Rabbi Ishmael Example Method:#15 of 36
###########################################################
# 10 YEAR Ayelet DAILY-RASHI-YOMI CYCLE #
# Aug 23, 2000 #
# Rashis 216-220 Of 7800 (2.9%) #
# #
# 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#
# #
# WARNING: READ with COURIER 10 (Fixed width) FONTS #
###########################################################
TREAT
-----
Today and yesterday I am bringing you verbatim postings from
the current issue of Rashi is Simple the parent email group
to the Chevruta Rashi Yomi. This email group is published
twice weekly---those who want to subscribe can do so
at the Rashi website whose URL is above. There is alot new
here so please read the whole thing.
THIS MODULE
-----------
This module deals with the principle of CLIMAX. We review
Rashis on verses where the motivating interpretive force of
Rashi is the climactic development of verses.
WHAT IS THE RULE OF CLIMAX
--------------------------
a) 3 or more consecutive similar phrases **should**
be interpreted as developing CLIMACTICALLY. 1st step one,
then step 2, then step 3 etc
EXAMPLE: The verse Dt19-11 describes murder using 4 phrases
--------
--When a person HATES somebody
--and he STALKS him
--and CONFRONTS him
--and HITS HIM LETHALLY so that he dies.
We **could** interpret this to mean "When someone murders
someone". But because of the principle of CLIMAX we interpret
the 4 phrases as CLIMACTICALLY leading to MURDER. Murder
happens in 4 stages
a) EMOTIONAL: You HATE the person
b) OBSERVATIONAL: You OBSERVE the person CONSTANTLY(obsession)
c) SOCIAL: You CONFRONT the person
The above 3 will naturally lead to murder.
CLIMAX WITHOUT GRAMMAR
----------------------
b) This principle of CLIMAX, **by itself** can be used to decide
the meaning of ambiguous phrases(even if nothing else besides
CLIMAX supports the decision)
EXAMPLE: In the above example from Dt19-11 I could have
interpreted RISE UP ON HIM to **either** mean KILL or
CONFRONT. For the verb to RISE UP does mean both.
The only reason I chose CONFRONT vs KILL is that the
principle of CLIMAX requires a CLIMACTIC development.
CLIMAX vs SIMPLE MEANING OF THE TEXT
------------------------------------
c) Note that it is legitimate to hold the position that
"These 3 or 4 phrases all say the **same** thing and this is
common in poetry;but BECAUSE of the principle of CLIMAX I
am justified in assuming that each phrase has a distinct
meaning and that the 3 or 4 phrases build up to a CLIMAX."
EXAMPLE: There is nothing wrong in Dt19-13 in stating that
"The Bible is simply talking about murder and is using
a conversational style. However the principle of CLIMAX
additionally teaches me HOW murders take place."
In general the principle of CLIMAX can be vigorously used
to teach outreach. For each example of CLIMAX, by
teaching us HOW something happens can be reversed and show
us how to stop it.
CLIMAX & RABBI ISHMAEL'S PRINCIPLES
-----------------------------------
d) The principle of climax is associated with the RabbiIshmael
principle of the DETAIL-GENERAL style.
EXAMPLE: The last phrase in Dt19-13 is MURDER,
something GENERAL. The other phrases---HATRED, STALKING,
CONFRONTATION are DETAILS associated with murder.
The RabbiIshmael Rule of DETAIL-GENERAL requires a broad
interpretation of the DETAILS to be consistent with the
GENERAL principle---and this is exactly what the principle
of CLIMAX teaches---that the DETAILS lead up to the GENERAL
#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*# (C) Dr Hendel, 2000 *#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#
VERSE: Dt06-13a
RASHIS EXPLAINED: Dt06-13a Dt13-05a Dt13-05b Dt13-05c Dt13-05d
EXAMPLES
--------
EXAMPLE 34-39:
-------------
Ex Dt13-05a-d
-------------
Dt13-05a Watch Gods COMMANDMENTS Rashi: The Torah
Dt13-05b Listen to his VOICE Rashi: Enactments of Prophets
Dt13-05c WORSHIP him Rashi: Temple service
Dt13-05d "Hang out" with religious people
RASHI: The 'community' you hang out with to give
charity, visit sick, help in weddings etc...should
be a religious community.
NOTE: Before continuing we show that the interpretation of
Dt13-05d as "Hang out with the righteous" is consistent with
the usage of the verb DVK. Please visit URL
http://www.RashiYomi.Com/dt11-22c.htm. Here is a summary
RULE: The meaning of the Hebrew root D-V-K varies according to
the connective word that is used with it. The root can mean
PASTED, OVERTAKE, HANG OUT WITH, ADOPT A LIFE STYLE.
EXAMPLES
--------
(1) D-V-K TO means PASTED as in Thr4-4 "Infant tongues became PASTED
to their Palate because of the drought"
(2) D-V-K ETH means OVERTAKE as in Gn31-23 "Laban OVERTOOK Jacob"
(3) D-V-K WITH & D-V-K IN mean to "HANG OUT WITH" or "ADOPT A
"LIFESTYLE" as in Ruth2-8 "HANG OUT with my workers" or
2King3 "He clung to YARAVAMS LIFE STYLE of sin" or 1King11-2
"King Solomon HUNG OUT (or ADOPTED LIFE STYLE) of the heathen
women he married"
(4) Dt11-22c means "Adopt a Godly LIFE STYLE" or "HANG OUT with
people of God" and is interpreted to mean that one should
try and "hang out" with Torah scholars.
USE OF CLIMAX:
-------------
So the CLIMACTIC development of the verse teaches us HOW to
Hang out with a religious community. Suppose you wanted
to join the "religious crowd"--What would you do? The
Torah teaches us outreach methods for joining the religious
community.
Step 1: "Watch Gods commandments"
ie The Torah--ie BASIC TENETS OF BELIEF
Step 2: "Hearken to His voice"
ie FOLLOWUPS--RECENT DEVELOPMENTS
eg Enactments of the Prophet-Sages
Step 3: "WORSHIP HIM"
ie SYMBOLIC ACTS--eg the Temple procedures
Step 4: "Hang out" with the religious community
APPLICATION TO OUTREACH
-----------------------
QUESTION: Suppose a person
--Observes the Shabbath
--follows all rabbinical commandments
What is he missing? Why isn't he fully accepted?
ANSWER: eg When other people's children come over they eg
don't see Shabbos pictures, little plays, children
baking challah etc--therefore they don't feel
totally "at home".
To remedy this--to feel "totally at home" we need
"symbolic" affirmations of Shabbos such as
Shabbos pictures, little plays, etc.
SUMMARY: To become "part of the community" you need all
3 components:
a) BASIC BELIEFS,
b) CONTINUAL UPDATES,
c) SYMBOLIC AFFIRMATIONS
Only then is it possible to "hang out" with the community
NOTE:
----
We emphasize how the interpretation of the above verse was
accomplished by climax. Indeed each of the words in the
verse has ambiguous meaning
LISTEN TO HIS COMMANDS could mean EITHER observe the Torah
or listen to the prophets.
HEARKEN TO HIS VOICE can refer to prophecy(See Rashi on
Gn21-12). "HEARKEN TO HIS VOICE" can also eg simply mean
observing the Torah!
WORSHIP HIM could mean "perform all his commandments".
WORSHIP HIM can also refer specifically to temple service
(ef Nu18-06).
So **each** of these phrases could mean EITHER to perform
commandments or could mean something specific.
It is therefore the principle of CLIMAX which encourages
me to interpret these phrases in a manner that climatically
leads to a terminal goal of "hanging out with the religious
crowd."
RULE USED: CLIMAX
#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*# (C) Dr Hendel, 2000 *#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#