Early Life and Times
The House of Rashi

Rashi's birth "coincided" with the birth of Ashkenazic Jewry, and in this riveting lecture, Rabbi Wein chronicles the development of both. In a strange turn of events which is so characteristic of Jewish history, King Charlemagne favored the Jews and allowed them to settle in the Rhineland. While the Jews lived in relative peace, Torah study flourished, and as a young man, Rashi was able to reap the benefit at the great yeshiva of Worms. With anecdotes that show Rashi's self-sacrificing dedication to Torah in his formative years, we get a revealing glimpse into the dawning of the great commentator's genius.