Rashi

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Rashi, symbolic representation from 1539

Schlomo Jizchaki , also Schlomo ben Jizchak , Schelomo ben Isaak , Solomo ben Isaak or Rabbi Schlomo Jizchaki ( Hebrew רבי שלמה יצחקי), but mostly Rashi (Hebrewרש״י), Is established acronym for Ra bbi Sch lomo Ben J Izchak (born in 1040 or 1041 in Troyes , died on 13. July 1105 ) was a French rabbi and authoritative commentator on the Tanach and Talmud . He is one of the most important Jewish scholars of the Middle Ages and the most famous Jewish Bible exegete. His commentary on the Bible is studied to this day and printed in most Jewish editions of the Bible; his commentary on the Babylonian Talmud is also considered to be one of the most important and is attached to its text in all printed editions. Rashi also influenced Christian exegetes.

Live and act

Little is known about Rashi's life. He grew up in Troyes, the capital of Champagne , where his family owned a vineyard, which they made a living from. His father was a scholar and his son's first teacher. In 1055 Raschi first went to Mainz and then to Worms to study at the Jewish schools , which were among the most important in Europe. In Mainz his most important teachers were Jakob ben Jakar (990-1064) and Isaak ben Juda, in Worms Isaak ben Eleasar ha-Levi . Around 1065 Rashi returned to Troyes, where, according to popular belief, he was supposed to have worked as a winemaker and wine merchant. He maintained contact with the scholars at the Rhenish schools and founded his own school in Troyes around 1070, which, thanks to outstanding students such as Simcha ben Samuel Vitry, Juda ben Abraham and Jacob ben Samson, was soon to surpass those on the Rhine. Rashi had no sons, but it is believed that they had three daughters, Jochebed, Miriam and Rachel, who were considered learned and married eminent scholars. Rashi's grandsons, the sons of his daughter Jochebed, Samuel ben Meir, known as Raschbam , Isaak, called Ribam, Jacob, known as Rabbenu Tam , Solomon and Miriam's son Jom Tov studied in Troyes and also became important French commentators on the Bible and Talmud who contributed to the Founded the Tosafot School .

Talmud : Beginning of the treatise “Berachoth”. In the middle Mishnah and Gemara , on the right Raschi's commentary, on the left and outside later commentaries

The extensive commentaries on the Bible and Talmud that are summarized under the title Rashi Commentaries are still highly valued today. The Rashi script was created for them, probably in the 15th century . The popularity of the Rashi Commentaries is due in particular to their conciseness. There are over 200 super commentaries on his Bible Commentary .

Rashi's final years were marred by the First Crusade massacres of Jews , in which he lost friends and relatives. Rashi is said to have died in the middle of working on the commentary on the Makkot treatise while he was writing the word "pure". His final resting place is not known, a memorial monument was erected in his honor at the presumed location of the Troyes Jewish cemetery.

Rashi's comments influenced Christian scholars as early as the 12th century. The Franciscan Nikolaus von Lyra (circa 1270-1349), who was particularly influenced by Rashi, was denigrated by his critics as "Raschi's monkey". Thanks to Christian interest, Rashi's writings were translated from Hebrew into other languages ​​as early as the 17th century.

In addition to their religious significance, the Rashi Commentaries are also an important source for Romance studies , as they pass on numerous Old French words in Hebrew transcription. Since Raschi carried out this transcription purely aloud , the pronunciation of the French of the time can be reconstructed better from it than from texts written in Latin, in which the traditional Latin spelling is superimposed on the actual oral form.

Legends

A legend ascribes an indentation in the wall of the Worms synagogue to the fact that during her pregnancy, Raschi's mother and the later scholar sought protection from an approaching wagon that gave way behind her. For fear of being suspected of witchcraft, Raschi's parents left Worms and settled in Troyes, where their son was born.

According to another legend, Godfrey of Bouillon had Rashi summoned to have him predict the outcome of the First Crusade. When Rashi did not appear to the prince, the latter went to see him in the house of study, accompanied by a threatening army. Rashi is said to have prophesied an unfortunate outcome of the crusade.

According to a popular opinion, Rashi is said to have moved his school from Troyes to Worms at the time of the crusade. The house in an extension of the synagogue in Worms , known as his Bet-haMidrash, dates from the 16th century, as does the chair that is shown as that of Rashi.

Legend has it that Raschi's daughters were not only very pious, but also very learned and laid Tfilin , which according to today's orthodox view is reserved for men, but was accepted in the Middle Ages.

Works

literature

Individual evidence

  1. ↑ Aaron Rothkoff, Avraham Grossman, Menahem Zevi Kaddari, Jona Fraenkel, Israel Moses Ta-Shma and Judith R. Baskin: Rashi . In: Michael Berenbaum and Fred Skolnik (Eds.): Encyclopaedia Judaica. 2nd Edition, Volume 17, Macmillan Reference USA, Detroit 2007, pages 101-106, online: Gale Virtual Reference Library

Web links

Commons : Raschi  - collection of images, videos and audio files
personal data
SURNAME Rashi
ALTERNATIVE NAMES Schlomo ben Jizchak; Shelomoh ben Yitsḥaḳ
BRIEF DESCRIPTION Rabbi and Talmud commentator
DATE OF BIRTH 1040 or 1041
PLACE OF BIRTH Troyes
DATE OF DEATH July 13, 1105
Place of death Troyes