PREFACE ——- Some months ago the Jewish world celebrated the eight hundredth anniversary of the death of Rashi, who died at Troyes in 1105. On that occasion those whose knowledge authorizes them to speak gave eloquent accounts of his life and work. Science and devotion availed themselves of every possible medium-lectures and books, journals and reviews-to set forth all we owe to the illustrious Rabbi. The writer ventures to express the hope that in the present volume he has made at least a slight

                THE YOUTH AND EDUCATION OF RASHI Difficulties of Writing a Biography of Rashi-History and Legend. I. The Periods into which Rashi's Life may be divided-His Names-Rashi and Yarhi-Troyes in the Middle of the Eleventh Century-The Fairs of Champagne-The Community of Troyes-The Family of Rashi and its Fame in Legend-Childhood-Education of Children among the Jews of France in the Middle Ages-Higher Instruction among the Jews and the Christians-Alleged Journeys and Adventures of Rashi.

                   RASHI AT TROYES-LAST YEARS Rashi settles in his Birthplace. I. New Centre [center sic] of Studies-Rashi and the City of Troyes-Spiritual Activity and Authority of Rashi-Rashi founds a School-His Authority and Teachings-His Relations with his Teachers-He writes his Commentaries-Marriage of his Three Daughters-His Sons-In-law and Grand-children-A Jewish Marriage in the Middle Ages-The Domestic Virtues-The Education and Position of Woman among the Jews.  II. The Crusades-What the

Rashi's Spiritual Physiognomy-Sources. I. The Man and his Intellect-Depth and Naivete of his Faith-His Goodness, Extreme Modesty, and Love of Truth-Attitude in Regard to his Masters-His Correspondents and his Pupils.  II. The Scholar-Alleged Universality of his Knowledge-Wherein his Knowledge was limited, and wherein extended-Rashi's Library- The Authors he cites, and the Authorities to whom he appeals- Lacunae in his Knowledge—Sureness of his Knowledge…….page 73...

Composition of the Commentaries on the Bible and the Talmud-Their    Character and their Limitations-The Explanations-Clearness,    Accuracy, Brevity-The French Glosses, or Laazim-Their    Function-Their Philologle Importance—The Works treating of    them……………………………………………page 89...

Rashi, the Commentator par excellence of the Bible-His Authorities-The Targumim, the Massorah-The Talmud and the Midrash-Exegesis before Rashi-The Peshat and the Derash (Literary Method and Free Method)-The Study of the Bible among the Christians and among the Jews-The Extent to which Rashi used the Two Methods-Various Examples-Anti-Christian Polemics- Causes of the Importance attached to Derash-Rashi and Samuel ben Meir-Rashi's Grammar-Rashi and the Spaniards-His Knowledge of Hebrew-Rashi compa

Differences between the Biblical and the Talmudic Commentaries-    Composition-Wherein Rashi imitates and wherein he is Original-    His Predecessors-His Method-Establishment of the Text-The    Commentary a Grammatical Guide—Accuracy and Soundness of his    Explanations-Examples-Rashi as an Historian-Rashi and the    Halakah-Rashi and the Haggadah-Citations-Value and Fortune of    the Talmudic Commentaries………………………..page 135...

Rashi decides Questions of Law-Rabbinical Responsa as a Form of    Literature-Historic Interest attaching to those of Rashi-    Relations between Jews and Christians-Rashi and the Apostates-    He preaches Concord in Families and Communities-Rashi's    Character as manifested in his Responsa-The Naivete, Strength,    and tolerance of his Faith…………………….. page 159...

Character of these Works-The Sefer ha-Pardes and the Sefer    ha-Ora-The Mahzor Vitry-The Elements and the Redactors of    these Works-Their Interest and their Value………..page 169...

Liturgical Poetry at the Time of Rashi-The Selihot attributed to    Rashi-Their Technique—Sentiments therein    expressed-Quotations-Their Poetic Value……………page 173 Rashi's Influence upon Biblical and Talmudic Literature.  I. Rashi and the Talmudic Movement in France-His Principal Disciples-Shemaiah-His Two Sons-in-law, Judah ben Nathan and Meir ben Samuel-The School of Rameru-The Four Sons of Meir-Samuel ben Meir, his Intellect and his Work-Jacob Tam, his Life and Influence—His Disciples and Wo

Rashi In Foreign Countries-Rashi's Influence on the Italians; on    Elijahst Spanish Talmudists-Elljah Mizrahi-Rashi's Popularity-    His Descendants-The Family of Lurla-The Authors of Super-    Commentaries and of Hiddushim-Rashi and Printing-The    Renaissance—Rashi and the Hebrew Scholars among the    Christians of the Sixteenth and Seventeenth Centuries-    Breithaupt-Rashi in the Eighteenth Century-Moses Mendelssohn    and the Blurists-Rashi In the Nineteenth Century-The Eighth    Centenary

THE FAMILY OF RASHI (page 227)...

                            BIBLIOGRAPHY                              (page 231)                                NOTES                              (page 241)                                INDEX                              (page 261)...

A people honors itself in honoring the great men who have interpreted its thought, who are the guardians of its genius. It thus renders merited homage and pays just tribute to those who have increased the treasures of its civilization and added a new feature to its moral physiognomy; it establishes the union of ideas that assures the conservation of the national genius, and maintains and perpetuates the consciousness of the nation. Finally, it manifests consciousness of its future in taking cogn

———- Great men - and Rashi, as we shall see, may be counted among their number - arrive at opportune times. Sometimes we congratulate them for having disappeared from history in good season; it would be just as reasonable, or, rather, just as unreasonable, to be grateful to them for having come at exactly the right juncture of affairs. The great man, in fact, is the man of the moment; he comes neither too soon, which spares him from fumbling over beginnings and so clogging his own footsteps, nor

Rashi stands before us a teacher distinguished and original, a religious leader full of tact and delicate feeling, a scholar clear-headed and at the same time loving-hearted. In which capacity, as teacher, religious leader, scholar, does he evoke our deepest admiration? Shall we accord it to the one who made a home for Talmudic studies on the banks of the Seine, and so gave a definite impetus to French Jewish civilization? Or shall we accord it to the one who for nearly forty years presided over

                       THE FAMILY OF RASHI                             |         ____________________|_____________        / \        Simon the Elder Daughter=Isaac                                      | Samuel Samuel Solomon (Rashi) Nathan    | | 1040-1105 |    | | ___________|____________ |    | | / \ | Simhah Meir=Jochebed Rachel Miriam=Judah (Ribam) of Vitry about| (or Bellassez) | Azriel    | 1065- | divorced by Eliezer |    | 1135 | (or Jocelyn) |    | | __|_______    | _____|_____________

1 See W. Bacher, <I>Raschi una Maimuni, Monatsschrift,</I>     XLIX, pp.1 <I>et seq.</I> Also D. Yellin and I. Abrahams,     <I>Maimonides.</I> Philadelphia: The Jewish Publication     Society of America, 1903. 2 A legend has it that Vespasian made some Jews embark on three     vessels, which were then abandoned on the open sea. One of     the ships reached Aries, another Lyons, and the third     Bordeaux. See Gr