Christians and Christianity in Rashi's Commentaries. Overview and Disscusion of the Most Important Studies

Piotr Walewski

doi:10.21852/sem.2021.4.02

Published: 2022-09-03

Vol. 42 No. 4 (2021)

Christians and Christianity in Rashi's Commentaries. Overview and Disscusion of the Most Important Studies

Piotr Walewski

Seminare. Learned Investigations

Section: Theology

https://doi.org/10.21852/sem.2021.4.02

Abstract

The article provides a critical analysis of both linguistic and historical aspects of selected Talmudic texts containing the preserved commentaries of Rashi, one of the most prominent medieval Jewish exegetes. It soon appeared that the undertaken studies would be hindered by the scarcity of source material on the one hand, and by the censorship of Talmudic manuscripts on the other. The implemented inductive study, which consists of lexical tracing of the words nosrim and minim in selected Talmudic texts, seemed to be a plausible solution.

The presented study, which falls into the scope of theological and religious studies, argues that Rashi explains the Hebrew Bible (Tanakh) above all as a rabbi, by showing the literal as well as the hidden meaning of the text. As the commentaries contain no elements of polemics or dispute with Christianity, it can be assumed that it is beyond his scope of interest. Even if such polemics is present implicite, it still cannot be considered as the purpose of the commentaries per se.

Keywords:

Rabbinic sources, Rashi, polemic between Synagogue and Church, Christianity in Talmud, Christians in Tanakh, messianic texts in the Hebrew Bible

Download files

PDF

Citation rules

Walewski , P. (2022). Christians and Christianity in Rashi’s Commentaries. Overview and Disscusion of the Most Important Studies. Seminare. Learned Investigations, 42(4), 23–36. https://doi.org/10.21852/sem.2021.4.02

Cited by / Share

References

׳. ההיסטורית של זמנו״ תרביץ ב תשי עמ בער, יצחק ״רש״י והמציאות
Google Scholar

Bazyliński, Stanisław. 2006. A Guide to biblical Research. Introductory Notes (Subsidia Biblica 28), Roma: Editrice Pontificio Istituto Biblico.
Google Scholar

Berlin, Adele and Maxine Grossman. 20112. “Rashi,” In The Oxford Dictionary of the Jewish Religion. New York: Oxford University Press.
Google Scholar

Briks, Piotr. 19992. Podręczny słownik hebrajsko-polski i aramejsko-polski Starego Testamentu (Prymasowska Seria Biblijna [12]). Warszawa: Oficyna wydawnicza “Vocatio”.
Google Scholar

גרוסמן, אברהם ٫הפולמוס היהודי־הנוצרי והפרשנות היהודית למקרא٫ עמ׳.
Google Scholar

Gruber, Mayer I. 2004. Rashi’s Commentary on Psalms, Leiden–Boston: Brill.
Google Scholar

Hailperin, Herman. 1963. Rashi and the Christian Scholars. Pittsburgh: Pennsylvania.
Google Scholar

Harris, Robert A. 2008. “Rashi and the ‘Messianic’ Psalms.” In Birkat Shalom: Studies in the Bible, Ancient Near Eastern Literature, and Postbiblical Judaism Presented to Shalom M. Paul on the Occasion of His Seventieth Birthday, edited by Chaim Cohen et al., 845-862. Winona Lake IN: Eisenbrauns.
Google Scholar

Himmelfarb, Lea. 2008. “The Link Between the Jewish-Christian Polemic and the Masorah Notes in Rashi’s Bible Commentary.” Journal of Jewish Studies 59/2: 187-293.
Google Scholar

Jastrow, Marcus. 1996. ספר מלים, Dictionary of the Targumim Babli, Yerushalmi and Midrashic Literature, vol. 1-2, New York: The Judaica Press.
Google Scholar

Kamin, Sarah. 1980. Rashi’s Exegetical Categorization in Respect to the Distinction Between Peshat and Derash. Jerusalem: Magnes.
Google Scholar

Kamin, Sarah. 1983-1984. “Rashi’s Commentary on the Song of Songs and Jewish-Christian Polemic.” Shnaton 7-8: X.
Google Scholar

Kantrowitz, David. 1995. Judaic Classics Library (electronic resource), Chicago IL: Davka Corporation, ed. CD-Rom.
Google Scholar

Liber, Maurice. 1970. Rashi. Translated by Adele Szold. New York: Hermon Press.
Google Scholar

Lipiński, Edward. 2012. “Pandera & Stada and Jehoshua bar Perahya.” Estetyka i Krytyka 27/3: 51-66.
Google Scholar

Lobet, Marcel. 1943. Godefroid de Bouillon: Essai de Biographie Antilégendaire. Brussels: Éditions Les Écrits.
Google Scholar

מקראות גדולות הכתר מהדורת יסוד חדשה ההדרה מדעית על־פי כתבי יד עתיקים מנחם כהן רמת גן תשס״ג.
Google Scholar

The New American Standard Bible with Codes. 1995. La Habra CA: The Lockman Foundation.
Google Scholar

נביאים וכתובים עם פירוש רש״י ופי׳ יקר נקרא בשם מקראי קודש¸ כרך שמיני¸ ווארשא¸ תרל״ה.
Google Scholar

Shereshevsky, Esra. 1970-1971. “Rashi’s and Christian interpretations.” Jewish Quarterly Review 61/1: 76-86.
Google Scholar

Shereshevsky, Esra. 1982. Rashi. The Man and His World. New York: Sepher Hermon Press.
Google Scholar

Singer, Isaac. 1907. “Talmud Commentaries.” In The Jewish Encyclopedia. New York–London.
Google Scholar

Tate, W. Randolph. 2006. “Midrash.” In Interpreting the Bible. A Handbook of Terms and Methods. Peabody MA: Hendricson Publishers.
Google Scholar

תלמוד בבלי המכון הישראלי לפרסומים תלמודיים, ירושלים.
Google Scholar

תלמוד בבלי תרגום עברי ופרוש חדש, חלופי גרסאות ומראי-מקומות, ירושלים רז"ל.
Google Scholar

Touitou, Eleazar. 1990. “Rashi’s Commentary on Genesis 1-6 in the Context of Judeo-Christian Controversy.” Hebrew Union College Annual 160: 168-179.
Google Scholar

Walewski, Piotr. 2011. „Kanon Starego Testamentu.” In Wstęp ogólny do Biblii (Series Religiologica Pomeraniae 2), Rumia: Biblicum.
Google Scholar

Wróbel, Mirosław S. 2006. “Birkat Ha-Minim (מינים) and the Process of Separation between Judaism and Christianity.” Polish Journal of Biblical Research 5/2: 88-103.
Google Scholar

Wróbel, Mirosław S. 2012. „Krytyka tekstologiczna i historyczna passusów Talmudu o Jezusie i chrześcijaństwie.” Estetyka i Krytyka 27/3: 15-50.
Google Scholar

Wróbel, Mirosław S. 2013. Jezus i Jego wyznawcy w Talmudzie. Analiza tekstologiczna, historyczna i socjologiczna. Lublin: Wydawnictwo KUL.
Google Scholar

זכרון יעקב המרכז לחינוך תורני, ש״ס.
Google Scholar