September 22, 2005
France is celebrating the influential Jewish scholar Rashi, who lived in the 11th century. Celebrations include a commemorative stamp, a medal being minted at the Treasury, scholarly conferences and the renaming of an esplanade in the city of Troyes, where Rashi lived from 1040 to 1105 and founded a school of Talmud study. “He is the commentator of the Bible and the Talmud”, Rabbi Claude Sultan, director of the Rashi University Center in Troyes, told the AFP news agency. “He has a particular importance in biblical exegesis, not only in the Jewish world but for Christians as well.” A Bible from 1475 accompanied by Rashi’s commentary is believed to be the first text ever be printed in Hebrew.
