Questions tagged [rashi]
Rabbi Shlomo of Troyes, 1040-1104, and his works
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Is Rashi really pshat?
If Rashi on Tanach is a purely pshat oriented commentary, as professed several times, why do many of his comments originate from midrashim that most other "pshat" meforshim dismiss as "derech drash"? [...
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Which masechtot don't really have Rashi?
I often hear that the printed "Rashi" commentary in certain masechtot of the Talmud Bavli (first that come to mind are Moed Katan and Nedarim) is not actually written by Rashi. Does anyone have a full ...
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How to reconcile the possibility that Rashi had a slightly different text of the Torah
In the Parshah of Chayei Sara, in Bereishis 25:6, there is a Posuk that refers to הפילגשים - "the concubines". Rashi expounds that since the word is missing a Yud, it must be a reference to the fact ...
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Why does the Torah use the non-Hebrew word 'Totafot'
Related to this question.
Rashi, on Shemot (13:16): "...וְהָיָה לְאוֹת עַל יָדְכָה וּלְטוֹטָפֹת בֵּין עֵינֶיךָ " writes:
and for ornaments between your eyes: Heb. וּלְטוֹטָפֹת, tefillin. Since ...
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How do kidneys give advice?
In parashat Vayikra (3:9)the kidneys are referred to as "העצה". Rashi comments explains that they are called this because they give advice.
In what way do the kidneys give advice?
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Understanding "The Bruriah Incident"
Masecheth 'Avodah Zarah (18b) cryptically mentions "מעשה דברוריה" - "The Beruriah Incident" - as a reason R' Meir fled to Bavel. Rashi (ad loc) explains that R' Meir was teasing his wife (the noted ...
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Rashi's Daughters wearing Tefillin
There is a commonly held "tradition" that Rashi's daughters wore Tefillin.
One highly educated rabbi/professor has publicly stated that he's spent 35 years searching for a source but to no avail.
...
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Why give gentiles an evil prophet?
Rashi in Bamidbar 22:5 addresses Bilam's being a prophet:
"Why did the Holy One rest his Divine Presence upon a wicked gentile? So that the nations of the world should not have an excuse [as to why ...
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Does Rashi's commentary on a quoted mishna reflect the true explanation?
Often the Bavli will quote a mishna from another maseches (tractate) or another part of the same maseches. Does Rashi's commentary on the Bavli's quotation of the mishna reflect his interpretation of ...
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Why does Rashi say "I don't know"?
The Posuk says (Genesis 28:5):
וַיִּשְׁלַח יִצְחָק אֶת יַעֲקֹב וַיֵּלֶךְ פַּדֶּנָה אֲרָם אֶל לָבָן בֶּן בְּתוּאֵל הָאֲרַמִּי אֲחִי רִבְקָה אֵם יַעֲקֹב וְעֵשָׂו
To which Rashi comments on the fact ...
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Why does Rashi describe Mahalath as "Another unsuitable wife"?
At the end of Parshat Toldot, Eisav marries the daughter of Yishmael, as he "perceives" that the daughters of Heth have upset his parents.
Whilst obviously Eisav had many flaws, this appears to be a ...
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"The Rambam" vs Rashi
In every shiur I've heard, Gemarah or otherwise, when referring to Maimonides, the one giving the shiur says "The Rambam". But when speaking of Rashi, I've only heard someone say "Rashi". How did this ...
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Chain of tradition for stories/parables told by Rashi
I've already asked one question about where Rashi got a particularly troubling interpretation of an obscure reference in the Gemara, telling a very detailed and gruesome story about R' Meir and his ...
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What is the difference between Rashi and Rabbeinu Tam's tefillin?
I understand that there are two types of tefillin, the standard Rashi, and Rabbeinu Tam's. How do they actually differ in construction and in makeup? I have heard that the scriptural passages are ...
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Why Avraham hated Yishmael if he was a tzadik
Rashi says that avraham sent yishmael out with only water but no money because he hated him for going out "tarbut raah".
yet later on, the verse says G-d heard the cry of Yishmael dying of thirst "...
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Do any Rishonim discuss how to approach Rashi's commentary on gemara?
I heard a quote once how carefully a person needs to analyze every drop of ink in Rashi, but I don't remember who said it. Does any Rishon (medieval scholar) ever discuss their approach to Rashi's ...
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Understanding the Gemara and Ramban on the four one-siman animals
Vayikra 11:1-8
א וַיְדַבֵּר יְהוָה אֶל-מֹשֶׁה וְאֶל-אַהֲרֹן, לֵאמֹר אֲלֵהֶם. ב דַּבְּרוּ אֶל-בְּנֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל, לֵאמֹר: זֹאת הַחַיָּה אֲשֶׁר תֹּאכְלוּ, מִכָּל-הַבְּהֵמָה אֲשֶׁר עַל-הָאָרֶץ. ג ...
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Rashi on Tractate Avot
As mentioned here the commentary attributed to Rashi on Avot may not have been authored by him.
This is stated by R. Yaakov Emden in the introduction to "Ets Avot".
Which other sources state that ...
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Following both Rashi and Rabbeinu Tam (mezuzah, sefer torah and tefillin)
I have heard it said that the reason as to why Ashkenazim place their mezuzot at an angle is to harmonise the opinion of Rashi, who held that it should be vertical (Menachot 33a, s.v. איסתוירא), with ...
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How do we explain the criticism of Rashi by his grandsons?
Rabbi Shlomo Yitzhaki, better known today as Rashi, was easily the most prolific commentator on the Tanach and Talmud in history in the sense that he commentated on most of the Talmud and, I believe, ...
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'Kavannah' of Shem Havayeh in the first line of Kriat Shma
The requirement when saying the name 'Havayeh' to have in mind both the meaning of 'adon ha-kol' and 'hayah hoveh ve-yihyhe' takes me some time: longer than almost anybody I see in shul taking to ...
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Did Rambam have Rashi's works?
While the Rambam lived a century after Rashi, I cannot recall ever seeing or hearing the Rambam cite or mention Rashi or any of his works.
Is there any evidence that Rambam had access to Rashi's ...
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Where Rashi uses a Russian word in Nach?
I heard that Rashi uses a Russian word where he deals with the building of the Beis Hamikdash by King Shlomo. I also heard that he uses a Polish word.
Does anyone know where it is?
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Why did Rashi create a new letter system for his commentaries?
I had heard that he created his own lettering system so that his words would be easily distinguishable from the actual words of the Torah. Is this just hearsay or speculation? If so, is there any ...
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2.4 million killed according to Rashi in B'shalach. Why does no one talk about it?
In the begining of Parshat B'shalach, Rashi says that one p'shat for "Vachamushim" means one fifth, because during Makas Choshech, 4 out of 5 were killed out, and it happened during the time it was ...
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Who wrote the anonymous explanations of Rashi printed within the text of Rashi?
Who wrote the anonymous explanations of Rashi printed within the text of Rashi? Sometimes when reading Rashi's commentary on the Torah one finds comments in parentheses that say things such as:
ס"א, (...
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Earliest halakhic sources for wearing both Rashi and Rabbenu Tam tefillin simultaneously?
Orach Chayim brings that pious men should wear both Rashi and R. Tam tefillin at once when davening (34:2-3). Do we know what the earliest halakhic sources recommending this are, and their reasoning?
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Online English Rashi (Talmud)
Is there an English translation of Rashi's commentary on the Talmud available online?
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Why did people under 100 die in the mabul?
On Bereishis 5:32, Rashi brings an explanation that Noach had children when he was 500
so that Japheth, his eldest son, should not be liable for punishment before the Flood, as it is written (Isa. 65:...
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Limud for Levi not being part of the spies
Devarim 1:23 reads:
וַיִּיטַב בְּעֵינַי הַדָּבָר וָאֶקַּח מִכֶּם שְׁנֵים עָשָׂר אֲנָשִׁים
אִישׁ אֶחָד לַשָּׁבֶט׃
And the matter pleased me; so I took twelve men from you, one man for
each ...
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How is "החודש הזה לכם" the first mitzva?
The following question came up in this week's Parshat Hashavua' Chat:
Rashi, at the beginning of his commentary to the Torah:
אמר רבי יצחק: לא היה צריך להתחיל [את] התורה אלא (שמות יב ב) מהחודש הזה ...
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If the Targum on the Torah written by Onkelus was given at Har Sinai, How can Rashi say that he made a mistake?
If the Targum on the Torah written by Onkelus was given at Har Sinai, How can Rashi say that he made a mistake?
See Gemara מגילה דף ג ע"א Megilla 3a:
ותרגום של תורה אונקלוס הגר אמרו? והא אמר רב ...
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Will Korech move to the end of the Seder in the future?
When we start bringing and consuming the Korban Pesach again (speedily may it be, in our days), will the Korech step of the Seder be moved to adjacent to Tzafun or possibly replaced by it?
Kadesh ...
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Where can I find online the gemara with Rashi in regular font with vowels?
Do you know if it is possible to read online the gemara with Rashi in the regular font with vowels?
I am also looking for a gemara with Rashi only with vowels, or ONLY in regular font without vowels.
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What does עמלות בתורה actually mean?
Poroshas beĥukosai begins with the words אם בחוקותי תלכו which rashi, somewhat famously explains, based on toras kohanim that this means 'if we will be עמלים בתורה'.
This is a commonly quoted rashi in ...
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Gamara Rashi Shiur in English
I am looking for a Shiur that is straightforward Gamara Rashi ONLY on gamara megilla.
I have tried YU Torah, Shas illuminated and kolhalashon. I have not yet found anything that is English and only ...
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Did Rashi have nevuah?
I've heard that nevuah ended about 2000 years ago when the last neviim died. But I've also heard that Rashi had some kind of nevuah. If he didn't, then how could Rashi know so much hidden knowledge ...
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Why does Rashi quote Vayikra 23:39 as the source for leap years?
Why does Rashi quote Vayikra 23:39 as the source for Ibur Shana ("מכאן שנצטוו לעבר את השנים"), as opposed to Devarim 16:1 quoted by the Rambam in Hilchos Kiddush Hachodesh 1:1 ("והשנים שאנו מחשבין הם ...
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Tosafot Peirush [duplicate]
I am looking for a sefer that offers an in depth explanation of tosafos (and preferably rashi) to aid me in studying in depth on my own. The ideal would be to have it in english, but a hebrew ...
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Why did Rivka consult Shem, and not Avraham or Yitzchok?
The Posuk says (Gen. 25:22) regarding Rivka:
וַיִּתְרֹצֲצוּ הַבָּנִים בְּקִרְבָּהּ וַתֹּאמֶר אִם כֵּן לָמָּה זֶּה אָנֹכִי וַתֵּלֶךְ לִדְרֹשׁ אֶת יְ־הֹוָ־ה
Translated as: And the children struggled ...
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Why did the angel overturning Sodom visit Abraham?
Someone in my synagogue asked today as follows:
Rashi notes (Vayera 18:2, q.v.) that three angels visited Avraham's tent: one was assigned to inform Sara [of her impending pregnancy], one to overturn ...
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Is there a rule for Rashi's French transliterations (Laaz)?
Rashi frequently uses French words in his explanation to Chumash or the Gemara. However, he doesn't write it in the original language, but he writes it in a "transliteration" of French in Hebrew ...
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Rashi on Yerushalmi
Why is there no Rashi on Yerushalmi? What can I learn instead?
Is there anything that can replace it, and why was it not written?
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"עם לבן גרתי"? Really? "עם לבן ברתי" maybe
Rashi brings a gematria at the beginning of Parshas Vayishlach:
גרתי בגימטריא תרי"ג, כלומר, עם לבן הרשע גרתי, ותרי"ג מצות שמרתי, ולא למדתי ממעשיו הרעים
Now, if one takes this literally, it is ...
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Is it possible to convert a rosh of a Rabeynu Tam Tefillin into a rosh of a Rashi Tefillin?
If I find a Rabeynu Tam Tefillin and I do not have another one, can I take it apart, and change the rosh (I know how to) from Rabeynu Tam to a Rashi Tefillin?
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How do we understand Moshe's rebuke
On Devarim 1:1, Rashi comments that the various places listed are in fact veiled references to episodes in which the Jewish people rebelled. Thus Moshe was offering a kind of concealed rebuke. My ...
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What is Rashi proving with words in different languages
There are many places in Rashi's commentary where he uses a foreign language to translate a word used in the Torah.
For example, Bereshit 6:14:
בכפר: זפת בלשון ארמי. ומצינו בתלמוד כופרא
With tar. ...
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Rashi and Corporealism
Shemos 7:4-
וְלֹא-יִשְׁמַע אֲלֵכֶם פַּרְעֹה, וְנָתַתִּי אֶת-יָדִי בְּמִצְרָיִם; וְהוֹצֵאתִי אֶת-צִבְאֹתַי אֶת-עַמִּי בְנֵי-יִשְׂרָאֵל, מֵאֶרֶץ מִצְרַיִם, בִּשְׁפָטִים, גְּדֹלִים
There, Rashi comments-...
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Do we know the names of Jacob's daughters?
Rashi in his commentary on Genesis 37:35 quotes the Midrash (Genesis Rabbah 84:21) that each of Jacob's sons was born together with a twin sister. Are there any sources which discuss the names of ...
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Dibur HaMatchil: Where did it come from
When reading Rashi, each comment on the pasukkim is split up by DiBur Hamatchil (quotes from the pasuk to let you know what Rashi is commenting on).
Are these original to Rashi, or were they added?
On ...
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