O R T H O D O X   U N I O N

Rashi's 900th Yahrzeit

This coming August 5th, Friday the 29th day of Tamuz, is the 900 yahrzeit of Rabbi Shlomo Yitzchaki, known to all the world as Rashi. It is appropriate that we mark this occasion by reflecting on the unbelievably important contributions that this man made to the Jewish people and to the study of Torah. It is impossible for a Jew to conceive of studying either Chumash or Gemara without using the commentary of Rashi. He explains the text and he explains the deeper meaning of the text whenever necessary. His works are accessible to young children beginning their study of Torah, and his words are literally counted by great aged scholars.

I, personally, recall when I began almost thirty years ago to teach Daf Yomi. I consulted HaRav Yaakov Kamenetzky, ztl, who was then living in Baltimore, and he advised me to make sure to teach “every single Rashi”. Later that same summer I was privileged to meet privately with the Klausenberger Rebbe ztl. I mentioned to him that I would be beginning this shiur, and he, too, immediately responded and said “be careful to teach every Rashi, and I mean every Rashi.” These two saintly Sages taught me what I had learned from my own grandfathers and teachers about the singular importance of his commentary.

But Rashi offered so much more than the commentaries themselves. He taught us an example of humility that is unparalleled by any in our history, except Moshe Rabbenu himself. Countless times throughout these commentaries Rashi confesses that he does not know the proper interpretation of a text. He was not embarrassed to admit to his lack of knowledge, and indeed recorded it for all Jews for centuries to come. He is also careful to attribute scholarly ideas which are not his own to his teachers and other sources from which he quotes. This example of respect for others and supreme modesty is a lesson for us all to learn as we observe nine centuries since his passing.

In these troubled times for the Jewish people we pray to the Ribono Shel Olam that the merits of Rashi’s accomplishments and the merits of all those who hungrily study each and every one of Rashi’s words be incorporated into His response to all of our prayers for the world, for our people, for all who are in need of a yeshua, and for the Land of Israel. May his memory be a blessing.

We have made available on this website some material about Rashi which we encourage you to read, but above all, we encourage you to re-double your commitment to study the message and teachings of this unique Sage in our history.

• Short Bio
• Rashi: A Gift to the Jewish People  (PDF)
  Berel Wein
  As printed in Jewish Action - Summer 2005
• Deciphering Rashi  (PDF)
  Avigdor Bonchek
  As printed in Jewish Action - Summer 2005

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