Rashi | Page 6

Sons-In-law and Grand-children-A Jewish Marriage in
the Middle Ages-The Domestic Virtues-The Education and Position of
Woman among the Jews.
II. The Crusades-What they actually were-Massacres in the Jewries
along the Moselie and the Rhine-Rashi and the Apostates- Rashi and
Godfrey of Bouillon-Consequences of the Crusades-End of Rashi's
Life--Legends connected with his Death-Rashi's Death at
Troyes....................................................page 53
CHAPTER IV
CHARACTER AND LEARNING OF RASHI
Rashi's Spiritual Physiognomy-Sources.
I. The Man and his Intellect-Depth and Naivete of his Faith-His
Goodness, Extreme Modesty, and Love of Truth-Attitude in Regard to
his Masters-His Correspondents and his Pupils.
II. The Scholar-Alleged Universality of his Knowledge-Wherein his
Knowledge was limited, and wherein extended-Rashi's Library- The
Authors he cites, and the Authorities to whom he appeals- Lacunae in
his Knowledge--Sureness of his Knowledge.......page 73
BOOK II-THE WORK OF RASHI
CHAPTER V
THE COMMENTARIES-GENERAL CHARACTERISTICS

Composition of the Commentaries on the Bible and the Talmud-Their
Character and their Limitations-The Explanations-Clearness, Accuracy,
Brevity-The French Glosses, or Laazim-Their Function-Their
Philologle Importance--The Works treating of
them...................................................page 89
CHAPTER VI
THE BIBLICAL COMMENTARIES
Rashi, the Commentator par excellence of the Bible-His
Authorities-The Targumim, the Massorah-The Talmud and the
Midrash-Exegesis before Rashi-The Peshat and the Derash (Literary
Method and Free Method)-The Study of the Bible among the Christians
and among the Jews-The Extent to which Rashi used the Two
Methods-Various Examples-Anti-Christian Polemics- Causes of the
Importance attached to Derash-Rashi and Samuel ben Meir-Rashi's
Grammar-Rashi and the Spaniards-His Knowledge of Hebrew-Rashi
compared with Modern Exegetes and with Abraham Ibn Ezra-Homely
Character of the Biblical Commentaries-Their
Popularity............................................page 104
CHAPTER VII
THE TALMUDIC COMMENTARIES
Differences between the Biblical and the Talmudic Commentaries-
Composition-Wherein Rashi imitates and wherein he is Original- His
Predecessors-His Method-Establishment of the Text-The Commentary
a Grammatical Guide--Accuracy and Soundness of his
Explanations-Examples-Rashi as an Historian-Rashi and the
Halakah-Rashi and the Haggadah-Citations-Value and Fortune of the
Talmudic Commentaries.............................page 135
CHAPTER VIII
THE RESPONSA
Rashi decides Questions of Law-Rabbinical Responsa as a Form of
Literature-Historic Interest attaching to those of Rashi- Relations
between Jews and Christians-Rashi and the Apostates- He preaches
Concord in Families and Communities-Rashi's Character as manifested
in his Responsa-The Naivete, Strength, and tolerance of his

Faith.......................... page 159
CHAPTER IX
WORKS COMPOSED UNDER THE INFLUENCE OF RASHI
Character of these Works-The Sefer ha-Pardes and the Sefer
ha-Ora-The Mahzor Vitry-The Elements and the Redactors of these
Works-Their Interest and their Value...........page 169
CHAPTER X
POETRY ATTRIBUTED TO RASHI
Liturgical Poetry at the Time of Rashi-The Selihot attributed to
Rashi-Their Technique--Sentiments therein expressed-Quotations-Their
Poetic Value...............page 173

BOOK Ill-THE INFLUENCE OF RASHI

CHAPTER XI
FROM THE DEATH OF RASHI TO THE EXPULSION OF THE
JEWS FROM FRANCE
Rashi's Influence upon Biblical and Talmudic Literature.
I. Rashi and the Talmudic Movement in France-His Principal
Disciples-Shemaiah-His Two Sons-in-law, Judah ben Nathan and Meir
ben Samuel-The School of Rameru-The Four Sons of Meir-Samuel ben
Meir, his Intellect and his Work-Jacob Tam, his Life and
Influence--His Disciples and Works-The Tossafot-Method of the
Tossafists and their Relation to Rashi-The School of Dampierre- Isaac
ben Samuel the Elder and his Disciples-The School of Paris- Judah Sir
Leon; his Chief pupils-Jehiel of Meaux and his French and German
Disciples-Redaction of the Tossafot.
II. Rashi and the Biblical Movement in France--The Commentary on
the Pentateuch by Samuel ben Meir-His Disciples-Joseph Kara and
Joseph Bekor-Shor-Their Rational Exegesis-Decadence of Biblical
Exegesis-The Tossafot on the Pentateuch; Chief Collections; their
Character-Rashi and Christian Exegesis- Nicholas de Lyra and
Luther-Decadence of French Judaism from the Expulsion of 1181 to
that of 1396.
III. Rashi's Influence outside of France-Rashi in the Orient; in the

Provence-Evidences of his Reputation: in Italy: in Spain- How
Abraham Ibn Ezra judged Rashi-David kimhi-Kabbalistic
Exegesis-Nahmanides-Solomon ben Adret, Nissim Gerundi, and Asher
ben Jehiel.............................................. page 183
CHAPTER XII
FROM THE EXPULSION OF THE JEWS FROM FRANCE TO THE
PRESENT TIME
Rashi In Foreign Countries-Rashi's Influence on the Italians; on
Elijahst Spanish Talmudists-Elljah Mizrahi-Rashi's Popularity- His
Descendants-The Family of Lurla-The Authors of Super-
Commentaries and of Hiddushim-Rashi and Printing-The
Renaissance--Rashi and the Hebrew Scholars among the Christians of
the Sixteenth and Seventeenth Centuries- Breithaupt-Rashi in the
Eighteenth Century-Moses Mendelssohn and the Blurists-Rashi In the
Nineteenth Century-The Eighth Centenary of his
Death................................page 210
CONCLUSION (page 222)
APPENDIX I
THE FAMILY OF RASHI (page 227)
APPENDIX II
BIBLIOGRAPHY (page 231)
NOTES (page 241)
INDEX (page 261)
INTRODUCTION
A people honors itself in honoring the great men who have interpreted
its thought, who are the guardians of its genius. It thus renders merited
homage and pays just tribute to those who have increased the treasures
of its civilization and added a new feature to its moral physiognomy; it
establishes the union of ideas that assures the conservation of the
national genius, and maintains and perpetuates the consciousness of the
nation. Finally, it manifests consciousness of its future in taking
cognizance of its past, and in turning over the leaves of its