The Denver Jewish news., 1923-06-20

OF his ancestors, we know very little.
His father, Isaac. was well educated,
as Rashi mentions certain instructions
which be received from his father.
From infancy, he astonislied the in
telIectual world by his wonderful MEM
ory and keen conception Of thought. He
was born the same year that Rabbi
GershOm died, so when one great star
disappeared from the Jewish SKY a.
learning, another one, perhaps more
radiant, took his place.
Rasli, as a teacher and commenta-
tor. cnme at period when the In
tellectunl field of Jewish culture and
learning was gradually dying from
want of IL caretuker, who woald re-
move the weeds of superstition and
make room for the proper growth and
development Of true Judaism.
Whoever l,as opened page In the
Talmud understands how necessary
commentary is upon text written In
old Aramic, language now entirely OBJ
sOlete, treating on unfamiliar subjects,
In dialect exasperatingly obscure
without punctuation or other marks, 10
as to enlightcn the student where
sentence begins or endse merely u con-
tinuation of strange sounding words
and very concise sentences.
During his early life, Rashi received
his education at the place Of his biYth,
then at the Academy of Lorraine.
In accordance with the Talmudic
Law, he married at tile age of eighteen.
HIS stndics took him to Worms, May
cnce, as well as various other schools
of learning, as If he hud provision
for his future task; or, as the his
torian Create says, that Itashi had n
presentiment that some dny it would
he his task to collect NIL diverse Opin-
ions prevailing at that time and put
nm end to Juridical debates of the Tan
naini.
On his return to Troyes hc had ma
tured and was well-qualificd md prop
erly equipped intellectually to begin his
comprehensive task.
In the year 1910. 'Rashi founded y
school at Troyes, which soon became
the great center Of Jewish learning.
Aside from his intellectual endowment
hs influence and authority was not on
ly confined in the City OF Troyes, but
wherever his name was mentioned, his
authority was welcomed and accepted.
He received no compensation for his
service us Rabbi and Judge. but earned
his livelihood by viticulture. as we find
in his correspondence to his son-ii'-
law, Rabbi Mair, wherein he describes
the installation of II new wine-prcss
and other changes, so we can see that
even tho he undertook the Hurculean
task OF his commentary on the Bible
and Talmud, he found ample time to
look after hiS business affairs uiHl to
properly support his family. He evt.
IDENTIFY followed the Talmudic precept
that religions study not accompanied
by the work OF the hands, is barren
ard leads to sin.
Tradition has 1t, that IN order to
properly understand the geographical
descriptions of the Bible, Rashi ut the
gge of thirty-thrce, toured the whole
world ms 1t was then known. and while
In the Orient, Is represented as having
met Monk, and the two discussed the
superiority Of their respective religions.
At the inn the Monk suddenly fell Ill.
Rushi cared for him as IL brother. and
succeeded in curing him. The Monk
wanted to thank him, but Isashi inter
rupted, saying Divided as we nre. by
our religion, we are united by charity.
which my religion Imposes upon me NJ
a duty. II perchance thou contest upon
a Jew In misfortune. aid him as have
nided thee.
Rashi wrote commentaries on Mish'
na, Tosefta, Babylonian. and Palesten-
iun Gemnara. as well as on the Bible
His commentary on the Bible is a
pcpulnr work intended for the masses.
On the Talmud. it is an Academic work,
n learned treats for the scholar. He
was conversant in Hebrew, Aramic.
French and German. He also had some
knowledge of Greek, Arabic and Per
sian languages. In the sciences. he
knew Geography. Astronomy. Amtomy.
a fair knowledge of Medicine. Zoology
and Botany. To give us an idea of his
proficiency in the French language, 1t
is worthy of mention that when in de
filming certain words, either in the Bible
or Talmud. and being unable to find Its
equivalent in Hebrew. he uses French
words or as he called them "Laazim,
md altogether there are over BOO
French words in his commentary.
which is by far a greater vocabulary
than that used by the average French
man. On Hebrew etymology he stands
without peer. 1t was his constant
aim in finding basis. an Indication
or an allusion in the Bible, as justifying