Rashi

French rabbi and commentator (1040–1105)

"Shlomo Yitzhaki" redirects here. For the economist, see Shlomo Yitzhaki (economist).

Rashi
רש״י

File:Rashi.JPG

16th-century depiction of Rashi

Born| February 22, 1040

Troyes, County of Champagne, France

Died| July 13, 1105(1105-07-13) (aged 65)

Troyes, County of Champagne, France

Resting place| Troyes
Nationality| French
Occupation(s)| traditionally a vintner (recently questioned, see article)
Known for| writing commentaries, grammarian
Children| 3 daughters

Shlomo Yitzchaki (Hebrew: רבי שלמה יצחקי; Latin: Salomon Isaacides; French: Salomon de Troyes, 22 February 1040 – 13 July 1105), today generally known by the acronym Rashi (see below), was a medieval French rabbi and author of a comprehensive commentary on the Talmud and commentary on the Hebrew Bible (the Tanakh). Acclaimed for his ability to present the basic meaning of the text in a concise and lucid fashion, Rashi appeals to both learned scholars and beginner students, and his works remain a centerpiece of contemporary Jewish study. His commentary on the Talmud, which covers nearly all of the Babylonian Talmud (a total of 30 out of 39 tractates, due to his death), has been included in every edition of the Talmud since its first printing by Daniel Bomberg in the 1520s. His commentary on Tanakh—especially on the Chumash ("Five Books of Moses")—serves as the basis for more than 300 "supercommentaries" which analyze Rashi's choice of language and citations, penned by some of the greatest names in rabbinic literature.[1]

Rashi had no male descendants, his three children were all girls. He invested himself in their education; His writings and the legends surrounding him suggest that his daughters were well-versed in the Torah and Talmud (in a time when women were not expected to study those), and would for instance help him when he was too weak to write. His daughters would marry his disciples; most present-day Ashkenazi rabbinical dynasties can trace their lineage back to his daughters Miriam or Yocheved.

Rashi was also one of the first authors to write in Old French (the language he spoke in everyday life[2] which he used alongside Hebrew), as most contemporary French authors instead wrote in Latin. Therefore, theology aside, his work is also valued in the present day for the insight it gives into the language and culture of Northern France in the 11th century. [3].

## Contents

* 1 Name
* 2 Biography
* 2.1 Birth and early life
* 2.2 Legends
* 2.3 Yeshiva studies
* 2.4 Rosh yeshiva
* 2.5 Death and burial site
* 2.6 Descendants
* 3 Works
* 3.1 Commentary on the Tanakh
* 3.2 Commentary on the Talmud
* 3.3 Responsa
* 3.4 Influence in non-Jewish circles
* 3.5 Criticism of Rashi
* 4 Legacy
* 5 Supercommentaries and translations
* 6 "Rashi script"
* 7 References
* 7.1 Citations
* 7.2 General sources
* 8 Further reading
* 9 External links

## Name[edit | edit source]

Rashi's surname, Yitzhaki, derives from his father's name, Yitzhak. The acronym "Rashi" stands for Rabbi Shlomo Yitzhaki, but is sometimes fancifully expanded as Rabban Shel YIsrael which means the "Rabbi of Israel", or as Rabbenu SheYichyeh (Our Rabbi, may he live). He may be cited in Hebrew and Aramaic texts as (1) "Shlomo son of Rabbi Yitzhak", (2) "Shlomo son of Yitzhak", (3) "Shlomo Yitzhaki", and myriad similar highly respectful derivatives.[4]

In older literature, Rashi is sometimes referred to as Jarchi or Yarhi (ירחי), his abbreviated name being interpreted as Rabbi Shlomo Yarhi. This was understood to refer to the Hebrew name of Lunel in Provence, popularly derived from the occitan luna "moon", in Hebrew ירח,[5] in which Rashi was assumed to have lived at some time[6] or to have been born, or where his ancestors were supposed to have originated.[7] Later Christian writers Richard Simon[8] and Johann Christoph Wolf[9] claimed that only Christian scholars referred to Rashi as Jarchi, and that this epithet was unknown to the Jews. Bernardo de Rossi, however, demonstrated that Hebrew scholars also referred to Rashi as Yarhi.[10] In 1839, Leopold Zunz[11] showed that the Hebrew usage of Jarchi was an erroneous propagation of the error by Christian writers, instead interpreting the abbreviation as it is understood today: Rabbi Shlomo Yitzhaki. The evolution of this term has been thoroughly traced.[12][13]

## Biography[edit | edit source]

### Birth and early life[edit | edit source]

Rashi was an only child born at Troyes, Champagne, in northern France. His mother's brother was Simeon bar Isaac, rabbi of Mainz.[14][15] Simon was a disciple of Gershom ben Judah,[16] who died that same year. On his father's side, Rashi has been claimed to be a 33rd-generation descendant of Johanan HaSandlar,[citation needed] who was a fourth-generation descendant of Gamaliel, who was reputedly descended from the Davidic line.[17] In his voluminous writings, Rashi himself made no such claim at all. The main early rabbinical source about his ancestry, Responsum No. 29 by Solomon Luria, makes no such claim either.[18][19]

### Legends[edit | edit source]

His fame later made him the subject of many legends. One tradition contends that his parents were childless for many years. Rashi's father, Yitzhak, a poor winemaker, once found a precious jewel and was approached by non-Jews who wished to buy it to adorn their idol. Yitzhak agreed to travel with them to their land, but en route, he cast the gem into the sea. Afterwards he was visited by either the Voice of God or the prophet Elijah, who told him that he would be rewarded with the birth of a noble son "who would illuminate the world with his Torah knowledge."[20]

Another legend also states that Rashi's parents moved to Worms, Germany while Rashi's mother was pregnant. As she walked down one of the narrow streets in the Jewish quarter, she was imperiled by two oncoming carriages. She turned and pressed herself against a wall, which opened to receive her. This miraculous niche is still visible in the wall of the Worms Synagogue.[21]

### Yeshiva studies[edit | edit source]

File:V10p325001 Rashi Synagogue.jpg

Rashi Synagogue, Worms

According to tradition, Rashi was first brought to learn Torah by his father on Shavuot day at the age of five. His father was his main Torah teacher until his death when Rashi was still a youth. At the age of 17 he married and soon after went to learn in the yeshiva of Rabbi Yaakov ben Yakar in Worms, returning to his wife three times yearly, for the Days of Awe, Passover and Shavuot. When Rabbi Yaakov died in 1064, Rashi continued learning in Worms for another year in the yeshiva of his relative, Rabbi Isaac ben Eliezer Halevi, who was also chief rabbi of Worms. Then he moved to Mainz, where he studied under another of his relatives, Rabbi Isaac ben Judah, the rabbinic head of Mainz and one of the leading sages of the Lorraine region straddling France and Germany.

Rashi's teachers were students of Rabbeinu Gershom and Rabbi Eliezer Hagadol, leading Talmudists of the previous generation. From his teachers, Rashi imbibed the oral traditions pertaining to the Talmud as they had been passed down for centuries, as well as an understanding of the Talmud's logic and forms of argument. Rashi took concise, copious notes from what he learned in yeshiva, incorporating this material in his commentaries. He was also greatly influenced by the exegetical principles of Menahem Kara.[22]

### Rosh yeshiva[edit | edit source]

He returned to Troyes at the age of 25, after which time his mother died, and he was asked to join the Troyes Beth din (rabbinical court). He also began answering halakhic questions. Upon the death of the head of the Bet din, Rabbi Zerach ben Abraham, Rashi assumed the court's leadership and answered hundreds of halakhic queries.

File:Anbau des vormaligen Frauenbethauses der Synagoge Worms (a).jpg

Exterior of Rashi's Synagogue, Worms, Germany

At some time around 1070 he founded a yeshiva which attracted many disciples. It is thought by some that Rashi earned his living as a vintner since Rashi shows an extensive knowledge of its utensils and process, but there is no evidence for this.[23] Most scholars and a Jewish oral tradition contend that he was a vintner.[24] The only reason given for the centuries-old tradition that he was a vintner being not true is that the soil in all of Troyes is not optimal for growing wine grapes, claimed by the research of Rabbi Haym Soloveitchik. There exists a reference to a seal said to be from his vineyard.[25]

Although there are many legends about his travels, Rashi likely never went further than from the Seine to the Rhine; the utmost limit of his travels were the yeshivas of Lorraine.[clarification needed]

In 1096, the People's Crusade swept through the Lorraine, murdering 12,000 Jews and uprooting whole communities. Among those murdered in Worms were the three sons of Rabbi Isaac ben Eliezer Halevi, Rashi's teacher. Rashi wrote several Selichot (penitential poems) mourning the slaughter and the destruction of the region's great yeshivot. Seven of Rashi's Selichot still exist,[26] including Adonai Elohei Hatz'vaot", which is recited on the eve of Rosh Hashanah, and Az Terem Nimtehu, which is recited on the Fast of Gedalia.

### Death and burial site[edit | edit source]

File:Rashi statue in troyes.jpg

Monument in memory of Rashi in Troyes, France. Sculptor: Raymond Moretti, 1992.

Rashi died on July 13, 1105 (Tammuz 29, 4865) at the age of 65.[27] He was buried in Troyes. The approximate location of the cemetery in which he was buried was recorded in Seder Hadoros, but over time the location of the cemetery was forgotten. A number of years ago, a Sorbonne professor discovered an ancient map depicting the site of the cemetery, which lay under an open square in the city of Troyes. After this discovery, French Jews erected a large monument in the center of the square—a large, black and white globe featuring the three Hebrew letters of רשי artfully arranged counterclockwise in negative space, evoking the style of Hebrew microcalligraphy. The granite base of the monument is engraved: Rabbi Shlomo Yitzchaki — Commentator and Guide.

In 2005, Yisroel Meir Gabbai erected an additional plaque at this site marking the square as a burial ground. The plaque reads: "The place you are standing on is the cemetery of the town of Troyes. Many Rishonim are buried here, among them Rabbi Shlomo, known as Rashi the holy, may his merit protect us".[28]

### Descendants[edit | edit source]

Main article: Rashi's daughters

Rashi had three daughters, Yocheved, Miriam and Rachel, all of whom married Talmudic scholars. Legends exist that Rashi's daughters wore tefillin. While some women in medieval Ashkenaz did wear tefillin, there is no evidence that Rashi's daughters did or did not do so.[29]

* Rashi's oldest daughter, Yocheved, married Meir ben Samuel; their four sons were Shmuel (Rashbam; born 1080), Yitzchak (Rivam; born 1090), Jacob (Rabbeinu Tam; born 1100), and Shlomo the Grammarian, all of whom were among the most prolific of the Baalei Tosafot, leading rabbinic authorities who wrote critical and explanatory glosses on the Talmud which appear opposite Rashi's commentary on every page of the Talmud. Yocheved's daughter, Chanah, was a teacher of laws and customs relevant to women.
* Rashi's middle daughter, Miriam, married Judah ben Nathan, who completed the commentary on the Talmud Makkot.[30] Their daughter Alvina was a learned woman whose customs served as the basis for later halakhic decisions. Their son Yom Tov later moved to Paris and headed a yeshiva there, together with his brothers Shimshon and Eliezer.
* Rashi's youngest daughter, Rachel, married (and divorced) Eliezer ben Shemiah.

## Works[edit | edit source]

### Commentary on the Tanakh[edit | edit source]

File:Sapirstein Rashi.jpg

A modern translation of Rashi's commentary on the Chumash, published by Artscroll

Rashi's commentary on the Tanakh—and especially his commentary on the Chumash—is the essential companion for any study of the Bible among Orthodox Jews. Drawing on the breadth of Midrashic, Talmudic and Aggadic literature (including literature that is no longer extant), as well as his knowledge of Hebrew grammar and halakhah, Rashi clarifies the "simple" meaning of the text so that a bright child of five could understand it.[31] At the same time, his commentary forms the foundation for some of the most profound legal analysis and mystical discourses that came after it. Scholars debate why Rashi chose a particular Midrash to illustrate a point, or why he used certain words and phrases and not others. Rabbi Shneur Zalman of Liadi wrote that "Rashi's commentary on Torah is the 'wine of Torah'. It opens the heart and uncovers one's essential love and fear of G-d."[32]

Scholars believe that Rashi's commentary on the Torah grew out of the lectures he gave to his students in his yeshiva, and evolved with the questions and answers they raised on it. Rashi completed this commentary only in the last years of his life. It was immediately accepted as authoritative by all Jewish communities, Ashkenazi and Sephardi alike.[dubious - discuss]

The first dated Hebrew printed book was Rashi's commentary on the Chumash, printed by Abraham ben Garton in Reggio di Calabria, Italy, 18 February 1475. (This version did not include the text of the Chumash itself.)[33]

Rashi wrote commentaries on all the books of Tanakh[34] except Chronicles I & II, Nehemiah, Ruth, Song of Songs, and Ecclesiastes. Scholars believe that some of the commentary which appears under Rashi's name in those books was compiled by the students of Rabbi Saadiah of the Rhine, who incorporated material from Rashi's yeshiva. Rashi's students, Rabbi Shemaya and Rabbi Yosef, edited the final commentary on the Torah; some of their own notes and additions also made their way into the version we have today.

Today, tens of thousands of men, women and children study "Chumash with Rashi" as they review the Torah portion to be read in synagogue on the upcoming Shabbat. According to halakha, a man may even study the Rashi on each Torah verse in fulfillment of the requirement to review the Parsha twice with Targum (which normally refers to Targum Onkelos) This practice is called in Hebrew: "Shnayim mikra ve-echad targum". Since its publication, Rashi's commentary on the Torah is standard in almost all Chumashim produced within the Orthodox Jewish community.

Rabbi Mordechai Leifer of Nadvorna said that anyone who learns the weekly Parsha together with the commentary by Rashi every week, is guaranteed to sit in the Yeshiva (school) of Rashi in the Afterlife.[35]

### Commentary on the Talmud[edit | edit source]

An early printing of the Talmud (Ta'anit 9b); Rashi's commentary is at the bottom of the right column, continuing for a few lines into the left column. [Note: According to R' Zvi Chajes, the "Rashi" commentary on Ta'anit was not written by Rashi]

Rashi wrote the first comprehensive commentary on the Talmud, covering nearly all of the Babylonian Talmud (a total of 30 tractates). Rashi's commentary, drawing on his knowledge of the entire contents of the Talmud, attempts to provide a full explanation of the words and of the logical structure of each Talmudic passage. Unlike other commentators, Rashi does not paraphrase or exclude any part of the text, but elucidates phrase by phrase. Often he provides punctuation in the unpunctuated text, explaining, for example, "This is a question"; "He says this in surprise", "He repeats this in agreement", etc.

As in his commentary on the Tanakh, Rashi frequently illustrates the meaning of the text using analogies to the professions, crafts, and sports of his day. He also translates difficult Hebrew or Aramaic words into the spoken French language of his day, giving latter-day scholars a window into the vocabulary and pronunciation of Old French.

Rashi exerted a decisive influence on establishing the correct text of the Talmud. Up to and including his age, texts of each Talmudic tractate were copied by hand and circulated in yeshivas. Errors often crept in: sometimes a copyist would switch words around, and other times incorporate a student's marginal notes into the main text. Because of the large number of merchant-scholars who came from throughout the Jewish world to attend the great fairs in Troyes, Rashi was able to compare different manuscripts and readings in Tosefta, Jerusalem Talmud, Midrash, Targum, and the writings of the Geonim, and determine which readings should be preferred. However, in his humility, he deferred to scholars who disagreed with him. For example, in Chulin 4a, he comments about a phrase, "We do not read this. But as for those who do, this is the explanation..."

Rashi's Talmud commentary spread quickly, reaching Jews as far as Yemen by mid-12th century.[36] It has been included in every version of the Talmud since its first printing in the fifteenth century. It is always situated towards the middle of the opened book display; i.e., on the side of the page closest to the binding.

Some of the other printed commentaries which are attributed to Rashi were composed by others, primarily his students. Akiva Eger stated that the commentary on Nazir was not in fact by Rashi, while Zvi Hirsch Chajes stated that the commentary on Taanit was not by Rashi.[37]: 40 In some editions of the Talmud, the text indicates that Rashi died before completing the tractate, and that it was completed by a student. This is true of Makkot (the end of which was composed by his son-in-law, Rabbi Judah ben Nathan), and of Bava Batra (finished, in a more detailed style, by his grandson the Rashbam). The commentary attributed to Rashi on Horayot was thought by some[38] to have been written by Judah ben Nathan, but evidence was uncovered indicating that the commentary on Horayot was from the school of Gershom ben Judah.[39] There is a legend that the commentary on Nedarim, which is clearly not his, was actually composed by his daughters. Another legend states that Rashi died while writing a commentary on Talmud, and that the very last word he wrote was 'tahor,' which means pure in Hebrew - indicating that his soul was pure as it left his body.

### Responsa[edit | edit source]

About 300 of Rashi's responsa and halakhic decisions are extant. Although some may find contradictory to Rashi's intended purpose for his writings, these responsa were copied, preserved, and published by his students, grandchildren, and other future scholars.[40] Siddur Rashi, compiled by an unknown student, also contains Rashi's responsa on prayer. Many other rulings and responsa are recorded in Mahzor Vitry. Other compilations include Sefer Hapardes, edited by Rabbi Shemayah, Rashi's student, and Sefer Haorah, prepared by Rabbi Nathan Hamachiri.

Rashi's writing is placed under the category of post-Talmudic, for its explanation and elaboration on the Talmud; however, he not only wrote about the meaning of Biblical and Talmudic passages, but also on liturgical texts, syntax rules, and cases regarding new religions emerging.[41] Some say that his responsa allows people to obtain "clear pictures of his personality," and shows Rashi as a kind, gentle, humble, and liberal man.[42] They also showed the great deal of common sense and intelligence he had.

Rashi's responsa not only addressed some of the different cases and questions regarding Jewish life and law, but it shed light into the historical and social conditions which the Jews were under during the First Crusade.[42] He covered the following topics and themes in his responsa: linguistic focus on texts, law related to prayer, food, and the Sabbath, wine produced by non-Jews, oaths and excommunications, sales, partnerships, loans and interest, bails, communal affairs, and civil law. Rashi's responsa can be broken down into three genres: questions by contemporary sages and students regarding the Torah, the law, and other compilations.[40]

For example, in his writing regarding relations with the Christians, he provides a guide for how one should behave when dealing with martyrs and converts, as well as the "insults and terms of [disgrace] aimed at the Jews."[40] Stemming from the aftermath of the Crusades, Rashi wrote concerning those who were forced to convert, and the rights women had when their husbands were killed.[41]

A main characteristic of Rashi's writing was his focus on grammar and syntax. His primary focus was on word choice, and "essentially [he acts] as a dictionary where he defines unusual Hebrew words." He searches for things that may not be clear to the reader and offers clarification on the inconsistency that may be present. Rashi does so by "filling in missing information that [helps] lead to a more complete understanding" of the Torah.[43] Rashi focused the majority of his responsa, if not all, on a "meticulous analysis of the language of the text.[44]" A portion of his writing is dedicated to making distinctions between the peshat, or plain and literal meaning of the text, and the aggadah or rabbinic interpretation. One of Rashi's grandchildren, Rabbi Samuel B. Meir or Rashbam, heavily critiqued his response on his "commentary on the Torah [being] based primarily on the classic midrashim (rabbinic homilies)."[45]

### Influence in non-Jewish circles[edit | edit source]

File:Rashi Pentateuch English.jpg

Title page of an English translation of Rashi's Commentary on the Pentateuch.

Rashi also influenced non-Jewish circles. His commentaries on the Bible, especially those on the Pentateuch, circulated in many different communities. In the 12th–17th centuries, Rashi's influence spread from French and German provinces to Spain and the east. He had a tremendous influence on Christian scholars. The French monk Nicolas de Lyre of Manjacoria, who was known as the "ape of Rashi",[46] was dependent on Rashi when writing the 'Postillae Perpetuate' on the Bible. He believed that Rashi's commentaries were the "official repository of Rabbinical tradition"[47] and significant to understanding the Bible. De Lyre also had great influence on Martin Luther. Rashi's commentaries became significant to humanists at this time who studied grammar and exegesis. Christian Hebraists studied Rashi's commentaries as important interpretations "authorized by the Synagogue".[47]

Rashi's influence grew the most in the 15th century; from the 17th century onwards, his commentaries were translated into many other languages. Rashi's commentary on the Pentateuch was known as the first printed Hebrew work. Rashi on the Torah was translated into English by M. Rosenbaum and A.M. Silbermann from 1929 to 1934 (Pentateuch with Rashi's Commentary Translated into English). Although Rashi had an influence on communities outside of Judaism, his lack of connection to science prevented him from entering the general domain and he remained more popular among the Jewish community.[46][47]

### Criticism of Rashi[edit | edit source]

Although Rashi's interpretations were widely respected, there were some who criticized his work. After the 12th century, criticism on Rashi's commentaries became common on Jewish works such as the Talmud. The criticisms mainly dealt with difficult passages. In general, Rashi provides the peshat or literal meaning of Jewish texts, while his disciples known as the Tosafot ("additions"), gave more interpretative descriptions of the texts. The Tosafot's commentaries can be found in the Talmud opposite Rashi's commentary. The Tosafot added comments and criticism in places where Rashi had not added comments. The Tosafot went beyond the passage itself in terms of arguments, parallels, and distinctions that could be drawn out. This addition to Jewish texts was seen as causing a "major cultural product"[48] which became an important part of Torah study.[48][49]

Although often disagreeing with his interpretations, the Tosafot always speak of Rashi with great respect.

## Legacy[edit | edit source]

Raschihaus, Jewish Museum, Worms, Germany.

Rashi's commentary on the Talmud continues to be a key basis for contemporary rabbinic scholarship and interpretation. Without Rashi's commentary, the Talmud would have remained a closed book.[50] With it, any student who has been introduced to its study by a teacher can continue learning on his own, deciphering its language and meaning with the aid of Rashi.

The Schottenstein Edition Elucidated translation of the Talmud bases its English-language commentary primarily on Rashi's, and describes his continuing importance as follows:

> It has been our policy throughout the Schottenstein Edition of the Talmud to give Rashi's interpretation as the primary explanation of the Gemara. Since it is not possible in a work of this nature to do justice to all of the Rishonim, we have chosen to follow the commentary most learned by people, and the one studied first by virtually all Torah scholars. In this we have followed the ways of our teachers and the Torah masters of the last nine hundred years, who have assigned a pride of place to Rashi's commentary and made it a point of departure for all other commentaries.[51]

In 2006, the Jewish National and University Library at Hebrew University put on an exhibit commemorating the 900th anniversary of Rashi's death (2005), showcasing rare items from the library collection written by Rashi, as well as various works by others concerning Rashi.

## Supercommentaries and translations[edit | edit source]

Voluminous supercommentaries have been published on Rashi's commentaries on the Bible and Talmud, including Gur Aryeh by Rabbi Judah Loew (the Maharal), Sefer ha-Mizrachi by Rabbi Elijah Mizrachi (the Re'em), and Yeri'ot Shlomo by Rabbi Solomon Luria (the Maharshal). Almost all rabbinic literature published since the Middle Ages discusses Rashi, either using his view as supporting evidence or debating against it. Menachem Mendel Schneerson, in his Rashi Sichos, often addresses several of these commentaries at once.

Rashi's explanations of the Chumash were also cited extensively in Postillae Perpetuae by Nicholas de Lyra (1292–1340), a French Franciscan. De Lyra's book was one of the primary sources that was used in Luther's translation of the Bible.

Rashi's commentaries have been translated into many languages including English. Notable English translations are Rosenbaum and Silbermann 's Pentateuch with Rashi's Commentary Translated into English and Artscroll's Rashi.

## "Rashi script"[edit | edit source]

Main article: Rashi script

File:Rashiscript.PNG

The complete Hebrew alphabet in Rashi script [right to left].

The semi-cursive typeface in which Rashi's commentaries are printed both in the Talmud and Tanakh is often referred to as "Rashi script." This does not mean that Rashi himself used such a script: the typeface is based on a 15th-century Sephardic semi-cursive hand, posterior to Rashi's death by several hundred years. Early Hebrew typographers such as the Soncino family and Daniel Bomberg, a Christian printer in Venice, employed in their editions of commented texts (such as the Mikraot Gedolot and the Talmud, in which Rashi's commentaries prominently figure) what would become called "Rashi script" to distinguish the rabbinic commentary from the primary text proper, for which they used a square typeface.

## References[edit | edit source]

### Citations[edit | edit source]

1. ^ Miller, Chaim (2013). "Rashi's Method of Biblical Commentary". chabad.org.
2. ^ He referred to French as lashonenu "our language", in contrast with Hebrew, which was the Holy Language. More about this here.
3. ^ Claude Hagège, dans Héritages de Rachi, ouvrage collectif, sous la direction de René-Samuel Sirat, Éditions de l’éclat
4. ^ HaCohen-Kerner, Yaakov; Schweitzer, Nadav; Mughaz, Dror (2011). "Automatically Identifying Citations in Hebrew-Aramaic Documents". Cybernetics and Systems. 42 (3): 180–197. doi:10.1080/01969722.2011.567893. S2CID 40235689. "For example, the Pardes book written by Rabbi Shlomo Yitzhaki, known by the abbreviation Rashi, can be cited using the following patterns: (1) "Shlomo son of Rabbi Yitzhak", (2) "Shlomo son of Yitzhak", (3) "Shlomo Yitzhaki", (4) "In the name of Rashi who wrote in the Pardes"
5. ^ Ockley, Simon (1707). History of the Present Jews Throughout the World. p. 74.
6. ^ Abraham, Philip (1879). Curiosities of Judaism. By and for the author. p. 2.
7. ^ The Literary Churchman. 1857. p. 286.
8. ^ Simon, R. (1685). Histoire critique du Vieux Testament (in French). chez Reinier Leers. p. 545. Retrieved 2015-08-01.
9. ^ Wolf, Johann Christoph (1715). "R. Schelomo ben Isaac". Bibliotheca Hebræa (in Latin). Vol. 1\. Hamburg & Leipzig. pp. 1057–1058. LCCN 01010257.
10. ^ Benedictinos. Congregación de Santo Mauro (Francia); Académie des inscriptions et belles-lettres (Francia); Treuttel et Wü rtz (Estrasburgo) (1824). Histoire littéraire de la France: Treizième siècle (in French). Vol. 16\. Firmin Didot. p. 337. Retrieved 2015-08-01.
11. ^ Israelitische Annalen (in German). J.D. Sauerländer. 1839. p. 328. Retrieved 2015-08-01.
12. ^ Mayer I. Gruber (10 October 2007). Rashi's Commentary on Psalms. Jewish Publication Society. pp. 1–. ISBN 978-0-8276-0872-6.
13. ^ John Kitto (1876). A Cyclopædia of Biblical Literature. Black. pp. 643–.
14. ^ "Index to Articles on Rabbinic Genealogy in Avotaynu: The International Review of Jewish Genealogy". Avotaynu. Retrieved 2008-06-11.
15. ^ Shabbat 85b: "And I found support on the foundation of Rabbi Simon the Elder, my mother's brother."
16. ^ See Rashi's comments in Shabbat 85b.
17. ^ "Rabbi Yehiel Ben Shlomo Heilprin - (Circa 5420-5506; 1660-1746)". www.chabad.org. Retrieved 2020-06-28.
18. ^ Hurwitz, Simon (1938). The Responsa of Solomon Luria. New York, New York. pp. 146–151.
19. ^ Einsiedler, David (1992). "Can We Prove Descent from King David?". Avotaynu. VIII (3(Fall)): 29. Retrieved 2008-06-11.
20. ^ "Shiur 08 - Rashi, Tosfos, And The Development Of Ashkenazi Jewry - Rabbi Menachem Levine - TD19191". torahdownloads.com. Retrieved 2018-12-17.
21. ^ Liber, Maurice. Rashi, Kessinger Publishing, 2004. pg. 18–19. ISBN 1-4191-4396-4
22. ^ Grossman, Avraham (2000-11-12), "4. Menahem ben Helbo", Hebrew Bible / Old Testament. I: From the Beginnings to the Middle Ages (Until 1300). Part 2: The Middle Ages, Hebrew Bible / Old Testament, Vandenhoeck & Ruprecht, vol. Band 001, pp. 331–332, doi:10.13109/9783666535079.331, ISBN 978-3-525-53507-3, retrieved 2020-06-17
23. ^ Mayer I. Gruber. "How Did Rashi Make a Living?". the Seforim blog. `{{cite journal}}`: Cite journal requires `|journal=` (help)
24. ^ Maurice Liber, Rashi, trans. Adele Szold (Philadelphia: Jewish Publication Society, 1906), p 56; Irving Agus, The Heroic Age of Franco-German Jewry (New York: Yeshiva University Press, 1969), 173; Israel S. Elfenbein, "Rashi in His Responsa", in Rashi, His Teachings and Personality, ed. Simon Federbusch (New York: Cultural Division of the World Jewish Congress, 1958), p 67; Salo W. Baron, "Rashi and the Community of Troyes", in Rashi Anniversary Volume, ed. H. L. Ginsberg (New York: American Academy for Jewish Research, 1941), p 60. "Rashi was a vintner who grew grapes and sold wine."
25. ^ Oxford Bodleian Ms. Oppenheim 276, p. 35a, cited by Avraham Grossman, The Early Sages of France, 132; 135, n. 45.
26. ^ R. Halperin, Rashi: Chayav u'Ferushav, vol. 1 (Tel Aviv: Hekdesh Ruach Yaakov, 1997), 107-22. Referred to in Yonatan Kolatch, Masters of the Word: Traditional Jewish Bible Commentary from the First Through Tenth Centuries (Brooklyn NY: KTAV Publishing House, Inc., 2006), 18. ISBN 088125939X, 9780881259391
27. ^ Grossman, Avraham (2012). Rashi, p.12
28. ^ Y. Friedman (2005-07-25). "The Discovery of the Resting Places of Rashi and the Baalei Hatosfos". Dei'ah Vedibur.
29. ^ Avraham Grossman. Pious and Rebellious: Jewish Women in Medieval Europe. Brandeis University Press, 2004.)
30. ^ Makkot 19b: One printed edition of the Talmud states: "Our master's body was pure, and his soul departed in purity, and he did not explain any more; from here on is the language of his student Rabbi Yehudah ben Nathan."
31. ^ Mordechai Menashe Laufer. "רבן של ישראל (Hebrew)" (in Hebrew).
32. ^ "Rashi's Method of Biblical Commentary - Rashi's Method of Biblical Commentary, and the Rebbe's approach to Rashi's works - Jewish History". chabad.org. Retrieved 2015-08-01.
33. ^ "The Books of the People of the Book - Hebraic Collections: An Illustrated Guide (Library of Congress - African & Middle Eastern Division)". www.loc.gov. Retrieved 2019-11-03.
34. ^ I.Gruber, Mayer. Rashi's Commentary on Psalms, Brill - The Jewish Publication Society, Philadelphia 2007 ISBN 978-0-8276-0872-6
35. ^ "Yiddeshe Licht Vol 31 Number 15 Page 14 (Hebrew Text)".
36. ^ Hoffman, Yair (January 3, 2014). "Interview with Professor Haym Soloveitchik by Rabbi Yair Hoffman". Five Towns Jewish Times.
37. ^ "The role of manuscripts in halakhic decision-making: Hazon Ish, his precursors and contemporaries" (PDF).
38. ^ See "Nitzozei Or" [Hebrew] of Reuven Margoliot; notes on horayot p. 191.
39. ^ See Y N Epstein, The commentary on Horayot Attributed to Rashi," Tarbiẕ 1942 pp.218-225 [in Hebrew]
40. ^ a b c Grossman, Avraham, and Joel A. Linsider. Rashi. Littman Library of Jewish Civilization, 2012. 152-161. Print.
41. ^ a b Liber, Maurice, and Adele Szold. Rashi ... Translated from the French by A. Szold. Jewish Publication Society of America, 1906. Print.
42. ^ a b “The Life of Rashi .” Rashi, by Chaim Pearl, Peter Halban Publishers Ltd, 1988, pp. 8–23. Print.
43. ^ Levy, Steven, and Sarah Levy. “Introduction.” The JPS Rashi Discussion Torah Commentary, University of Nebraska Press, Lincoln, 2017, pp. xv-xx. JSTOR, www.jstor.org/stable/j.ctt1wvwdqs.4.
44. ^ Skolnik, Fred. “Rashi.” Encyclopedia Judaica. Farmington Hills, Mich.: Thomson Gale, 2007.101-106. Print.
45. ^ Viezel, Eran. "“The Anxiety of Influence”: Rashbam's Approach to Rashi's Commentary on the Torah." AJS Review 40.2 (2016): 279-303. Print.
46. ^ a b Berenbaum, Michael; Skolnik, Fred, eds. (2007). "Rashi". Encyclopaedia Judaica. Vol. 17 (2nd ed.). Detroit: Macmillan Reference. ISBN 978-0-02-866097-4.
47. ^ a b c "Rashi (Solomon Bar Issac)". Jewish Encyclopedia.com. 27 June 2023.
48. ^ a b Bloomberg, Jon. The Jewish World in the Modern Age. Jersey City, NJ: KTAV Pub. House, 2004. 69.
49. ^ "TOSAFOT - JewishEncyclopedia.com". www.jewishencyclopedia.com.
50. ^ Zeitlin, Solomon (October 2, 1940). "RASHI Rabbi Solomon of France". The American Jewish Year Book. 41: 111–140.
51. ^ The Schottenstein Edition of the Talmud: Talmud Bavli: Tractate Nedarim. Mesorah Publications Limited, 2000 (General Introduction, unpaginated). (Note: The Schottenstein Edition editors explained further that they chose Ran's commentary for Tractate Nedarim as an exception, based on a belief that the commentary attributed to Rashi for this tractate was not written by Rashi)

### General sources[edit | edit source]

* Abecassis, Deborah Reconstructing Rashi's Commentary on Genesis from Citations in the Torah Commentaries in the Tosafot Dissertation 1999, Department of Jewish Studies, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec.
* Rashi The Jewish History Resource Center – Project of the Dinur Center for Research in Jewish History, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem
* Biography, the Legend, the Commentator and more rashi900.com
* Family Tree
* Rashi's Daughters: A Novel of Life, Love and Talmud in Medieval France
* In honor of the 900th anniversary of his passing
* Rashi; an exhibition of his works, from the treasures of the Jewish National and University Library
* Cantor, Norman F. (1969). Medieval History (2nd ed.). Toronto, Canada: Macmillan. p. 396. ISBN 978-0-02-319070-4.
* Shulman, Yaacov Dovid (1993). Rashi: The Story of rabbi Shlomo Yitzchaki. C.I.S. Publishers. ISBN 978-1-56062-215-4.
* Liber, Maurice (1905). Rashi. Translated from French by Adele Szold. Jewish Publication Society of America. ISBN 978-0-9766546-5-0.
* Wiesel, Elie (2009). Rashi. Translated from French by Catherine Temerson. Schocken Books. ISBN 978-0-8052-4254-6.
* Grossman, Avraham (2012). Rashi. Translated from Hebrew by Joel A. Linsider. Littman Library of Jewish Civilization. ISBN 9781904113898.
* Zeitlin, Solomon (1940). The American Jewish Year Book Vol. 41.
* Rosenbaum, Morris (1934). Pentateuch with Rashi's Commentary Translated into English "Silberman's Rashi".

## Further reading[edit | edit source]

* Technique and methodology
* rashiyomi.com
* Full text resources and translation
* Complete Tanach with Rashi
* Chumash with Rashi (Judaica Press translation)
* Chumash with Rashi (Metsudah translation)
* Summarized text resources and translation
* Illustrated Summary and Analysis of the Torah with selected Rashi commentary
* Textual Search
* Lookup Verses, rashiyomi.com
* Complete Rashi script
* Early manuscripts or printings of Rashi's Perush `al ha-Torah/Commentary on the Torah (text or images, OCR'd or not):
* The 13th-14th c. Codex Parma 3204, which is the "base version" at mgketer.org. Also lists several later versions, as well as early manuscripts of other commentaries e.g. Rashbam, Ramban etc.
* 13th-14th c. Cod. hebr. 12b, Cod. hebr. 220 at Austria National Library, Vienna
* 13th c. B. H. fol. 1 at Leipzig. U. Library
* 13th c. folio 255 at BNF, Paris.
* c. 1470 Rome, three links.
* Texts on Wikisource:
* "Rashi". Encyclopædia Britannica (11th ed.). 1911.
* "Rashi". The Nuttall Encyclopædia. 1907.

## External links[edit | edit source]

* Quotations related to Rashi at Wikiquote
* Media related to Rashi at Wikimedia Commons
* Works by or about Rashi at Internet Archive
* Rashi, Tosfos, and the Development of Ashkenazi Jewry
* Public Domain Hebrew and CC-BY English of Rashi on Torah
* "Rashi: Teacher of All Israel", video lecture by Dr. Henry Abramson of Touro College South
* Works by Rashi at Post-Reformation Digital Library

* v
* t
* e

Rishonim

North Africa|

* Isaac Alfasi (Rif)
* Chananel ben Chushiel
* Dunash ben Labrat
* Zechariah Aghmati
* Nissim ben Jacob
* Samuel ben Jacob ibn Jam
* Shemariah ben Elhanan
* Sar Shalom ben Moses

Spain (except Catalonia)|

* Maimonides
* Judah Halevi
* Abraham ibn Ezra
* Yom Tov Asevilli (Ritva)
* Joseph ibn Migash (Ri Migash)
* Meir Abulafia (Ramah)
* Bahya ibn Paquda
* Bahya ben Asher
* David Abudirham
* Joseph Albo
* Isaac ben Moses Arama (Akeidat Yitzchak)
* Rabbenu Yerucham
* Shem Tov ben Abraham ibn Gaon (Migdal Oz)
* Meir ben Solomon Abi-Sahula
* Isaac ibn Ghiyyat
* Maimon ben Joseph
* Isaac Aboab I
* Abraham ibn Daud
* Moses ibn Ezra
* Jonah ibn Janah
* Abraham Saba

Catalonia|

* Nachmanides
* Menachem Meiri
* Nissim of Gerona (Ran)
* Shlomo ibn Aderet (Rashba)
* Yonah Gerondi (Rabbeinu Yonah)
* Zerachiah ha-Levi of Girona (Baal HaMaor)
* Hasdai Crescas
* Aharon HaLevi (Ra'ah)
* Isaac ben Sheshet (Rivash)
* Simeon ben Zemah Duran (Tashbatz)
* Vidal of Tolosa (Maggid Mishneh)
* Joseph ibn Habib (Nimmukei Yosef)
* Azriel of Gerona
* Moshe Chalava
* Judah ben Yakar
* Judah ben Barzillai

Provence|

* Hachmei Provence
* Abraham ben David (Raavad)
* Gersonides (Ralbag)
* David Kimhi (Radak)
* Abba Mari
* Isaac ben Abba Mari (HaIttur)
* Abraham ben Nathan (HaManhig)
* David ben Levi of Narbonne (HaMichtam)
* Moses ben Joseph (Rambi)
* Abraham ben Isaac of Narbonne (Raavad II, HaEshkol)
* Moshe ha-Darshan
* Meshullam ben Jacob
* Asher ben Meshullam
* Abraham of Montpellier
* Joseph Caspi
* Isaac the Blind
* Samuel ibn Tibbon
* Isaac of Narbonne
* Aaron ben Jacob ha-Kohen

France (except Provence)|

* Rashi
* List of Tosafists
* Rabbeinu Tam
* Rashbam
* Eliezer ben Samuel (Yereim)
* Isaac ben Samuel (Ri HaZaken)
* Moses ben Jacob of Coucy (Semag)
* Judah ben Nathan (Rivan)
* Bechor Shor
* Abraham ben Joseph of Orleans
* Yechiel of Paris
* Rivam
* Peretz ben Elijah
* Eliezer of Toul
* Chaim Paltiel
* Jacob of Orléans
* Samson of Chinon
* Jacob of Chinon
* Eliezer of Touques
* Isaac ben Abraham of Dampierre
* Elhanan ben Isaac of Dampierre
* Baruch ben Isaac
* Samson ben Abraham of Sens
* Isaac ben Eliezer Halevi
* Meir ben Samuel
* Moses of Évreux
* Samuel of Évreux
* Samuel ben Solomon of Falaise
* Judah ben Isaac Messer Leon
* Joseph ben Samuel Bonfils
* Menahem ben Helbo
* Simeon Kara
* Shemaiah of Soissons
* Elijah ben Menahem HaZaken
* Ephraim ben Samson

Germany|

* Gershom ben Judah (Rabbeinu Gershom)
* Asher ben Jehiel (Rosh)
* Jacob ben Asher (Baal HaTurim)
* Mordechai ben Hillel (Mordechai)
* Meir of Rothenburg (Maharam MeRotenberg)
* Yaakov ben Moshe Levi Moelin (Maharil)
* Eliezer ben Nathan (Ra'aven)
* Eliezer ben Joel HaLevi (Raavyah)
* Eleazar of Worms (Rokeach)
* Meir HaKohen (Hagahot Maimuniot)
* Judah ben Samuel of Regensburg (Yehudah haHasid)
* Yaakov ben Yakar
* Isaac ben Mordecai of Regensburg
* Ephraim ben Isaac of Regensburg
* Eliezer ben Isaac ha-Gadol
* Judah ben Kalonymus
* Yehuda HaKohen ben Meir
* Meir ben Baruch Halevi
* Israel Bruna
* Israel of Bamberg
* Ephraim of Bonn
* Judah ben Asher
* Joel ben Isaac ha-Levi
* Jacob ben Judah Landau
* Samuel ben Natronai
* Alexander Suslin
* Jacob Weil
* Isaac ben Asher ha-Levi
* Simha of Speyer
* Isaac Asir HaTikvah

England|

* Aaron of Canterbury
* Aaron of York
* Elias of London
* Eliyahu Menachem of London
* Hagin Deulacres
* Jacob ben Judah of London
* Josce of London
* Moses ben Isaac ben ha-Nessiah
* Moses of London
* Yom Tov of Joigny
* Berechiah de Nicole

Austria|

* Israel Isserlein (Terumat HaDeshen)
* Isaac of Vienna (Or Zarua)
* Avigdor Cohen of Vienna
* Isaac Tyrnau

Italy|

* Nathan ben Jehiel (the Aruch)
* Isaiah di Trani (Rid)
* Isaiah di Trani the Younger (Riaz)
* Obadiah of Bertinoro
* Menahem Recanati
* Zedekiah Anaw (Shibbolei HaLeket)
* Benjamin Anaw
* Judah Anav
* Moses ben Meir of Ferrara
* Eliezer ben Samuel of Verona
* Hillel ben Samuel
* Joseph Colon Trabotto
* Isaac ben Melchizedek
* Judah Messer Leon

Elsewhere|

* Isaac Abarbanel
* Elijah Mizrachi
* Tobiah ben Eliezer (Lekach Tov)
* Zerahiah the Greek
* Isaac ben Dorbolo
* Isaac ben Samuel of Acre
* Moses Taku
* Isaac ben Jacob ha-Lavan
* Nathan ben Abraham I
* Hillel ben Eliakim
* Judah Leon ben Moses Mosconi
* Nethanel ben Isaiah‎

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