Rabbi Ishmael Example Method:#7 of 36
###########################################################
# 10 YEAR Ayelet DAILY-RASHI-YOMI CYCLE #
# Aug 13, 2000 #
# Rashis 199-200 Of 7800 (2.6%) #
# #
# 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 #
###########################################################
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.
Briefly speaking the rule of CLIMAX states that at certain
times a sequence of 3 or more Biblical phrases will develop
a theme in a CLIMACTIC FASHION.
EXAMPLE: The best example of Climax is the Rashi on Dt19-11
According to Rashi this verse describes MURDER as occuring
in 4 stages:
------------------------------------------------------------
--The EMOTIONAL stage---"When a person HATES another person"
--The OBSERVATIONAL stage--"& he spys/STALKS on that person"
--The CONFRONTATION stage--"& he CONFRONTS him"
--MURDER-------------------"& he MURDERS him".
------------------------------------------------------------
In other words Rashi uses the CLIMACTIC development of this
verse to show HOW a murder occurs--you don't just get up
and murder somebody. First you hate them; then you spy alot
on them; finally you can pick a fight with them and this
leads to murder.
The principle of CLIMAX is particularly useful for purposes
of OUTREACH. For every climactic development teaches us
HOW to stop something from developing. Thus the best way
to stop murder is to stop the hatred and stalking that
leads to it. Many other useful examples of outreach will
be presented in this module.
We will now spend 2-3 days reviewing a very basic set of
Rashis on Climax--namely the Rashis on Lv26-14:15. This
set of Rashis shows an interesting interchange between
----Rashis on 6 Biblical phrases
----5 subtle distinctions in these 2-3 verses
----what looks like arbitrary distinctions in Rashi
Remember our goal is to show how the principle of
CLIMAX itself contributes to the Rashis.
For those interested this entire set of Rashis was first
published at
http://www.RashiYomi.Com/h2n5.htm
The explanations I gave had significant improvements from
my Rashi class at the Lower Merion Synagogue which I gave
for several years.
#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*# (C) Dr Hendel, 2000 *#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#
VERSE: Lv26-15a
VERSE: Lv26-15b
BACKGROUND
----------
Yesterday We began very slowly. Today we
---review Rashis interpretation
---defend 2 obvious phrases in this interpretation
BIBLICAL TEXT WITH RASHIS INTERPRETATION
-----------------------------------------
We recall the translation of Lv26-14:15 which speaks
about Jews who DONT LISTEN to the commandments.
BIBLICAL TEXT RASHI
------------- -----------------------
If you
1) Don't LISTEN = Don't STUDY
2) don't PRACTICE = Don't OBEY
3) DESPISE my laws = Ridicule OTHERS
4) COURT DECISIONS loathesome = Ridicule COURT DECISIONS
5) DON'T PARTICPATE IN DOING = DON'T participate in
COMMUNAL performances
6) MY commandments = You deny they come from GOD
7) TILL you annul my convenant = TOTAL BLASPHEMY
Notice at this point how the Rashis all appear ad hoc;
For example why should we interpert "DESPISE MY LAWS"
as "RIDICULE THE RELIGIOUS PERFORMANCE OF OTHERS".These
interpretations are possible but not necessary.
LISTS WITH PECULIARITIES
------------------------
Let us review two of the lists from yesterday
We also introduce a new {LIST6}
{LIST6} {The first 2 and last 2 rebukes use the word YOU
The last 2 rebukes do not use the word YOU
So there is a nuance on OTHERS vs YOU}
VERSE TEXT (Note CAPPED word)
------- ---------------------------------------
Lv26-14 IF you do not listen to me
IF you do not do the commandments
Lv26-15 IF my statutes are despised
IF my judgements are loathesome
UNTIL you don't do my commandments
UNTIL you break my convenant
{LIST3}
{Lv26-14 uses a VERB-OBJECT order(NOT DO-MY COMMANDMENTS)
Lv26-15 uses a OBJECT-VERB order(MY COMMANDMENTS-NOT DONE
So there is an emphasis on WHICH commandments are not done}
VERSE TEXT (Note CAPPED word)
------- ---------------------------------------
Lv26-14 If you don't listen to me
If you do not DO THE COMMANDMENTS
Lv26-15 If MY STATUTES are DESPISED
If MY JUDGEMENTS are LOATHESOME
Until you don't DO MY COMMANDMENTS
Until you BREAK MY CONVENANT
{LIST4} {A variety of disobediences are described:
DON'T DO, LISTEN, DESPISE, LOATHESOME....
Similarly the commandments are described in
a variety of manners
COMMANDMENTS, STATUTES, JUDGEMENTS,CONVENANT}
VERSE TEXT (Note CAPPED word)
------- ---------------------------------------
Lv26-14 If you don't LISTEN
If you do not DO THE COMMANDMENTS
Lv26-15 If MY STATUTES are DESPISED
If MY JUDGEMENTS are LOATHESOME
Until you don't DO MY COMMANDMENTS
Until you BREAK MY CONVENANT
EXAMPLE 15: Lv26-15b
--------------------
RASHI: 'If "my Judgement laws" are despicable'
--The word order emphasizes JUDGEMENTS
--The lack of the word YOU emphasizes a nuance of OTHERS
Together it would seem that they are talking about making fun
of Jewish Court procedures
EXAMPLE 16: Lv26-15a
--------------------
RASHI:The first 2 phrases emphasize "If YOU do not do..."
The next 2 phrases emphasize making fun of others doing
Indeed
"if YOU do not LISTEN to me"
"if YOU do not DO my COMMANDMENTS"
"if MY STATUTES become DISGUSTING"
"if MY JUDGEMENT LAWS are LOATHESOME"
So Rashi takes the 1st two to refer to your inactions
while the last two refers to rediculing others.
Again, while the above does not prove this, Rashi is also
relying on the CLIMACTIC nature of the verses. It is this
developmental nature which demands that Rashi interpret
the verses in increasing intensity. This lends credibility
to the idea that others are being despised, whether Judges
or religious people
We will complete this series tomorrow with important
implications for outreach
#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*# (C) Dr Hendel, 2000 *#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#