragraph development and = discourse=20This example applies to Rashis = Gn45-02a=20
URL Reference: (c) http://www.Rashiyomi.com/gn45-04a.htm=20
Brief Summary: a) = EGYPT=3DEgyptian=20 people,heard; b)Pharoh's HOUSE=3DPharoh's staff, heard.=20 =

We have explained in our article Biblical=20 Formatting located on the world wide web at http://www.rashi= yomi.com/biblicalformatting.pdf=20 that the Biblical Author indicated bullets by using = repeating=20 keywords.

That is, if a modern author wanted to get a point across using=20 bullets - a list of similar but contrastive items - = then the=20 Biblical Author would use repeating keywords. Today's verse = illustrates this principle.

Gn45-02a

And he wept aloud;=20
and Egypt heard=20

and Pharoh's household heard

The bulleted structure indicated by the repeating = keyword=20 heard creates a parallel structure. Rashi explains:=20 Egypt menotomycally refers to the Egyptian = people.=20 Similarly Pharoh's household refers, not only to his = family, but to=20 his staff.In presenting this Rashi we have used the = universal=20 metonomy principle which states that an item can refer to = things=20 closely related to it. A classical example of metonomy is = using a=20 national land, like Egypt to refer to its people, = the=20 Egyptians.

Sermonic Points: Rashi has a subtle emotional = point. It=20 wasn't just Pharoh and his family that took a liking to Joseph. = Even=20 Pharoh's staff, the maids, butlers and other personel, who do = their work,=20 pick up their paycheck and go home, they also were genuinely happy = that=20 the slave boy who made it good was finally reunited with his = family whom=20 he hadn't seen in ages. We tend to think of Egypt as a structured = society,=20 people without emotions, where everyone fit into a slot. Here we = see the=20 emotional aspect of the Egyptians. They were ordinary people who = had=20 empathy for family-type events in other nationals. (The actual = degradation=20 and slavery that developed happened several 100 years later and = then too,=20 as related in the Bible, the individual Egyptians empathically = felt for=20 the Jews).

8. RASHI METHOD: = DATABASES=20
BRIEF EXPLANATION:Rashi makes inferences from=20 Database queries. The precise definition of=20 database query has been identified in modern = times with=20 the 8 operations of Sequential Query Language=20 (SQL).
This example applies to Rashis=20 Gn46-01b
URL Reference: (c) = http://www.Rashiyomi.com/gn46-01b.htm=20
Brief Summary: God always = identifies=20 himself as the 'God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob.' But = Jacob at=20 times refers simply to the 'God of Isaac' since a person = is=20 closest to his father.=20 =

database query

How is = the God=20 of the Patriarchs referred to in the Bible?

database query

God invariably refers to Himself as the God of Abraham, = Isaac,=20 Jacob=20

However at times Jacob refers to the God of Isaac = without=20 mentioning Abraham since children often feel closest to their = parents.=20The list below presents the results of the database = query=20 and shows examples.

Verse Verse text God of Patriarchs Who is speaking

Gn28-13 And, behold, the Lord stood above him, and said, I = am the=20 Lord God of Abraham your father, and the God of Isaac; = the land=20 on which you lie, to you will I give it, and to your seed; = God of Abraham, God of Isaac God

Gn31-53 The God of Abraham, and the God of Nahor, the = God of=20 their father, judge between us. God of Abraham, God of Nahor Jacob, Laban

Gn31-42 Except the God of my father, the God of Abraham, and = the=20 fear of Isaac, had been with me, surely you would have = sent me=20 away now empty. God has seen my affliction and the labor of = my=20 hands, and rebuked you last night. God of Abraham, Fear of Isaac Jacob

Gn32-10 And Jacob said, O God of my father Abraham, and God = of my=20 father Isaac, the Lord who said to me, Return to your = country,=20 and to your family, and I will deal well with you; God of Abraham, God of Isaac Jacob

Gn31-53 And Jacob swore by the Fear of his father = Isaac.=20 God of Isaac Jacob

Gn46-01 And Israel took his journey with all that he had, and = came to=20 Beersheba, and offered sacrifices to the God of his = father=20 Isaac. God of Isaac Jacob

9. RASHI METHOD:=20 NonVerse
BRIEF EXPLANATION: The common = denominator of the 3 submethods of the NonVerse = method is=20 that inferences are made from non textual = material. The 3=20 submethods are as follows:=20 Spreadsheet: Rashi makes inferences of a = numerical=20 nature that can be summarized in a traditional=20 spreadsheet=20 Geometric: Rashi clarifies a Biblical text = using=20 descriptions of geometric diagrams=20 Fill-ins: Rashi supplies either real-world=20 background material or indicates real-world = inferences=20 from a verse. The emphasis here is on the real-world,=20 non-textual nature of the material. =This examples=20 applies to Rashis Gn45-09a
URL = Reference:=20 (c) http://www.Rashiyomi.com/dt01-25a.htm=20
Brief Summary: You COME UP to = Israel=20 which is perceived at the TOP/center of the world.=20 =

Rashi observes that Geographically, Israel is perceived on=20 top of the world; Consequently verses always speak about = going=20 up to Israel vs. going down from Israel. The verses = listed=20 below exemplify this usage.

We have classified this as the geometric method since = Rashi=20 clarifies the meaning of a word using diagrams.

up,down

Dt01-25a, discussing the bringing of fruit, by the = spies,=20 from Israel to the desert states And they took of the fruit = of the=20 land in their hands, and brought it down unto us, and = brought us=20 back word, and said: 'Good is the land which HaShem our G-d = giveth unto=20 us.'
Gn45-09a discussing the requested journey of the = patriarch=20 Jacob from Israel to Egypt, states Hasten ye, and go up to my = father,=20 and say unto him: Thus saith thy son Joseph: G-d hath made me = lord of=20 all Egypt; come down unto me, tarry not.
Ex33-01a discussing the journey from the desert to = Israel,=20 states And HaShem spoke unto Moses: 'Depart, go up = hence, thou=20 and the people that thou hast brought up out of the land of = Egypt, unto=20 the land of which I swore unto Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob, = saying:=20 Unto thy seed will I give it--
Dt32-13b discussing the gift of Israel by God to the = Jews=20 states states He made him ride on the high places of = the=20 earth, and he did eat the fruitage of the field; and He made him = to suck=20 honey out of the crag, and oil out of the flinty rock;
Gn46-03:04 presenting a prophecy that Jacob must = journey from=20 Israel to Egypt, states And He said: 'I am G-d, the G-d of = thy=20 father; fear not to go down into Egypt; for I will there make of = thee a=20 great nation. I will go down with thee into Egypt; and I = will=20 also surely bring thee up again; and Joseph shall put his hand = upon=20 thine eyes.'
Dt17-08f discussing the requirement to journey to = Jerusalem=20 for legal inquiry from the Sanhedrin in complex cases, states = If=20 there arise a matter too hard for thee in judgment, between = blood and=20 blood, between plea and plea, and between stroke and stroke, = even=20 matters of controversy within thy gates; then shalt thou arise, = and get=20 thee up unto the place which HaShem thy G-d shall choose. =

Note that in the last example we supplement our basic thesis = that=20 the word up is used when going to Israel while=20 down is used when going from Israelby = extending the=20 up-down metaphor for journey to or from = Jerusalem=20 relative to the rest of Israel.

Sermonic Points: Traditionally up = symbolizes=20 heavenly maters while down symbolizes hellish earthly = matters. This=20 symbolism is valid in all languages. By associating Israel and = Jerusalem=20 with up the Bible symbolically affirms Israel's spiritual = values.=20

10. RASHI METHOD:=20 SYMBOLISM
BRIEF EXPLANATION: Rashi = provides=20 symbolic interpretations of words, verses, and = chapters.=20 Rashi can symbolically interpret either=20 (10a) entire Biblical chapters such as the = gifts=20 of the princes, Nu-07=20 (10b) individual items, verses and words=20 The rules governing symbolism and=20 symbolic interpretation are presented in detail on my = website.=20
This examples applies to Rashis = Gn41-02a=20
URL Reference: (c) http://www.Rashiyomi.com/w33n6.htm=20
Brief Summary: Joseph specialized in = NUMBER=20 symbolism: a) 3 baskets=3D3 days; b) 3 branches=3D3 = days; c) 7 good=20 cows=3D7 good years d) 7 bad cows =3D 7 bad years.=20 =

Acknowledgement: The following is a = repeat=20 from last week. While in Phoenix last week a sharp question was = asked to=20 me: But Pharoh's magicians also interpreted the dream using the = seven motif. What was the superiority of Joseph's=20 interpretation. The answer is that besides using the = seven=20 motif Joseph also paid complete attention to all the other = details=20 of the dream.

Verse Gn41-02a describing Pharoh's dream states And, = behold,=20 there came up out of the river seven cows, well-favoured and=20 fat-fleshed; and they fed in the reed-grass.

number motif

Butler's dream (Gn40-12): 12. And Joseph said to = him, This=20 is the interpretation of it; The three branches are = three=20 days; Joseph followed up on this number motif: The dream = content=20 I squeezed the grapes into Pharoh's cup means that in = three=20 days I will squeeze grapes into Pharoh's cup (and have my job = back).=20
Baker's drea (Gn40-18): And Joseph answered and = said, This=20 is the interpretation; The three baskets are three=20 days; Joseph follows up on this number motif: The dream = content=20 The birds ate from my head means that in three days = birds will=20 be pecking/eating my head (I will be hung and dead).
Pharoh's cow dream (Gn41-02): And, behold, there = came up=20 from the river seven cows sleek and fat; and they fed in = the reed=20 grass. Rashi: The seven sleek fat cows are = seven good years.=20
Pharoh's cow dream (Gn41-03): And, behold, = seven other=20 cows came up after them from the river, gaunt and thin; and = stood by=20 the other cows upon the brink of the river. = Rashi: The=20 seven gaunt thin cows are sever bad years. = Joseph=20 followed up on this number motif. The dream content the thin = cows=20 devoured the fat cows means that the 7 famine years will=20 (emotionally) devour the 7 good years (until they are = forgotten).=20

Advanced Rashi: The Midrash Rabbah points out = that=20 Pharoh's magicians interpreted the dreams to mean e.g. You will = marry=20 off 7 daughters [cows=3Dwomen] and then bury 7 = daughters or=20 you will conquer 7 lands [land =3D wheat] and you will = lose 7=20 lands. Such interpretations only interpret the number 7. = They=20 also interpret individual symbols such as cows =3D women = and wheat=20 =3D land. However they failed to interpret the indicated dream = relationship between the lean and fat cows/wheat: the lean = cows/wheat=20 devoured the fat cows/wheat. Joseph, in addition to = using the=20 motific method also fully interpreted all aspects and = details of=20 the dream. The devouring of the thin cows/wheat by the fat=20 cows/wheat symbolizes emotional devouring of the good = emotions of=20 the saiety years by the bad emotions of the famine years.

Sermonic points: There is a subtlety here we may=20 overlook. Egypt is associated with slavery and carefully defined = social=20 strata. But here we see the very democratic idea of judging a = person /=20 worker by knowledge skills and abilities. Joseph had expertise in = number=20 symbolism and got a typical 'American-type' job promotion, from = prisoner=20 to Vice President, because of his expertise.

Conclusion

This week's parshah contains examples of all Rashi methods. = Visit the=20 RashiYomi website at http://www.rashiyomi.com/ for further details = and=20 examples.