Five Takeaways From a Year with Rashbam
After a year of studying the Torah commentary of Rabbi Shmuel ben Meir (the Rashbam), grandson of Rashi, I offer five takeaway reflections.
Rashbam
Rashbam: Burying Moses (V’zot Habrachah)
Moses ascends the mountain, views the land of Israel, and then dies. The text says he is buried, but does not clearly specify who actually buries him.
Rashbam: God’s Eyelid (Ha’azinu)
God protects us like the ishon of God’s eye. Most commentators understand ishon to mean pupil. But Rashbam suggests it means eyelid instead.
Rashbam: The Torah of Poetry (Vayeilech)
Moses talks about the poem he will be reciting to the Israelites – prompting Rashbam to share his thoughts on what exactly makes something poetry.
Rashbam: Sins of the Satiated or Thirsty (Nitzavim)
Rashbam and Rashi take on the difficult phrase “to the utter ruin of the moist and dry alike” – satiated sinners or thirsty sinners, who is worse?