A number of people were once praising Rashi’s commentaries in the Rebbe’s presence. The gist of the conversation was that for a straightforward commentary on the Bible one need use only Rashi’s commentary as many of the others follow the philosophers (Tzaddik #410). [Some biblical commentaries occasionally abandon the traditional Talmudic and Midrashic interpretation in favor of one agreeing with philosophical teachings. These should be avoided. The only necessary commentary is that of Rashi.]
The Rebbe then remarked, “You may not realize it, but Rashi is like the Torah’s brother.329Cf. Proverbs 7:4; Shabbat 145b; Sanhedrin 7b. Every Jew, from childhood on, studies both the Written and Oral Torah with Rashi’s commentary. Think of this and you will understand Rashi’s unique greatness.”
בְּעִנְיָן שֶׁהָיוּ מְסַפְּרִים לִפְנֵי רַבֵּנוּ ז"ל, וְהָיוּ מְשַׁבְּחִים מְאֹד אֶת פֵּרוּשׁ רַשִׁ"י. וְשֶׁאֵין צְרִיכִין לִלְמֹד פֵּרוּשׁ אַחֵר עַל הַמִּקְרָא עַל פִּי פָּשׁוּט, כִּי שְׁאָר הַפַּשְׁטָנִים רֻבָּם הוֹלְכִים עַל פִּי דַּרְכֵי הַחֲקִירוֹת וְכוּ' (כַּוָּנַת הַדָּבָר: כִּי יֵשׁ כַּמָּה פַּשְׁטָנִים שֶׁהֵם כְּנֶגֶד דִּבְרֵי רַבּוֹתֵינוּ ז"ל, וְהֵם הוֹלְכִים עַל פִּי דַּרְכֵי הַחֲקִירָה קְצָת בְּכַמָּה מְקוֹמוֹת. וְאֵלּוּ הַפַּשְׁטָנִים אֵין צְרִיכִין לִלְמֹד אוֹתָם, כִּי אִם רַק פֵּרוּשׁ רַשִׁ"י ז"ל).
A number of people were once praising Rashi’s commentaries in the Rebbe’s presence. The gist of the conversation was that for a straightforward commentary on the Bible one need use only Rashi’s commentary as many of the others follow the philosophers (Tzaddik #410). [Some biblical commentaries occasionally abandon the traditional Talmudic and Midrashic interpretation in favor of one agreeing with philosophical teachings. These should be avoided. The only necessary commentary is that of Rashi.]
עָנָה וְאָמַר רַבֵּנוּ ז"ל: זֶה אֵינְךָ יוֹדֵעַ, שֶׁרַשִׁ"י ז"ל, הוּא כְּמוֹ אָחִיהָ שֶׁל הַתּוֹרָה הַקְּדוֹשָׁה. כִּי כָּל תִּינוֹקוֹת שֶׁל בֵּית רַבָּן וְכָל יִשְׂרָאֵל כֻּלָּם לוֹמְדִים אֶת הַתּוֹרָה שֶׁבִּכְתָב וְשֶׁבְּעַל פֶּה עִם פֵּרוּשׁ רַשִׁ"י. וּמִזֶּה מוּבָן עֹצֶם גְּדֻלַּת רַשִׁ"י ז"ל.
The Rebbe then remarked, “You may not realize it, but Rashi is like the Torah’s brother.329Cf. Proverbs 7:4; Shabbat 145b; Sanhedrin 7b. Every Jew, from childhood on, studies both the Written and Oral Torah with Rashi’s commentary. Think of this and you will understand Rashi’s unique greatness.”