It is very difficult to study any part of the Tanach without mentioning Rashi’s commentaries. No one else has had such a profound impact on Jewish studies over the past thousand years as he did. In addition to his commentaries on the Torah, Rashi commented on most of the books of the Jewish Bible and most of the tractates of the Babylonian Talmud. His commentaries are undoubtedly the basis for understanding the Jewish Scriptures and their fundamental principles.

Rashi, the acronym for Rabbi Shlomo ben Yitzchak, lived in France in medieval times. Rashi was born in Troyes, in the province of Champagne, in 1040 and died there on July 13, 1105. In his writings he used the two basic methods of interpretation, the «peshaṭ» and the «derash.» Literal and non-literal interpretation, with the latter commonly using the Midrash. In addition to commenting on the basic texts of Judaism, he also had a house of study, although he did not live by teaching but by trading in wines.

Rashi had three daughters who married great scholars. His grandsons were the famous Tosafot, a group of scholars who, ironically, were the first to dissent from their grandfather’s commentaries on the Talmud. The main one was his grandson Yacob, known as Rabbeinu Tam. Questioning Rashi’s comments sparked a great interest in the study of the Talmud. Over time, his grandsons spread throughout the world, founding houses of study.

The first known printed Jewish text was a Rashi’s commentary on the Torah, which was printed in Reggio in 1475. Rashi used language that was not only clear but precise, always respecting the true context of the text in question as well as its meaning and reproducing all the variants of thought that existed on the subject. His fame soon spread beyond the borders of France, to Germany, Spain and the Middle East. Rashi rarely questioned the texts he commented on, but anticipating the doubts that the scholar would have, he provided the appropriate answer, using very well-chosen words. His commentaries on the Talmud have been printed in practically every edition since the first one made in Italy. Rashi was instrumental in establishing the definitive text of the Talmud by comparing different manuscripts and determining which versions were the most appropriate. In his commentaries on the Bible he examines not only the literal meaning of the text, but also uses allegories, parables and symbolism to illustrate its non-literal meaning. Breishit 1:16 says: “And God made two great lights; the greater luminary to rule the day and the lesser luminary to rule the night; he also made the stars.” The sages questioned why the Torah first speaks of two great luminaries and then speaks of one greater than the other. Rashi explains this by saying that at first they were created of the same size, but since the moon complained that there could not be two kings in the firmament at the same time, then the Creator made the moon smaller, out of complaint, but in the end He compensated for it with the stars.

This is an example of Rashi’s comments. Thanks to him, it is easier to understand the Scriptures.

Prepared by Marcos Gojman from various sources.