Rashi in Depth

A Revolutionary Study

60 years ago, in 1965 (5725), following the passing of his mother, Rebbetzin Chana, the Lubavitcher Rebbe embarked on a groundbreaking exploration of Rashi’s commentary on the Chumash. During the weekly Shabbat Chassidic gatherings (farbrengens), the Rebbe shared insights that transformed our understanding of this classic commentary.

Quoting Rashi's own description of his commentary, “I have come to explain only the simple meaning of verse” (Bereishis 3:8), the Rebbe explained Rashi’s commentaries with surprising simplicity that cleared the path to layers of meaning buried deep within the text and between the lines.

The Rebbe often demonstrated how Rashi’s simple words contain intricate halachic implications, emphasizing that even the mention of a sage's name serves to illuminate the discussion at hand.

Recognizing the intrinsic connection between the straightforward interpretation of Torah and its mystical dimensions, the Rebbe frequently unveiled the esoteric layers within Rashi’s teachings. This approach brought forth valuable lessons and guidance for his students in their Divine service.

Rashi’s Principles

Over the course of the many hundreds of Talks the Rebbe delivered on Rashi, he highlighted principles that are to be used in the study of Rashi. The book Klalei Rashi (Principles of Rashi [Study]) by Rabbi Tuvia Bloy, cites some 389 (!) principles for the study of Rashi that are innovated in these Talks. Here are but a few:

• Rashi's objective is to explain only the simple basic meaning of a passage, its “pshat.” To this end, Rashi clarifies any issues with narrative coherency, or any contextual or linguistic problems that arise in understanding the straightforward meaning of a passage.

• The definition of the “simple” meaning of a passage is determined by the initial perception of a young novice student of scripture who already possesses basic knowledge of the Hebrew language. In the Mishnah, he is referred to as the ben chamesh lemikrah "a five-year-old [is the age for] the study of scripture."

• Typically, Rashi doesn't state what the problem is that his commentary addresses because Rashi considers the problem to be self-evident.

• When the meaning of a verse is unclear to Rashi, he doesn't ignore it, rather he declares his uncertainty, saying "I don't know." Conversely, if Rashi does not state his opinion regarding an apparent difficulty, nor declare his uncertainty, it must mean that according to Rashi the explanation is so simple that he needn't explain it.

• Every word in Rashi - even the words quoted in the header - are exact and necessary for Rashi's explanation. Thus, if an uncommon expression is used, it is done advisedly. Accordingly, Rashi notes the names of quoted sages only when this helps in the understanding of the subject.

• When Rashi offers two interpretations it is because neither of them suffices to resolve all the difficulties in understanding the simple sense of the verse, and the unresolved difficulties in the first interpretation are not present in the second. However, because the first interpretation fits best with the plain meaning of the verse, it is primary, and thus presented first.

Welcome to Rashi in Depth

In honor of the 60th anniversary you can now study a Rashi a week in the Rashi in Depth section in your Chayenu App. 

Dive into this section and watch as Rashi’s basic words take on new meaning and profundity. These selections are from the Kol Menachem Chumash. Thank you to Kol Menachem for the permission to use their texts. To visit Kol Menachem, click here.