The Light of Israel: The Remarkable Life and Legacy of Rashi

A Birth Rooted in Sacrifice and Miracles

Rashi, Rabbi Shlomo Yitzchaki, is one of the most influential figures in Jewish history, who is revered as a master commentator on both the Bible and the Talmud. He was born nearly 980 years ago in Troyes, France, to parents who had waited many years for a child.

The circumstances of his birth are steeped in a tale of selfless devotion. His father, Rabbi Yitzchak, once came across a rare, radiant gem on the seashore. Hoping to sell it and support his family, he brought it to a gem merchant who excitedly announced that the king was seeking precisely such a gem. Crowds gathered to see it, and messengers were dispatched to alert the king.

R’ Yitzchak was then told that the king needed a replacement jewel for an idol’s eye that had fallen and broken. Horrified at the idea of contributing to idol worship, R’ Yitzchak boarded a ship with the merchant but prayed fervently to be saved from the situation. At the first opportunity, he tossed the gem into the sea, feigning grief as if it had fallen from his hands by accident. He returned home in sorrow, but then Eliyahu the prophet appeared to him and declared: “In reward for your self-sacrifice, you will have a son who will illuminate the eyes of Israel.”

Rashi’s mother was also known for her righteousness. While pregnant with him, she once found herself trapped in a narrow alley when a wicked man on horseback charged toward her. Miraculously, a crevice opened in the wall beside her, allowing her to press against it and escape unharmed.

Torah, Humility, and Leadership

At age 20, Rashi studied for a decade in the great yeshivot of Mainz under Rabbi Yaakov ben Yakar and Rabbi Yitzchak ben Yehudah. Upon returning to France, he joined the local beit din (rabbinical court) and began issuing halachic (Jewish legal) rulings. His fame grew, and halachic questions were sent to him from all over Europe.

Over the course of his life, Rashi wrote commentaries on the entire Tanach and Talmud. His Torah commentary appears in every printed Chumash, and his Talmud commentary has been included in every edition since the Talmud was first printed.

In addition to his commentaries, Rashi composed piyyutim (liturgical poems) and kinot (laments) about the Jewish exile. He also wrote a commentary on Pirkei Avot.

Rashi was renowned not only for his scholarship but also for his character:

• Humility – He honored other commentators and avoided dismissing their views.

• Honesty – When unsure of a passage’s meaning, he wrote with sincerity: “I do not know what this teaches us.”

• Leadership – He worked to unify Jewish communities and responded firmly to non-Jewish attacks on Judaism.

• Honor for Parents – Rashi frequently cited his father, Rabbi Yitzchak, whom he deeply respected as both righteous and wise.

A Lasting Message

One of Rashi’s most famous commentaries expounds upon the very first verse of the Torah: “In the beginning, Hashem created the heavens and the earth.” Quoting his father, Rabbi Yitzchak, Rashi asks: Why does the Torah begin with Creation rather than with the first commandment given to the Jewish people?

His answer, now considered foundational, is that the Torah opens with Creation to affirm that the entire world belongs to Hashem. Thus, when the nations claim that the Jewish people stole the Land of Israel, we answer: Hashem created the earth and gave the land to whomever He pleased. He first gave it to other nations and then took it from them and gave it to us.

“What is the reason the Torah began with ‘In the beginning’? Because ‘He declared to His people the power of His works, to give them the inheritance of the nations’ (Tehillim 111:6). If the nations of the world say to Israel: You are thieves who took the land of the seven nations, Israel should respond: The entire earth belongs to the Holy One, Blessed be He. He created it and gave it to whom He pleased. With His will, He gave it to them, and with His will, He took it from them and gave it to us.”

This commentary remains relevant to this day and is cited by Jewish leaders as a timeless response to those who challenge the Jewish claim to the Land of Israel.

From miraculous beginnings to enduring teachings, Rashi continues to light the way for generations of Jews around the world.