Directions in Rashi: Recent Episodes

Yochanon Joseph

Learn how Rashi wrote his commentary--and how can unleak its meaning. By Yochanon Joseph, author of: Directions in Rashi (Feldheim, 2018); Hamikraos al Sidram (http://www.rashicomments.com/); Hakol Bi'chtav (https://store.bookbaby.com/book/hakol-bichtav?format=hardcover) Music by David Joseph

Whoever sees a Sotah in her disgrace...

Clinging to Hashem and to Mitzvos

A Jew who was sold as a servant to a non-Jew

Shabbos and the Moadim

Rashi and the Vilna Gaon

The purpose and function of tzaraas on a house

Niddah and Yoledes

A fundamental disagreement between Rashi and Ramban

Rashi tells us where to find information relevant to Scripture.

Rashi raises a question on his own interpretation.

What is being referred to by the name Bigdei Serad?

Betzalel is mentioned specifically as the one who built the Aron Hakodesh.

Comparing and contrasting two Rashi comments

Rashi's reasons and the Torah's reasons

Rashi sticks to his principles, even during Mishkan Season.

Understanding a long, complex Rashi comment

The value of judgement

The spiritual purpose of manna and (some) matzos

Comparing different narratives

The unique accomplishment of Moshe and Aharon

Determining the identity and age of Moshe's parents

A cryptic exchange between Yaakov and Yosef

A narrative flashback

Pharaoh reacts to his dreams

A systematic survey of the word "Toldos"

Rashi's complete commentary

Yaakov leaves Be'er Sheva

A phantom Rashi comment

Yishmael's complex character

Lot greets his guests and bakes matzoh for them

What did Avraham gain and lose by leaving his family?

When and why did Noach enter the teivah?

The creation of humanity

טעמי המקרא ופרשיות פתוחות וסתומות

Rashi vs. the Targumim

Different categories of communal mitzvos

A further discussion of Maaser Sheni and Maaser Ani

Rashi's approach to halacha

Multiple interpretations of a phrase

Maaser Sheni and Maaser Ani

Did Moshe sit or stand?

Moshe tells us not to forget...

Moshe blesses the nation twice

Who is authorized to nullify a vow?

An insult to Pinchas

Rashi quotes a long Midrash

Rashi and Sforno

When did Moshe change the name of his dedicated assistant?

The function of Maaser

Comparing and contrasting two texts

Rashi breaks his own rule

How many garments did the Kohen Gadol wear on Yom Kippur?

Rashi seems to break his own rules.

The Torah commands us to flip over the fats and the meat of a korban shelamim, several times.

Does Rashi give us TMI about the Korban Todah?

The special procedures of a bird korban

Various forms of the past tense and their meanings

Contradictory sources about zerizus

Rashi seemingly strays from the simple meaning of the verse.

Why is it so important that nothing should be in between the Shulchan and the Menorah?

Hashem orchestrates an unintentional killing.

Why did Yisro return to his land?

Rashi asks an explicit, out-of-order question.

Moshe predicts that Pharaoh will offer sacrifices to Hashem.

Comparing and contrasting 3 of the 10 Plagues

Rashi "indulges" in Midrash.

Grammar and Content

Defending Rashi's interpretation

Rashi defines a word in three different ways.

The various meanings of the word "heneni"

Yaakov's sons negotiate with the Hittites.

Hashem refers to Himself as "The G-d of Yitzchak."

Rashi addresses questions about "defective" spelling.

Eliezer bows in thanks to Hashem twice; Rashi comments only once.

Did Avraham sit while Hashem spoke to him?

Avram and Lot make peace.

The Mabul is delayed for seven days.

Primary and secondary purposes of creation

The Torah tells us where to build the Beis Hamikdash.

Rashi defines a word without giving a proof or source.

Moshe writes the Torah and commands us to read it publicly every seven years.

Rashi's three interpretations of the word today.

Defending Rashi's interpretation

Rashi directs us to two halachos, but does not tell us what they say.

How to find reasons for the Mitzvos

An additional step in the process of freeing an Eved Ivri.

The first verse in Parashas Ekev

What did Moshe receive on the day of the Giving of the Torah?

Two verses in Moshe's recounting of the sin of the Spies.

Bilaam's two plots against Am Yisrael

Bringing a korban for Hashem

Rashi proves that Bilam was greedy.

Is it forbidden to remain in a state of ritual impurity?

How did Korach the entire nation to join his rebellion?

A fundamental disagreement about the Meraglim

Rashi adopts and defends a midrashic interpretation.

How the Leviim were registered and appointed

How B'nei Yisrael encamped and traveled

The Torah promises that we will be punished while in the act of fulfilling a halacha.

The Torah's prohibitions of monetary mistreatment and verbal mistreatment.

Rashi raises a question on the text and a question on himself.

The consequences of judging incorrectly

A new principle of Rashi's commentary on the Torah

Rashi explains a verse differently than the Gemara does.

Rashi seems to break his silence regarding the reasons for mitzvos.

Thoughts on split-hooved, cud-chewing animals

A fundamental disagreement about how to read a verse in the Torah

Rashi translates a word in an original way, and then supports his proposal.

The connection between two well-known Rashi comments

An investigation of various forms of past tense verbs

Moshe grinds the Golden Calf into dust, mixes it with water, and makes the people drink.

Lessons from the neckline of the Kohen Gadol's cloak

Commentators attack Rashi for asking a weak question.

If an ox gores and kills an eved c'naani, the Torah establishes a fixed payment for the damages, regardless of the actual value of the eved.

The Torah uses different grammatical forms for different types of past events.

Moshe addresses Yehoshua as an equal.

Rashi identifies two categories of people who may not partake of the Korban Pesach.

The Torah rehabilitates the reputations of Reuven, Shimon, and Levi.

Rashi explains a phrase metaphorically.

Yaakov declares that each of Yosef's two sons will become a separate tribe.

Yosef presents his five weakest brothers to Pharaoh.

Rashi usurps Yosef's role as dream interpreter

Why did Yaakov think that he would suffer in the World to Come if one of his sons predeceased him?

Is Rashi asking a question, or answering one?

Some technical and content aspects of the first verse in Parashas Vayetzei

What did Esav sell to Yaakov and how was this an ethical and legal sale?

Was Eliezer's method of swearing to Avraham conventional and customary, or exceptional?

The supercommentators go to work on two words in Rashi.

A verse in Mishlei sheds light on Lot.

In the beginning of Parashas Noach, Rashi makes three references to Avraham.

What did Adam and Chava lose by eating the forbidden fruit?

The tribe of Gad chooses to dwell near the burial place of Moshe Rabeinu

Rashi raises a question about his own novel interpretation.

Contextual analyis and textual criticism lead to the same conclusion.

Rashi gives a lesson about grammar and cantillation--and blessings and curses.

Rashi changes his comments about the Seven Species.

The Torah presents a nuanced picture of our relationship with the nations of Edom and Mitzraim.

Rashi and Ramban disagree about p'shat and possibly about halacha.

Rashi hesitates to interpret a phrase as a reason for a mitzvah.

Rashi and Ramban disagree about the history of the two sets of luchos.

The Maharal explains the profound meaning of some of the small differences between the two iterations of the Decalogue.

Is a miracle worker qualified to be a judge?

An unintentional murderer must stay in a city of refuge until the death of the Kohen Gadol.

Why do the korbanos of the festivals hint to the three Patriarchs?

Why did G-d grant prophecy to an evil person?

Is the mitzva of Parah Aduma beyond our comprehension?

Why did Moshe "brag" that he was not a donkey-thief?

Were the Benei Yisrael punished for the sin of the spies?

The function of the Korban Pesach

The Nesi'im offered incense that normally would have been forbidden.

Rashi's opinion about the flags of the four camps

The Beis Hamikdash is referred to by the phrase "the pride of your strength."

Rashi adds details about how to perform the mitzvah of Kiddush Hashem.

On Yom Kippur, the Kohen Gadol atoned for himself, his family, and all the kohanim.

In two places in this week's parasha, Rashi seems to write more than he needed to.

Rashi's opinion about the rationale of the laws of kashrus, and his approach to the reasons for mitzvos in general

Rashi implies that theft is as inconceivable for the average person as it was for Adam Harishon.

The differences between the lower and upper curtains of the Mishkan

A discrepancy between two Rashi comments

Rashi quotes half of the Talmud's details about the stones on the ephod.

Rashi and Sefer Hachinuch explain, but Maimonides remains perplexed.

Rashi makes a magnificent exception to his rules.

Moshe--apparently--only finds people who have one of the four qualifications for being a judge.

The inspiration to build the Beis Hamikdash

The relationship between miracles and mitzvos

The Torah source for Free Will, and why it was taken away from Pharaoh

Pharaoh's precise instructions for killing the newborn boys

How to learn mussar from Rashi's grammatical comments

The profound reason for Yaakov's joy at being reunited with Yosef

What was the significance of Pharaoh giving his ring to Yosef?

Yaakov considers the worst-case scenarios regarding Yosef.

When was Yaakov's name changed to Yisrael?

Yaakov tries to avoid being cheated by Lavan.

Why does Rashi sometimes "fail" to take advantage of very interesting and relevant Midrashim?

Eliezer arranged his actions and words in an order that was surprising, but appropriate.

Did Avraham serve Hashem in order to receive reward?

Avraham "complains" about Eliezer.

A comparison of two verses and two Rashi comments that seem almost identical.

The Torah ideal of the male-female relationship

The fundamental difference between the blessings of Yaakov and Moshe

According.to Rashi, the Jewish nation is compared, in its lowest moments, to Peah.

Rashi places his comments with precision.

Who is commanded to read the Torah as part of the mitzvah of Hakhel?

The key to complete observance of the Mitzvos

A new category of Rashi comment

Serving Hashem with Fractions

When Rashi spells out his question--it's not really his main question!

Are we rewarded for our good deeds in this world, or only in the next?

When G-d punishes the Jewish nation, there is always an element of kindness.

Rashi subtly alters a Midrash

Moshe criticizes the priorities of Benei Reuven and Gad

Why did the tribes object to Pinchas's killing of Zimri?

A contradiction in Rashi

The greatness of Moshe, Aharon, the Levites---and of every Jew

Just how bad were the Meraglim?

What did the blasts of the chatzotzros signify?

What are the qualifications for effective leadership?

How was the census in this parasha conducted?

Which donation to the construction of the Mishkan was most beloved by G-d?

Why was it forbidden to build the Mishkan on Shabbos?

The implications of a word that seems to be missing the letter Reish

Rashi will break his own rules in order to clarify Peshuto shel Mikra.

The profound root of the characteristic of Midah K'neged Midah

What kind of prayer did the Benei Yisrael utter at Yam Suf?

Does Rashi discuss the reasons for the Plagues?

Two unusual aspects of the Plague of Frogs

How did Aharon become the Kohen Gadol?

What was Reuven's sin and why was it considered to be so severe?

Yosef bequeaths his spiritual powers to Binyamin and his descendants.

Was Reuven really Yaakov's firstborn son?

How many daughters did Yaakov have?

Two important contrasts between Yaakov and Esav

Why did Yaakov swear "by the fear of Yitzchak his father"?

What lesson can be learned from the narrative of the wells?

Avoiding a crisis of faith?

The difference between Avraham and Lot

What are some of the differences between Pharaoh and Avimelech, both of whom kidnapped Sarah?

Avrahams' miraculous escape from the fiery furnace

Why was the world created?

Hashem displayed "exceptional affection" to the Jewish nation

Is it possible to cause Hashem to be weak?

The two aspects of Yehoshua's leadership (and of our service to Hashem)

Is a person's natural inclination good or evil?

Rashi displays his intellectual precision and profundity

Rashi places his comments exactly where they are needed.

Pinchas made peace in a counter-intuitive way

What is Rashi's attitude--in his commentary on the Torah--to halacha?

Benei Yisrael retreat, fight, mourn, and get back on track.

The relationship between the mitzvos of Talmud Torah and Krias Sh'ma

Moshe rebukes Benei Yisrael for listening to 10 witnesses rather than to 2

The Adventures of Rabbi Moshe "HaDarshan"

Rashi and Ramban disagree about the purpose of the census and about its details.

"God does not see any evil in Jacob"?!!

One of Rashi's only rules for explicating the Torah

A deeper look at Korach's rebellion

Why did Moshe pray for Yehoshua, but not for the other Meraglim?

How has the Jewish nation managed to survive?

Why did Hashem allow the Nesiim to bring voluntary ketores?

Was Nadav really the firstborn child of Aharon?

How does Rashi deal with unusual spelling and with contradictory Midrashim?

How did Rashi decide how and when to translate a difficult word?

How did the Jews in Mitzraim manage to refrain from Arayos?

Why are the laws of forbidden relationships stated once in Parashas Achrei Mos and then again in Parashas Kedoshim?

The proper method to interpret a difficult word used by Rashi

The Torah's procedure for purifying a metzora reveals to us the nature of lashon hara and ga'ava, and how to become cured of these afflictions.

Why doesn’t Rashi usually explain the reasons for the Mitzvos—and why does he sometimes break his own rule?

Why is the Mishkan compared to a bride?

What is the purpose of a miracle? Is it merely a means by which Hashem rescues someone from a tight spot? Or is it something more permanent and profound?

How could the entire Jewish nation fit into the small space at the entrance to the Mishkan?

What is the inner difference between voluntary and obligatory korbanot?

Why does the Torah refer to the person who brings a Korban Mincha (grain offering) as a "soul"?