5. רש”י Skills

Learning רש”י is an integral component of learning חומש and fully understanding its פשט. Mastering רש”י skills requires fluency in its alphabet, its language, and its style. Close reading of the פסוקים should lead us to recognize the issues that רש”י will address and our need for his insight to complete our understanding.

Enduring Understandings
1. Understanding the biographical background and historical context of a given מפרש will help us better understand his teachings.
2. מפרשים are part of תורה שבעל פה, helping us to understanding the חומש. All are sacred, and many were written with רוח הקדש.
Essential Questions
1. Who is this מפרש? / How does his biographical information impact his teachings?
2. Where did this מפרש get this from? / Is it okay to disagree with a מפרש? / What would I be missing in my understanding of the פסוק if I hadn’t learned this?

Resources

This graphic organizer depicts the different categories of מה קשה לרש"י.

This supplement goes through the different reasons that Rashi might comment, explaining the categories of מה קשה לרש"י.

The Lubavitcher Rebbe's Klalei Rashi introduce a systematic approach to the study of Chumash with Rashi. (Original Hebrew excerpt.)

The Lubavitcher Rebbe's Klalei Rashi introduce a systematic approach to the study of Chumash with Rashi. (English version)