Rashi
Rashi, (Rabbi Shlomo Yitzhaki) known as Parshandata, or The Commentator, par excellence is the most famous and important
biblical commentator of all time.
Rashi was born in Troyes, France and lived from 1040-1105. He
earned his living from growing grapes. By the age of 25, his fame
as a scholar attracted students and he formed an academy. He had
three daughters. Two of his grandsons are famous commentators
themselves: Rabbenu Tam, and RaShBam.
Rashi's style is very brief. He occasionally explains words in
(Medieval) French, or food or clothing to contemporary (to him)
items. He sometimes even admits he doesn't know the answer! The
trick to Rashi-study, is to understand the question he rarely
articulates, but that prompts his commentary.
A word about 'Rashi Script'
The first Hebrew book was the Chumash with Rashi's commentary.
The Masoretic text was printed in square Hebrew letters, with
Rashi's commentary written in a cursive hand, both because it
saves space (and is faster to write) and to distinguish it from
the text. These letters became associated with Rashi's commentary,
and became known, as 'Rashi letters' for short. Rashi did not
invent them!
Most of the letters are fairly straight-forward
and resemble their printed or today's cursive equivalents, except
these few on the left. After studying them, see if you can decipher
these common Hebrew words on the right:
Mikra'ot G'dolot
Rashi