Judaism - Contribution of Rashi

Contribution of One Significant Person - Rabbi Solomon Isaac (Rashi)

Rabbi Solomon Isaac (Rashi) was born in Troyes, France in 1040. He studied at Worms and Mainz (Rhineland - Germany) as a young man. He had 3 daughters - two of whom married students of his (Tosafots).In his life he worked as a rabbi, judge, teacher and wine merchant. His most significant contribution to Judaism are the commentaries he wrote on the Talmud and TeNaCh (except the book of Chronicles).

CONTRIBUTIONS:

Judge and Rabbi

• In his work as a rabbi and judge in his community because he had extensive knowledge of Torah and Halachah (Jewish law) from his earlier studies. He was also a very intelligent, fair and honourable person.
• In this work, he ruled on and interpreted Halachah law when community disputes or issues arose. A lot of his rulings are still set as precedence and referred to in issues of Jewish law today.
• These rulings later inspired his commentaries. 
• He also ruled in favour of women (often to protect them and their rights within their marriages) which began to change the patriarchal tradition of Judaism.

Teacher and Founder of Yeshivot

• In his work as a rabbi he also taught Torah scholarship and Jewish law to others in the community. At 25 years of age, he began his own Yeshiva (school) in Troyes. In doing this, hes established an academic tradition in Judaism which became tradition of scholarship for all Jewish people - particularly young men - for generations to follow. 

A modern Yeshiva - Rashi inspired the education of all young men in Torah scholarship leading to many more Yeshivot being opened - there is a Rashi School in Boston, USA, today.

Commentaries

• He wrote extensive commentaries on the Talmud and TeNaCh - on all words in all books except the Book of Chronicles.
• His commentaries explained and interpreted every word, what message was being given through the text and into a language of the day that all people could understand (French - these texts were previously written in Hebrew or Aramaic which only highly educated few could understand).
• His commentaries were simple yet extensive and interpreted the whole text. 
• No scholar has every superseded his work. 

A double page of the Talmud - Rashi's commentaries can be seen in the margins

Brought Together Versions of the Talmud

• At the time Rashi lived there were two versions of the Talmud:
• The Babylonian version
• The Jerusalem version 
• Rashi did extensive work in comparing the texts and establishing the correct and preffered version - the Babylonian Talmud.

Champion of Women

• At a time where women were held in very low regard in Jewish society, receiving little or no education outside of what was required to manage the household, and having virtually no role in practice of their faith, Rashi educated his daughters as an example for other women. He taught them Torah scholarship so they could better understand their own faith. 
• He ammended rulings on Mitzvot for women of the community so that they could perform certain mitzvot they were previously closed off from. For example he changed the words of the blessing over the Shabbat lamp so that women could perform the blessing. The matriach (oldest woman) of the Jewish household still perform this blessing today.
• Rashi also wrote prayers for women and gave them roles in the synagogue.