The 10 RashiYomi Rules
Their presence in Rashis on Parshat AChaRay KeDoShiM
Volume 12, Number 15
Rashi is Simple - Volume 35 Number 15

Used in the weekly Rashi-is-Simple and the Daily Rashi.
Visit the RashiYomi website: http://www.Rashiyomi.com/
(c) RashiYomi Incorporated, Dr. Hendel, President,
May 1st, 2009

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.

FULL HOUSE THIS WEEK, ALL RASHI RULES ILLUSTRATED

    1. RASHI METHOD: REFERENCES
    BRIEF EXPLANATION: Commentary on a verse is provided thru a cross-reference to another verse. The cross references can either provide
    • (1a) further details,
    • (1b) confirm citations, or
    • (1c) clarify word meaning.
    This examples applies to Rashis Lv20-25a
    URL Reference: (c) http://www.Rashiyomi.com/rule1215.htm
    Brief Summary: The statement (Lv20-25) SEPARATE YOURSELF FROM THE RITUALLY UNCLEAN ANIMALS refers to SEPARATION FROM ANIMALS PROHIBITED TO BE EATEN (Non Kosher) (Lv11-04)

Verse Lv20-25a discussing the need for the Jewish people to become holy by separating themselves from ritually impure animals states Ye shall therefore separate between the pure beast and the impure, and between the pure fowl and the impure; and ye shall not make your souls detestable by beast, or by fowl, or by any thing wherewith the ground teemeth, which I have set apart for you to hold ritually impure. Rashi notes that the underlined words, impure references verses Lv11-04 discussing non-Kosher animals - that is, animals prohibited to be eaten. Hence the Rashi comment Verse Lv20-25 requiring separation from the ritually impure animals and birds cites and refers to Lv11-04 (or generally all of chapter Lv11) discussing the non-Kosher animals - animals forbidden to be eaten - which the Bible explicitly calls impure.

Text of Target Verse Lv20-25a Text of Reference Verse Lv11-04
Ye shall therefore separate between the pure beast and the impure, and between the pure fowl and the impure; and ye shall not make your souls detestable by beast, or by fowl, or by any thing wherewith the ground teemeth, which I have set apart for you to hold ritually impure. Nevertheless these shall you not eat of those that chew the cud, or of those that divide the hoof; the camel, because it chews the cud, but its hoof is not parted; it is impure to you.
Rashi comments: Verse Lv20-25 requiring separation from the ritually impure animals and birds cites and refers to Lv11-04 (or generally all of chapter Lv11) discussing the non-Kosher animals - animals forbidden to be eaten - which the Bible explicitly calls impure.

      2. RASHI METHOD: WORD MEANING
      BRIEF EXPLANATION: The meaning of words can be explained either by
      • (2a) translating an idiom, a group of words whose collective meaning transcends the meaning of its individual component words,
      • (2b) explaining the nuances and commonality of synonyms-homographs,
      • (2c) describing the usages of connective words like also,because,if-then, when,
      • (2d) indicating how grammatical conjugation can change word meaning
      • (2e) changing word meaning using the figures of speech common to all languages such as irony and oxymorons.
      This examples applies to Rashis Lv20-18a
      URL Reference: (c) http://www.Rashiyomi.com/rule1215.htm
      Brief Summary: The phrase HE AROUSED HER SOURCE is an IDIOMATIC euphemism for FULL INTIMACY similar to UNCOVER HER NAKEDNESS.

    The FFF submethod states that words can be named by Form, Feel, and Function.
  • Some examples of naming words by Form include (a) the leg of a chair, (b) the handle of a pot, (c) the branch of a family tree, (d) surfing the net or (e) brainstorming Some of these examples illustrate naming objects by form while other examples illustrate naming activities by form.
  • A good punchy example distinguishing naming by form vs. function is pentagon-UN. The pentagon is named after the shape and form of the building while the United Nations is named after the function and purpose of the building. Although both these buildings have as a purpose world peace they are named differently.
  • Examples of naming by feel/substance are glasses, hardship, ironing-board, plaster etc.

The FFF principle is a special case of the literary techniques of synechdoche-metonomy. These literary principles, universal to all languages, state that items can be named by related items, by parts of those items, or by good examples of those items. For example honey refers to anything sweet since honey is a good example of something sweet. Similarly hot refers to matters of love since the two are related. Todays Rashi can best be understood by applying these principles.

Biblical verse Lv20-18a refers to full physical intimacy with the phrase he aroused her source. Rashi, in his terse manner, notes that a more common Biblical phrase for initmacy is he uncovered her nakedness. Here Rashi is using the synechdoche principle, which names categories by good examples of them. Uncovering of nakedness is typically done during intimacy. Similarly, arousal is a good example of intimacy.

Advanced Rashi: There is a subtlety in Rashi here that may easily be overlooked. One might think Rashi is simply providing a dictionary definition. But by naming a complicated phenomena, intimacy, by good examples of it, uncovering, arousal Rashi is doing more. The Talmud relates certain non-Jewish customs to fallaciously achieve modesty by not fully addressing during intimacy. By calling intimacy uncover the Bible emphasizes that the purpose of intimacy is not just release and climax but enjoyment and arousal. Similarly, by calling intimacy arousal Rashi emphasizes an important component of the Jewish attitude towards intimacy: The partners should not just release and achieve climax but they should be aroused and enjoy themselves.

Thus the Biblical idioms pithily catch important emphasii of intimacy and remind us of the good examples (that is, synechdoche) of intimacy. Thus this Rashi is a fascinating study on how formal linguistic techniques can nuance and encourage deep religious values.

      3. RASHI METHOD: GRAMMAR
      BRIEF EXPLANATION: Rashi explains verses using grammar principles, that is, rules which relate reproducable word form to word meaning. Grammatical rules neatly fall into 3 categories
      • (a) the rules governing conjugation of individual words,Biblical roots,
      • (b) the rules governing collections of words,clauses, sentences
      • (c) miscellaneous grammatical, or form-meaning, rules.
      This examples applies to Rashis Lv17-14a Lv17-14b
      URL Reference: (c) http://www.Rashiyomi.com/rule1215.htm
      Brief Summary: For the SOUL of LIVING ANIAMALS? The BLOOD OF THE ANIMALS is for its SOUL AND I SAID ....BLOOD OF ALL ANIMALS SHOULD NOT BE EATEN because the BLOOD OF THE ANIAMAL is ITS SOUL....

Today, students of the Bible learn grammar from Biblical Hebrew grammar textbooks. These textbooks organize material by topics. Grammatical topics include a) verb mood and conjugation, b) plurality and gender agreement, c) pronoun reference, d) subject-verb-object sequencing, e) sentence structure and type, f) the possessive and g) connective words, and many other topics.

However in Rashi's time gramamr was just beginning. There were no official grammatical textbooks and tables. One of Rashi's functions was to teach grammar. Rashi did not write a grammar textbook but instead left grammatical explanations appended to each verse.

In today's example Rashi explains rules about gender. In English nouns do not have gender. We rather use the non-gender word, it. By contrast in Hebrew, nouns have gender. Instead of using the word it Hebrew will use the words he, she to refer to nouns.

    Rashi explains that
  • The Hebrew words for animal,blood are masculine
  • The Hebrew word for soul is feminine

Using this Rashi we translate Lv17-14 as follows (the referents of the pronouns his, her are indicated in brackets and follow the Rashi rules above): For the soul of animals? His [the animal's] blood is for his [the animal's] soul; and I have said to the Jews: 'Don't eat the blood of animals' because the animal's soul is [is represented by] her [the soul's] blood; all who eat him [the blood] shall be cut off [from their nation.]

    4. RASHI METHOD: ALIGNMENT
    BRIEF EXPLANATION: Aligning two almost identically worded verselets can suggest
    • (4a) 2 cases of the same incident or law
    • (4b) emphasis on the nuances of a case
    • (4c) use of broad vs literal usage of words
    This examples applies to Rashis Lv16-09a
    URL Reference: (c) http://www.Rashiyomi.com/rule1215.htm
    Brief Summary: 1) Bring the goat chosen by the lottery near to God and 2) make it (designate it) as a sin offering.

The table below presents an aligned extract of verses or verselets in Lv16-09, Lv12-06 Both verses/verselets discuss bringing animals for sacrifices. The alignment justifies the Rashi comment that: The normal phraseology is bring this animal for a sin offering. When the verse however changes phraseology and says bring this animal and make it for a sin offering the extra underlined words and make it indicate intentional a required designation - for example by explicitly saying This animal is hereby designated for a sin offering.

Verse Text of Verse Rashi comment
Lv16-09 And Aaron shall bring the goat upon which the Lord’s lot fell, and make it [designate it] for a sin offering. The normal phraseology is bring this animal for a sin offering. When the verse however changes phraseology and says bring this animal and make it for a sin offering the extra underlined words and make it indicate intentional a required designation - for example by explicitly saying This animal is hereby designated for a sin offering.
Lv12-06 And when the days of her purifying are fulfilled, for a son, or for a daughter, she shall bring a lamb of the first year for a burnt offering, and a young pigeon, or a turtledove, for a sin offering, to the door of the Tent of Meeting, to the priest;

Advanced Rashi: An alternate independent explanation of this Rashi is given below in rule #7, format. We could have additionally explained this Rashi using rule #8, databases: that is, we could have cited numerous verses with the phrase bring it....for a sin offering showing that the added word bring it....and make it for a sin offering indicates a separate procedure - explicit designation.

      5. RASHI METHOD: CONTRADICTION
      BRIEF EXPLANATION:Rashi resolves contradictory verses using 3 methods.
      • (5a) Resolution using two aspects of the same event
      • (5b) Resolution using two stages of the same process
      • (5c) Resolution using broad-literal interpretation.
      This example applies to Rashis Lv19-20e
      URL Reference: (c) http://www.Rashiyomi.com/rule1215.htm
      Brief Summary: (1)There is a death penalty for sleeping with a married woman; (2) There is no death penalty for sleeping with an engaged female slave

The table below presents presents two contradictory verses. Both verses talk about adulterous-like behavior. The underlined words highlight the contradiction. One verse says adulterous-like behavior is punishable with death while the other verse says it is not punished with death. Which is it? Is adulterous-like behavior always punished with death or not. Rashi simply resolves this using the 2 Aspects method: A free woman has the capacity to enter a marital relationship. Even before she is fully married the designation before witnesses creates a semi marital status and intimacy with this women is adultery, punishable by death. But a female slave who enters a designated state (designated to a particular man) - is not considered married (until she is free) and consequently a violation of this designated state via intimacy is not punishable by death. In other words, a free (non slave) status is an intrinsic prerequisite to a marital status.

Summary Verse / Source Text of verse / Source
There is a death penalty Lv20-10 And the man who commits adultery with another man’s wife, he who commits adultery with his neighbor’s wife, the adulterer and the adulteress shall surely be put to death.
There is no death penalty for violation of a female slave's designated status Lv19-20 And whoever lies carnally with a woman, who is a slave betrothed to a man, and not wholly redeemed, nor freedom given her; inquiry shall be made; they shall not be put to death, because she was not free.
Resolution: 2 Aspects: A free woman has the capacity to enter a marital relationship. Even before she is fully married the designation before witnesses creates a semi marital status and intimacy with this women is adultery, punishable by death. But a female slave who enters a designated state (designated to a particular man) - is not considered married (until she is free) and consequently a violation of this designated state via intimacy is not punishable by death. In other words, a free (non slave) status is an intrinsic prerequisite to a marital status.

    6. RASHI METHOD: STYLE
    Rashi examines how rules of style influences inferences between general and detail statements in paragraphs.
    • Example: Every solo example stated by the Bible must be broadly generalized;
    • Theme-Detail: A general principle followed by an example is interpreted restrictively---the general theme statement only applies in the case of the example;
    • Theme-Detail-Theme: A Theme-Detail-Theme unit is interpreted as a paragraph. Consequently the details of the paragraph are generalized so that they are seen as illustrative of the theme.
    This examples applies to Rashis Lv14-09a
    URL Reference: (c) http://www.Rashiyomi.com/lv16-19a.htm
    Brief Summary: GENERAL: Atone for the altar DETAIL: Place blood on horns and sprinkle blood

Certain Biblical paragraphs are stated in a Theme-Development form. In other words a broad general idea is stated first followed by the development of this broad general theme in specific details. The Theme-Detail form creates a unified paragraph and consequently the law or narrative statement only applies to the enumerated details but not to other cases. Today's example illustrates this as shown below.

    Biblical verse Lv16-18:19 discussing the Yom Kippur ceremony atoning for the altar states And he shall go out to the altar that is before the Lord, and
    • General: make an atonement for it;
    • Detail:
      • and shall take of the blood of the bull, and of the blood of the goat, and put it upon the horns of the altar around.
      • And he shall sprinkle of the blood upon it [upon the altar roof] with his finger seven times,
    The general clause states make an atonement for the altar and could mean any of a number of procedures that are designed to achieve atonement. The detail clause provides specificity to the general clause and describes how it should be interpreted: (1) place blood on the horns and (2) sprinkle on its roof.

      7. RASHI METHOD: FORMATTING
      BRIEF EXPLANATION:Inferences from Biblical formatting: --bold,italics, and paragraph structure.
      • Use of repetition to indicate formatting effects: bold,italics,...;
      • use of repeated keywords to indicate a bullet effect;
      • rules governing use and interpretation of climactic sequence;
      • rules governing paragraph development and discourse
      This example applies to Rashis Lv16-09a
      URL Reference: (c) http://www.Rashiyomi.com/rule1215.htm
      Brief Summary: (1) Bring the animal near to God (2) designate it: THIS IS A SIN OFFERING (3) bring the animal near (4) atone [perform confession] (5) slaughter it (6) Take the blood (7) Sprinkle it.....

This Rashi was also discussed above in rule #4, alignment.

The Formatting principle includes exegetical Rashi comments focusing on paragraph structure. That is, the parts of a paragraph when properly sequenced naturally suggest commentary. This type of commentary, emanating from structure, is different from commentary from word meaning, grammatical function or verse comparison. Todays example nicely illustrates this.

We present below a paragraph Lv16-09,11,14 indented and bulletized to indicate its structure.

  1. Aaron shall bring near the goat chosen by the lottery to God
  2. and make it a sin offering [that is, explicitly designate it: This is to be a sin offering.]
  3. ....(the other goat shall remain to be sent to Azazel)
  4. Aaron shall bring near his... bull sin offering
  5. and he shall atone for himself...[that is, recite confession]
  6. and he shall slaughter it
  7. (and he shall perform the incense ceremony)
  8. and he shall take from the bull blood [which was received in a temple vessel]
  9. and he shall sprinkle....

For convenience we have underlined the verbs. Each verb corresponds to a distinct sacrifice procedure. Where necessary we bracket the meaning of the underlined word. These bracketed expressions correspond to Rashi comments. The purpose of these Rashi comments is to indicate the temporal sequence of sacrifice procedures. For example Rashi explains that make it a sin offering refers to a verbal designation procedure; similarly Rashi explains that atone refers to a verbal confession procedure.

One can ask how Rashi derives these interpretations. We emphasize that it is the sequence of the paragraph structure that naturally suggests these meanings. For example we know from other verses Lv05-05 that there is a confession procedure. It therefore is natural to associate the word atonement with this verbal confession. True, confession can mean other things but its place in the sequence refers naturally to the confession procedure.

Similarly the Hebrew root Kuph-Resh-Beth can equally mean bring near or sacrifice. However the place of this verb in the temporal sequence indicates that it means bring near.

In summary if we accept that the paragraph structure indicates sequence then all Rashi does is associate with each word/verb the appropriate sacrifice procedure (which we know from other verses) with that word/verb in its sequence. So indeed it is the paragraph sequence itself that drives the Rashi comment.

      8. RASHI METHOD: DATABASES
      BRIEF EXPLANATION:Rashi makes inferences from Database queries. The precise definition of database query has been identified in modern times with the 8 operations of Sequential Query Language (SQL).

      This example applies to Rashis Lv20-15a
      URL Reference: (c) http://www.Rashiyomi.com/w35n5.htm
      Brief Summary: We reinforce the moral value of chasity by symbolically executing animals involved in bestiality.

We ask the following database query: Do the Torah laws and Jewish leaders reinforce moral values through symbolic reminders. The reader is encouraged to perform the query using a standard Biblical Konnkordance or search engine. This database query yields the list below. The list justifies the following Rashi inference: The Torah and Jewish leaders reinforce moral values through symbolic reminders-hence for example, an animal involved in bestiality is executed symbolically affirming the moral horror of the crime. The list below presents the results of the database query.

Verse Event Need Symbolic reminder
Ex17-11a War with Amalayk Prayer Moses raised his hands
Nu21-09a God's cure of snake bites in nation Prayer Placing the the copper snake on high (hinting to heaven)
Dt12-02 Destroying Idolatry Horror of crime Even the idolatrous trees are killed
Lv20-15a Punishment for sleeping with animals Horror of crime Animal is stoned to death also
Ex20-23a Temple service Decorum, atmosphere, modesty Use ramp vs. staircase so as not to excessively expose nakedness
Gn06-14b Noah's Ark Punishment of sinful people by brimstone Use Brimstone wood (to symbolize coming punishment of brimstone)

Advanced Rashi: Rashi does not explain why brimstone wood is so called. I would imagine that the texture and color of the wood is similar to brimstone. Even more startling is Rashi's assertion that The brimstone wood symbolically reminded the viewers of Noah's ark of the coming punishment by brimstone!?! But we do not find an explicit verse that the generation of the flood was punished by brimstone. However we do find brimstone used as a general punishment for a variety of sinful nations including Sedom and Amorah (Gn19-24), the exiled Jews (Dt29-22), Edom (Is30-33), and Gog and Magog (Ez38-22). Rashi therefore felt justified in generalizing these occurrences to include the punishment of the generation of the flood even if not explicitly mentioned.

    9. RASHI METHOD: SPREADSHEETS
    BRIEF EXPLANATION: The common denominator of the 3 submethods of the Spreadsheet method is that inferences are made from non textual material. The 3 submethods are as follows:
    • Spreadsheet: Rashi makes inferences of a numerical nature that can be summarized in a traditional spreadsheet
    • Geometric: Rashi clarifies a Biblical text using descriptions of geometric diagrams
    • Fill-ins: Rashi supplies either real-world background material or indicates real-world inferences from a verse. The emphasis here is on the real-world, non-textual nature of the material.
    This example applies to Rashis Lv16-24d
    URL Reference: (c) http://www.Rashiyomi.com/lv16-24d.htm
    Brief Summary: Priest GOES OUT, FROM Veil, TO Courtyard altar.

Verse Lv16-14:24d, describing the Yom Kippur (Day of Atonement) service states And he shall take of the blood of the bull, and sprinkle it with his finger upon the veil eastward; and before the veil shall he sprinkle of the blood with his finger seven times. ... and he will come out, and offer his elevation offering, and the elevation offering of the people, and make an atonement for himself, ...

Rashi diagramatically explains the phrase come out. The veil is inside the Temple proper while the elevation offering is offered on the copper altar which is outside the Temple proper, in the courtyard. Hence the verse states he will come out The diagram below clarifies this Rashi.

             Temple Courtyard wall
    ============================================
    ||          |     Temple Table |
    || Holy of  |                  |
    || Holies   |Veil   Temple Door  Copper
    ||          |                  |        Altar
    ||          |     Candellabrah |   
    ============================================
      Temple Proper  Temple Proper   Courtyard
      Priest ---Goes out------->

    10. RASHI METHOD: SYMBOLISM
    BRIEF EXPLANATION: Rashi provides symbolic interpretations of words, verses, and chapters. Rashi can symbolically interpret either
    • (10a) entire Biblical chapters such as the gifts of the princes, Nu-07
    • (10b) individual items, verses and words
    The rules governing symbolism and symbolic interpretation are presented in detail on my website.

    This examples applies to Rashis Lv20-15a
    URL Reference: (c) http://www.Rashiyomi.com/rule1215.htm
    Brief Summary: We reinforce the moral value of chasity by symbolically executing animals involved in bestiality.

As indicated in Rule #8, Databases the Torah and Jewish leaders frequently reinforced needed values during specific situations using symbolism. We repeat here the database inquiry of half a dozen cases where this happens. In particular, an animal involved in bestiality is stoned to symbolically affirm the horror of the crime.

Verse Event Need Symbolic reminder
Ex17-11a War with Amalayk Prayer Moses raised his hands
Nu21-09a God's cure of snake bites in nation Prayer Placing the the copper snake on high (hinting to heaven)
Dt12-02 Destroying Idolatry Horror of crime Even the idolatrous trees are killed
Lv20-15a Punishment for sleeping with animals Horror of crime Animal is stoned to death also
Ex20-23a Temple service Decorum, atmosphere, modesty Use ramp vs. staircase so as not to excessively expose nakedness
Gn06-14b Noah's Ark Punishment of sinful people by brimstone Use Brimstone wood (to symbolize coming punishment of brimstone)

Conclusion

This week's parshah contains examples of all Rashi method. Visit the RashiYomi website at http://www.Rashiyomi.com and http://www.Rashiyomi.com/rule.htm for further details and examples.