Rav Shlomo Yitzchaki zt"l
הרב שלמה בן יצחק יצחקי זצ"ל
Tammuz 29 , 4885
Rav Shlomo Yitzchaki zt"l
Rav Shlomo Yitzchaki (Rashi)(1040-1105). He traced his ancestry through the Tanna’im Rav Yochanan HaSandlar and Hillel the Elder back to King Dovid. He received his early talmudic training from his father, Rav Yitzchak. At a young age he went to Worms, Germany, to broaden his knowledge under Rav Yaakov ben Yakar. At the age of 25 he returned to his native Troyes. Amazingly, Rashi accomplished all his work during the Period of the Crusades, when life was extremely dangerous for the Jews. Rashi had three daughters, who were great scholars in their own right, but also were married to men of greatness, and had children known as the “Baalei Tosafos,” the most famous of whom, Rav Yaakov ben Meir, was known as Rabbeinu Tam.
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Divrei Torah of Rav Shlomo Yitzchaki zt"l
in the beginning divrei david rashi's father: the entire world belongs to the holy one and he gave us eretz yisroel
Bereshis "In the beginning Hashem created " (1:1)
Rashi's commentary begins: Rav Yitzchak said Hashem did not need to begin the Torah but from "This month shall be for you the beginning of all months," because that was the first commandment with which Israel was commanded. What is the reason the Torah begins with Genesis? To convey the message that "He told the power of His acts to His people," in order to allow them to inherit the nations, so that if the nations say to Israel, "You are thieves since you conquered and stole the land of the seven Canaanite nations." Israel will answer them that, "The entire world belongs to the Holy One, and He gave it to whoever He deems proper. Originally He gave it to them, and then He took it away from them and gave it to us."
The Taz writes in Divrei David that: When I was a young lad I saw a very old hand written manuscript that was a commentary on Rashi. In it was written that this initial statement in the name of Rav Yitzchak, is not found in the Midrash or Talmud. Rather the question itself is found in our Midrash but not in the name of Rav Yitzchak. And that this Rav Yitzchak is in fact none other than Rashi's own father. (Rashi is an acronym for Rav Shlomo Yitzchaki “Shlomo the son of Yitzchak) This Rav Yitzchak was no great scholar and so Rashi wished to honor his father by mentioning him immediately at the beginning of his commentary. So Rashi said ask a question and I shall write it in your name, and he asked Rashi simply, why does the Torah begin with Bereishis? Therefore there is no question why Rashi's commentary seems to ask two questions, since the first question is indeed not his own, but his father's which he wrote to honor him. This is what I read there in that manuscript. However that statement saying that Rav Yitzchak, Rashi's father was not a great scholar is an error. We see that it is false from the fact the Rashi himself in his Talmudic commentary to Avoda Zarah page 75 quotes his father's interpretation as superior, This is what I heard from my father and teacher, who reposes in honor and it seems to me to be correct.