Unraveling Rashi: Unveiling One of the Greatest Biblical Commentators
He was one of the greatest commentators on the Bible throughout the ages, innovated hundreds of words, and according to legend, Elijah the Prophet intervened in his birth. Despite all this, he was known for his great humility and willingness to acknowledge mistakes. In honor of his yahrzeit, get to know Rashi.
- דודו כהן
- פורסם ט"ז חשון התשע"ד
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When: Rashi was born in 1040 CE in the city of Troyes in the Champagne region of France, where he also passed away and was buried on the fifth of Av, 1105 CE.
Lineage: Rabbi Shlomo Yitzchaki, popularly known as Rashi, was the youngest child of parents who waited a long time for him. Rashi’s mother was the sister of Rabbi Samson the Elder, also known as "the Master of Poems," and Rashi’s father was a great scholar of Torah. His uncle, his mother’s brother, was Rabbi Shimon the Elder (a student of Rabbeinu Gershom Maor Hagolah from Mainz). Legend has it that he descended directly from King David's line, although some dispute this. He drew the essence of his Torah knowledge from Rabbi Yaakov bar Yakar, his primary teacher. Rashi and his wife had three daughters.
With Hashem's help: Due to his comprehensive commentary on the Bible and the Talmud, Rashi earned the title "Parshandata" - the religious interpreter. He was also referred to as "Rabbi of Israel" and "Groom of the Torah" because he covered nearly the entire Torah in his commentary.
Many legends have been woven around Rashi’s life, some considered actual reality for generations. One significant one claims that Rashi was born to his parents after a long wait due to a promise from Elijah the Prophet to his father. It turns out that his father, a gem trader, possessed a precious gem the king desired greatly for one of his statues. Rashi’s father, a devout and God-fearing man, did not want to be complicit in a violation and bravely decided to throw the precious stone over the ship's deck rather than sell it, while pretending to mourn its loss. According to the legend, this act caused a great uproar in the heavens, prompting Elijah the Prophet to promise the father a child who "would enlighten the eyes of Israel."
Another intriguing legend involves his mother. One day during her pregnancy, she was walking in the streets of Worms when she suddenly heard the gallop of a horse from behind. Turning around, she saw a Christian knight not intending to stop. Seeing no escape, she pressed herself desperately against a wall at the edge of the street, which legend says opened to swallow her up, leaving a depression that remains to this day.
Beyond being a diligent scholar and a world-class Torah commentator, Rashi was also knowledgeable in various subjects, fluent in several languages, including Aramaic, Hebrew, French, and German. His areas of expertise spanned agriculture, commerce, and various crafts. He had extensive linguistic knowledge, coining over 1,300 words in Hebrew. In his commentaries on the Bible and Talmud, Rashi mentions over 2,000 names of tools, devices, plants, and animals in Old French. His reputation spread in Germany and France, forging ties with Jewish communities and even Christians, including rulers, merchants, and clergy.
After ten years of study and wandering through various yeshivas in Germany, Rashi settled at age 25 in his hometown, continuing his work. He established a yeshiva with a unique purpose different from the typical format of yeshivas at the time. The focus of Rashi’s yeshiva was not only on studying the Talmud, common in his era, but also on studying the Bible and its interpretation. Rashi sought to chart a path of seeking truth through critical and in-depth reading of the scriptures. By this stage, he was already known worldwide. Hence, beyond being the head of the yeshiva, Rashi served as the city's rabbi voluntarily, became an important halachic authority of his generation, and received halachic questions from all over the world.
Rashi and his wife did not have sons, but their three daughters married towering scholars, from whom many great Jewish leaders descended. The eldest daughter, Yocheved, married Rabbeinu Meir ben Shmuel of Ramerupt, known as "Father of the Rabbis"; the second daughter, Miriam, married Rabbi Yehuda ben Natan; the third daughter, Rachel, married Rabbeinu Ephraim. His spiritual successors were his grandsons: Rashbam, Rabbeinu Tam, and Rivam, all prominent commentators known as "Baaley Tosafot." His renowned student was Rabbi Shemaiah. Among his other students were the notable Bible commentator Rabbi Yosef Kara, Rabbi Yaakov ben Shimshon, and Rabbi Simcha ben Shmuel of Vitry.Rashi's greatness did not prevent him from changing his thoughts and accepting criticism when he saw the need. Evidence of this can be seen in his writings, where, in his humility, he expressed himself with phrases like "I was mistaken," "I erred," "I don’t know what it means," or "I didn't know."
In addition to his many commentaries on the Torah, Prophets, and Writings, he explained the Talmud and Mishna, composed works on halachic topics, and wrote prayer books.
Rashi’s yahrzeit occurs on the upcoming Sunday, the 29th of Tammuz. According to legend, a heavenly voice declared at his passing, "All Israel is destined to be your children."
