Shlomo Yitzchaki (c. 1040 – 1105), commonly known by the rabbinic acronym Rashi, was a French rabbi and commentator who authored comprehensive commentaries on the Talmud and the Hebrew Bible. Born in Troyes, he is generally regarded as one of the leading biblical exegetes of the Middle Ages.
Rashi pursued Torah studies in Worms under the German rabbi Yaakov ben Yakar and the French rabbi Isaac ben Eliezer Halevi, both of whom were pupils of the noted scholar Gershom ben Judah. After returning to Troyes, he joined the local beth din (rabbinical court) and began responding to halakhic queries. Following the death of Zerach ben Abraham, Rashi served as the head of the beth din.
Rashi's writings are acclaimed for presenting the basic meaning of the text in a concise and lucid manner, making them accessible to both advanced scholars and beginners. His commentary on the Talmud covers nearly all of the Babylonian Talmud and has been included in every edition of the Talmud since its first printing by Daniel Bomberg in the 1520s. His commentaries on the Tanakh, particularly on the Chumash (the Five Books of Moses), have served as the basis of more than 300 "supercommentaries" by later figures in rabbinic literature, who analyse his choice of language and citations.
A substantial portion of rabbinic literature published since the Middle Ages engages with Rashi, either drawing on his interpretations as supporting evidence or debating his views. His works continue to remain a centrepiece of contemporary Torah study.
Adapted from the English Wikipedia article on Rashi.