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vonnemiste's review
2.0
I was really disappointed by this book, as I’ve come to expect more from Wiesel’s writing. This book is so slim, so slight, that I kind of question why it was written in the first place. The other entries I’ve read in the Jewish Encounters series from Schocken/Nextbook have been of a much higher quality & depth than this one.
Wiesel does provide a nice overview of what is known about Rashi’s life in France: the nature of his family & scholarly life, the upheaval of European politics that accompanied the Crusades, and the networks of Jewish life that crisscrossed France and Germany. And it’s clear that Wiesel had a deep affection for Rashi’s writing and it definitely makes me want to read and learn more about the great Torah scholar, but the middle section is just a compendium of rather surface-level glimpses into his commentaries. I can’t help but compare this book to Rebecca Goldstein’s “Betraying Spinoza” from this same series, a creative biography that also profiles a Jewish scholar about whom we know little in terms of biographical detail. While that book soars, Wiesel’s never really leaves the ground.
Wiesel does provide a nice overview of what is known about Rashi’s life in France: the nature of his family & scholarly life, the upheaval of European politics that accompanied the Crusades, and the networks of Jewish life that crisscrossed France and Germany. And it’s clear that Wiesel had a deep affection for Rashi’s writing and it definitely makes me want to read and learn more about the great Torah scholar, but the middle section is just a compendium of rather surface-level glimpses into his commentaries. I can’t help but compare this book to Rebecca Goldstein’s “Betraying Spinoza” from this same series, a creative biography that also profiles a Jewish scholar about whom we know little in terms of biographical detail. While that book soars, Wiesel’s never really leaves the ground.
elephant's review
2.0
In this book, Elie Wiesel tells the story of Rashi, the most renowned Jewish commentator of the Jewish scriptures, and Talmud. Rashi, Shlomo Yitzhaki, lived in France in the 11th century and to this day, his commentary is used and respected. Wiesel tells a bit about France in the 11th century and how Jewish people were treated then and about the Crusades and their devastation on the Jewish people. Mostly, he speaks about Rashi being a genius, and he tells what is known about Rashi's life, however, in many respects, not a lot is known about his life so there is not a whole lot to tell. Wiesel shares some of Rashi's commentary on the Torah and gives his own view of Rashi's statements.
I am reading The Stone Edition Chumash, which includes Rashi's commentary so I have already read much of the commentary that Wiesel included in this book.
It is an interesting little book, but I think I was expecting a bit more from it.
I am reading The Stone Edition Chumash, which includes Rashi's commentary so I have already read much of the commentary that Wiesel included in this book.
It is an interesting little book, but I think I was expecting a bit more from it.
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