MiShMeReTH means PROFESSIONALISM:#5 of 6
###########################################################
# 10 YEAR Ayelet DAILY-RASHI-YOMI CYCLE #
# Nov 10, 2000 #
# Rashis 395-397 Of 7800 (5.1%) #
# #
# Reprinted with permission from Rashi-is-Simple, #
# (c) 1999-Present, Dr. Hendel #
# http://www.RashiYomi.Com/ #
# #
#Permission to reprint with this header but not for profit#
# #
# VISIT THE RASHI YOMI ARCHIVES #
# #
# If you want to catch up on any Rashi Yomi postings #
# Visit http://www.RashiYomi.Com/calendar.htm #
# #
# TO BUSY? Then just browse the BEIGE postings #
# which are the SUMMARIES #
# #
# WARNING: READ with COURIER 10 (Fixed width) FONTS #
# #
###########################################################
OVERVIEW: In this unit we review the meaning of the Hebrew
word >MiShMeReTh< We suggest that the fundamental meaning
is >PROFESSIONALISM<.
This >PROFESSIONALISM< manifests itself either
-----in PROFESSIONAL standards---safeguards
--or-in PROFESSIONAL training----learning
At the beginning of this module we saw that the verse
Nu07-03a emphasizes this aspect of PROFESSIONALISM.
In the remaining modules we explore Rashis which
present the 2 reasons: a) TRAINING, b) STANDARDS.
We finish today with the Rashis denoting SAFEGUARDING
NUANCE B: Professional codes create SAFEGUARDS to prevent accidents
-------------------------------------------------------------------
A key difference between a professional job vs a layman job is
that the professional job is
>smoother
>knows the ins and outs
>knows how to avoid accidents
Rashi emphasizes this nuance of safeguards in the following Rashis
(Note how many of them have the double language
>And you shall make APPOINTMENTS for JOBS<
>And you shall SHMR my MISHMERET<)
REFERENCES:
==========
The following references contain the material covered
http://www.RashiYomi.Com/h6n1.htm
http://www.RashiYomi.Com/nu07-03a.htm
#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*# (C) Dr Hendel, 2000 *#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*
********************************************
MODULE 4: Further Examples of Sh-M-R=Fences*
********************************************
EXAMPLE B.3
-----------
>Lv26-03b If you will WALK in my commandments
> and you will make CODES for them
> and you will DO them
>RASHI:
>These 3 activities are interpreted using the principle
>of increasing climax. We have
> >WALK in my commandments = Learning Torah
> >Make CODES for them = making fences to fulfill
> >and you will DO them = actual performance
Note how Rashi only speaks about
>WATCHING the commandments in order to fulfill them
However we think it consistent with the other Rashis in this list
to identify this
>WATCHING = MAKING ORDINANCES
The reader is invited to study these two interpretations themselves
and come to their own conclusion
EXAMPLE B.4--We close with a 'cute' example
-----------
>Ex12-17a 'And you shall WATCH the MATZOHs
>RASHI:
>WATCH them (from becoming leavened). So that eg
>if they get puffed from non water sources then
>quickly chill them to remove the puffiness
As can easily be seen this Rashi is FULLY consistent with our
interpretation of the Hebrew root
>Sh-M-R = WATCH
as meaning
>Make ordinanaces and fences to prevent 'accidents'
So in this case we prevent all puffiness since it resembles
leavening. In fact support for this interpretation that
>preventing puffiness = creating ordinances
is brought by the conclusion of Rashi
>RASHI:
>....This same principle applies TO ALL COMMANDMENTS
>If you have the opportunity to do a commandment then
>do it immediately...do not let it fester (the same
>way you wouldn't let flour fester since it would
>become leaven).
**************************************************
MODULE 5: A Beautiful Example of Rabbinic Fences*
**************************************************
EXAMPLE B.5---Is the following Rashi a contradiction?
-----------
>Lv22-09a And they(the priests) will WATCH MY WATCHINGS
>RASHI:
>The priests should avoid eating TERUMAH in ritual
>impurity.
Doesn't this Rashi look like it is contradicting our whole thesis
that
>WATCHING = MAKING ORDINANCES/FENCES?
But a closer examination shows that our interpretation is correct
For
>the mass production of ordinanaces and fences
is exactly what the sages did to prevent TERUMAH from being eaten
while impure. For example BIBLICAL law says only your whole person
can become ritually impure while RABBINIC FENCES says that the
HANDS alone can become impure.
In fact the whole custom of
>WASHING HANDS
before eating bread came from a long line of Rabbinical fences
and ordinances that were designed to prevent priests from
'accidentally touching' impure items.
In fact certain non priests
formed the FRATERNAL FRIENDSHIP community---these were great Rabbis
who were NOT priests but nevertheless ATE THEIR FOODS in the same
ritual purity as Priests.
Note how our interpretation of this verse ONLY appears
straightforward when VIEWED IN CONTEXT of the other dozen
or so examples that we have brought. There is strength in lists.
#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*# (C) Dr Hendel, 2000 *#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*