# Rashi

> French rabbi and commentator (1040–1105)

**Wikidata**: [Q26456](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q26456)  
**Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rashi)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/rashi

## Summary
Rashi was a French rabbi and commentator who lived from 1040 to 1105. He is best known for his comprehensive commentaries on the Torah and the Talmud, which remain foundational to Jewish scholarship. His work is so central to Hebrew studies that a specific semi-cursive typeface, the Rashi script, was named in his honor.

## Biography
- **Born**: 1040
- **Died**: 1105
- **Nationality**: Kingdom of France
- **Occupation**: Rabbi, Commentator
- **Field**: Torah and Talmudic commentary
- **Known for**: Foundational commentaries on the Hebrew Bible and the Talmud

## Contributions
Rashi authored exhaustive commentaries on the Torah and the Babylonian Talmud. His explanations are characterized by their clarity and focus on the plain meaning of the text (peshat). These works became so essential to Jewish learning that the "Rashi script"—a semi-cursive Hebrew typeface—was developed and named after him to distinguish his commentary from the main text in printed volumes.

## FAQs
**What is Rashi's real name?**
Rashi is an acronym for Rabbi Shlomo Yitzchaki (also cited as Shlomo ben Yischak or Rabbi Shlomo Yischak).

**Where and when did Rashi live?**
He lived in the Kingdom of France, a realm in Western Europe that existed from 987 to 1792. He was born in 1040 and passed away in 1105.

**What is the Rashi script?**
The Rashi script is a semi-cursive Hebrew typeface used specifically for traditional commentaries. It was named after Rashi due to the prominence of his work, though he did not invent the script himself.

## Why They Matter
Rashi's influence on Jewish thought is unparalleled; his commentary is considered the standard starting point for any study of the Torah or Talmud. By clarifying complex legal and narrative passages, he made these texts accessible to both novice students and advanced scholars. His impact extends to typography and printing history, as the "Rashi script" became the standard visual representation for rabbinic commentary in printed Hebrew books. Without his explanations, the interpretation of many cryptic Talmudic passages would remain obscure.

## Notable For
*   Being the most widely read commentator on the Torah and Talmud.
*   Serving as a teacher of Torah in Judaism.
*   Having a specific Hebrew typeface, the Rashi script, named after his works.
*   Living and working in the Kingdom of France during the 11th century.
*   Being listed as a significant "human" entity in global knowledge bases with 53 sitelinks.

## Body

### Identity and Names
Rashi is the Hebrew acronym for Rabbi Shlomo Yitzchaki. Historical records and academic sources list his aliases as Shlomo ben Yischak, Rabbi Shlomo Yischak, and Shlomo Yitzchaki. He is defined in knowledge systems as a "human" and a "rabbi"—a teacher of Torah in Judaism.

### Historical and Geographic Context
Rashi was active during the 11th century in the Kingdom of France. This kingdom was a sovereign state in Western Europe established in 987. While the broader region of France has a history dating back to the Treaty of Verdun in 843 (West Francia) and the First French Empire in 1804, Rashi's life (1040–1105) falls squarely within the Capetian era of the Kingdom of France.

### Scholarly Works and Legacy
Rashi's primary output was his commentary work. He provided line-by-line explanations of the Hebrew Bible and the Talmud. His writing style focused on brevity and clarity, resolving textual difficulties without lengthy digressions. This approach cemented his status as the preeminent commentator in Jewish history.

### The Rashi Script
A significant legacy related to his name is the "Rashi script" (sitelink_count: 21). This is a semi-cursive Hebrew typeface. While Rashi himself wrote in a standard Hebrew script, 15th-century printers began using this typeface to distinguish his commentary from the primary biblical or talmudic text on the page. This typographical convention has persisted for centuries, visually linking his name to the font used to print his words.

## References

1. Catalog of the German National Library
2. Virtual International Authority File
3. International Standard Name Identifier
4. CiNii Research
5. Freebase Data Dumps. 2013
6. CERL Thesaurus
7. Quora
8. LIBRIS. 2012
9. Bibliography of the History of the Czech Lands
10. HMML Authority File
11. Digital Scriptorium Catalog