Rashi

Rabbeinu Shlomo Yitzchaki, known as Rashi, was born to Rabbeinu Yitzchak HaTzarfati in the city of Troyes (formerly called 'Troyish') in northern France around the year 1040. He passed away in 1105 and was buried there.

Life History

At the age of eight, he left his birthplace Troyes and traveled to Worms and Mainz, centers of Jewish learning. After years of study, being married and father to two daughters, Rashi returned to his hometown Troyes to lead the Jewish community there.

While in Troyes, Rashi led the community with pride and continued writing his commentaries.

Towards the end of his life, the First Crusade began, during which Jews in the Rhine region - including Rashi's students and colleagues - were captured and murdered by the impure hands of the Crusaders. The Jews of Troyes were spared from the bloodshed, but not from the terror.

Following the Crusades, Rashi dealt with halachic questions regarding Jews who were forcibly converted and how to relate to them. In his old age, Rashi mostly remained at home and dictated to his grandson Rabbi Shlomo ben Meir (later known as the Rashbam).

His Family

Rashi had no sons, only three daughters. Given this situation, Rashi involved them in his commentaries, and they helped him write his explanations on Tanach and Talmud and assisted in answering halachic correspondence sent to him. Later, his daughters Yocheved and Miriam married two Torah scholars, Rabbi Meir and Rabbi Yehuda ben Natan, who eventually wrote their own Torah commentaries. Their children and grandchildren also became leaders of the Jewish community in France and were collectively known as the Baalei HaTosafos. Among them was Rashi's famous grandson, Rabbeinu Tam, who led the next generation during the difficult period of the Crusades.

His Name

Rashi's original name was "Shlomo Yarchi," with Yarchi referencing that either he or his father Rabbeinu Yitzchak HaTzarfati lived in Lunel, France (Lunel means 'moon' in French). Since they called him 'Rabbeinu Shlomo' - R"Sh at that time, and to avoid saying R"Sh which means poor, they added the name Yarchi or Yitzchaki to hint at his father's name.

His Commentary on Torah

Rashi's commentary on the Torah is the most commonly studied interpretation and appears in virtually all printed Chumashim. The uniqueness of this commentary is that it is both simple enough for a "five-year-old learning Scripture" while containing great depth that great scholars throughout the generations have delved into its wisdom.

His Commentary on Shas

Rashi's approach in his commentary on the Talmud Bavli was to explain the Gemara according to its simple meaning, even when it contradicted practical halacha.

Expressions of Our Rebbeim About His Commentary

The Alter Rebbe once said: Rashi's commentary on Chumash is the wine of Torah, opens the heart and reveals essential love and fear, Rashi's commentary on Gemara opens the mind and reveals essential intellect.

The Rebbe testified about himself: "Ich koch zich doch in limud pirush Rashi" [= I have a "koch" (passionate involvement) in studying Rashi's commentary].

Rashi's Approach in the Rebbe's Torah

After his mother's passing in 1965, the Rebbe began explaining a section of Rashi's commentary on the Torah each week in her memory. Over the years, dozens of principles were accumulated that the Rebbe established in studying Rashi's words, which he proved from Rashi himself and showed how they can be seen in additional places in Rashi's words.

In a special sicha, the Rebbe defined Rashi as a 'good melamed' and as the 'head of melamdim'.

Sometimes the Rebbe defines Rashi's commentary on the Gemara as "pshuto shel Shas" (the simple meaning of the Talmud), just as his commentary on the Torah is "pshuto shel mikra" (the simple meaning of Scripture).

The Rebbe Encourages Editors of Books on Rashi's Torah Commentary

The Rebbe greatly encouraged editors and authors who wrote books and explanations on Rashi's Torah commentary to engage in this work, including: Rabbi Shmuel Yehuda Weinfeld, author of the explanation "Shai LeMorah". Rabbi She'ar Yashuv HaKohen who headed the "Rashi HaShalem" project, Rabbi Chaim Shalom Segal who edited "Tosefes Rashi", R' Pinchas Doron who authored the book "Biur Stumos B'Rashi" [explanation of difficult and obscure places in Rashi's commentary on the Torah], and many others.

See Also

• Explanations to Rashi's Commentary on the Torah
• Principles of Rashi (book)

Further Reading

• Yechezkel Sofer, Mayanei Rashi - Topics and approaches in the simple meaning of Scripture according to the Rebbe's sichos, 2015.