Rashi
Medieval French rabbi and commentator whose works remain central to Torah study.
Shlomo Yitzchaki, universally known by the acronym Rashi, was a French rabbi and commentator whose works on the Talmud and Hebrew Bible have shaped Jewish scholarship for nearly a millennium. Born in Troyes, he studied in Worms under Yaakov ben Yakar and Isaac ben Eliezer Halevi, both pupils of the renowned Gershom ben Judah. After returning to Troyes, Rashi began answering halakhic questions and eventually became head of the local rabbinical court following the death of Zerach ben Abraham. Rashi is regarded as a leading biblical exegete of the Middle Ages, celebrated for his ability to present the plain meaning of the text with remarkable conciseness and clarity. His commentaries appeal to both advanced scholars and beginners, and remain central to contemporary Torah study. A vast portion of rabbinic literature published since the Middle Ages engages with Rashi’s views, either citing them as support or debating against them. His Talmud commentary covers nearly the entire Babylonian Talmud and has been included in every edition since its first printing by Daniel Bomberg in the 1520s. His commentary on the Tanakh, particularly on the Five Books of Moses, has generated over three hundred supercommentaries analyzing his language and citations, authored by some of the most prominent figures in rabbinic literature. Rashi’s surname, Yitzhaki, derives from his father’s name, Yitzhak. The acronym Rashi stands for Rabbi Shlomo Yitzhaki, though it is sometimes fancifully expanded as “Rabban Shel Yisrael” (Rabbi of Israel) or “Rabbenu SheYichyeh” (Our Rabbi, may he live). In older literature, he was occasionally called Jarchi or Yarhi, an error stemming from a mistaken assumption that he lived in Lunel, Provence. Later scholars, including Leopold Zunz in 1839, clarified that this usage was an erroneous propagation by Christian writers.
- born
- c. 22 February 1040, Troyes, France
- died
- 13 July 1105, Troyes, France
- field
- Biblical and Talmudic commentary
- nationality
- French
- known_for
- Commentaries on the Talmud and Tanakh, especially the Chumash
Lore & Background
Rashi was an only child born at Troyes, Champagne, in northern France. His mother's brother was Simeon bar Isaac, rabbi of Mainz. On his father's side, Rashi has been claimed to be a 33rd-generation descendant of Johanan HaSandlar, but Rashi himself made no such claim. 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 Yaakov ben Yakar in Worms. When Yaakov died in 1064, Rashi continued learning in Worms for another year in the yeshiva of his relative, Isaac ben Eliezer Halevi. Then he moved to Mainz, where he studied under another of his relatives, Isaac ben Judah. 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. He also began answering halakhic questions. Upon the death of the head of the Bet din, Zerach ben Abraham, Rashi assumed the court's leadership. At some time around 1070 he founded a yeshiva. Rashi likely never went farther than from the Seine to the Rhine. He died on July 13, 1105 at the age of 65 and was buried in Troyes.
Reader's Guide
Rashi is generally considered a leading biblical exegete in the Middle Ages. Acclaimed for his ability to present the basic meaning of the text in a concise and lucid fashion, Rashi's commentaries appeal to both learned scholars and beginning students, and his works remain a centerpiece of contemporary Torah study. A large fraction of rabbinic literature published since the Middle Ages discusses Rashi, either using his view as supporting evidence or debating against it. His commentary on the Talmud, which covers nearly all of the Babylonian Talmud, has been included in every edition of the Talmud since its first printing by Daniel Bomberg in the 1520s. His commentaries on the Tanakh—especially his commentary on the Chumash—serves as the basis of more than 300 'supercommentaries' which analyze Rashi's choice of language and citations, penned by some of the greatest names in rabbinic literature.
Did You Know?
- Rashi's surname Yitzhaki derives from his father's name Yitzhak.
- The acronym 'Rashi' stands for Rabbi Shlomo Yitzhaki.
- In older literature, Rashi is sometimes referred to as Jarchi or Yarhi, but this was an erroneous propagation of an error by Christian writers.
- Rashi had no sons; all three of his children were girls, named Yocheved, Miriam and Rachel.
Notable Quotes (Wikiquote)
"Rashi (Rabbi Shlomo ben Yitzchak; 1040–1105) was a French Rabbi.
His commentaries on the Bible and Talmud are still widely read today." — Rashi "The flavour of a fish which comes out of the sea at Acre is not similar to the flavour of a fish which comes out of the sea in Spain." — Rashi "Commenting on Gen. 1:10; why does it say "seas", not "sea" - because the nature of the sea varies from place to place." — Rashi "We learn from here the humility of the Holy One, Blessed is He.
Since man is in the likeness of the angels, and they would be jealous of him, for this reason, He consulted them." — Rashi
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