Rashi

Shlomo Jizchaki, also Shlomo Ben- Yitzhak, Schelomo ben Isaac or Solomon ben Isaac ( Hebrew רבי שלמה יצחקי ), but usually (Hebrew רש"י ) called Rashi, Rabbi Shlomo ben an acronym for Isaac (* 1040 in Troyes; † 5 August 1105 ) was a French rabbi and commentator of the Tanakh and Talmud significant. He is one of the most important Jewish scholar of the Middle Ages and the most famous Jewish Bibelexeget at all. His commentary on the Bible is studied to date and reprinted in most Jewish editions of the Bible, his commentary of the Babylonian Talmud is also considered one of the most important and is listed in all printed editions of the Babylonian Talmud. Rashi has also influenced Christian exegetes.

Life and work

Little is known about Rashi's life. He grew up in Troyes, the capital of Champagne, where his family owned a vineyard with which they earned their livelihood. His father was a scholar and the first teacher of his son. 1055 Rashi first went to Mainz and then to Worms, to study at the Jewish houses of learning, which were among the most important in Europe. In Mainz were his most important teacher Jacob ben Yakar and Isaac ben Judah of Worms Isaac ben Eleazar ha -Levi. Circa 1065 Rashi returned to Troyes, where he, as the common opinion, to have been working as a winemaker and wine merchants. He used to continue contact with the scholars of the Rhenish schools and founded in 1070 his own teaching house in Troyes, thanks to outstanding students as Simcha ben Samuel Vitry, Judah ben Abraham and Jacob ben Samson should surpass those on the Rhine soon. Rashi had no sons but, it is believed, three daughters, Jochebed, Miriam and Rachel, who were considered to be learned and eminent scholars were married. Rashi's grandson, the sons of his daughter Jochebed, Samuel, called Rashbam, Isaac, called Ribam, Jacob, known as Rabbeinu Tam, Solomon, and the son of Miriam Yom Tov studied in Troyes and were also major French Biblical and Talmudic commentators of the school Tosafot founded.

The summarized under the title Rashi comments extensive comments on the Bible and Talmud are still highly valued today. For them, the Rashi script was, probably in the 15th century, created. The popularity of Rashi comments is particularly justified in their conciseness. His commentary on the Bible, there are over 200 super comments.

Rashi's last years were marred by the massacre committed against the Jews of the First Crusade, in which he lost friends and relatives. Rashi is in the middle of working on the commentary on the treatise Makkot while "pure" wrote the word, have died. His final resting place is not known, supposedly the site of the Jewish cemetery of Troyes, a memorial monument was erected in his honor.

Rashi comments have influenced Christian scholars in the 12th century. The Franciscan Nicholas of Lyra ( circa 1270-1349 ), who was particularly influenced by Rashi, was vilified by his critics as " Rashi's Monkey ". Thanks to the Christian interest Rashi's writings have been translated in the 17th century from the Hebrew into other languages.

In addition to its religious significance, the Rashi comments are also an important source for the Romance languages ​​, as they provide numerous Old French words in Hebrew transliteration. As Rashi that transcription carried out purely phonetically, from this the pronunciation of the then French will be better reconstructed as from Latin written texts in which the traditional Latin spelling is superimposed on the actual spoken language form.

Legends

A legend performs a dent in the wall of the Worms synagogue on back that Rashi's mother had sought shelter during her pregnancy with the later scholars before a heranpreschenden wagon on the wall that gave way behind her. For fear of being accused of witchcraft, Rashi's parents had left Worms and settled in Troyes, where her son was born.

According to another legend, was Godfrey of Bouillon Rashi call to can be predicted from him the outcome of the First Crusade. As Rashi did not appear at the prince, this sought him in the House of Study on accompanied by a menacing army. Rashi is said to have prophesied an unfortunate outcome of the crusade, as he later actually arrived.

One widespread opinion Rashi is said to have moved his school at the time of the crusade from Troyes to Worms. However, when his Bet - hamid quickly called home in a cultivation of the synagogue in Worms dates from the 16th century, as the Chair, which is shown as one of Rashi.

The legend has it that Rashi's daughters not only have been very pious, but also very learned and have put Tfilin what is generally considered to be subject to men, but has been accepted in the Middle Ages.