[Avodah] P'rat U'Klal, Ejusdem Generis and the FBI

[Moshe Y. Gluck]

Old MYG:
The underlined words are conclusive proof that the canon of statutory
construction ejusdem
generis applies. Under that principle, "where general words follow specific
words in a statutory
enumeration, the general words are construed to embrace only objects similar
in nature to those
objects enumerated by the preceding specific words." Circuit City Stores,
Inc. v. Adams, 532
U.S. 105, 114-15 (2001). Courts use ejusdem generis in conjunction with
common sense and
legislative history to discern the legislature's intent in writing a
statute.

I was struck by the similarity between ejusdem generis and "P'rat u'klal,
ein b'klal ela mah she'b'prat."
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I withdraw this - someone kindly pointed out off-list that Ein B'klal ela
Mah She'b'prat is actually the rule when one encounters a Klal u'Prat, not
the reverse. My apologies for mixing it up!

KT,
MYG