Nahmanides’ Disputes with Rashi as a Gateway to His Worldview

Although he highly praises Rashi’s Torah commentary, Nahmanides emphasizes that Rashi’s work is not beyond criticism. This article points out one aspect of Nahmandes’ disagreement with Rashi. Rashi, for his part, is willing to cite traditional Midrashic commentaries without significant additions, as...

Full description

Saved in:  
Bibliographic Details
Main Author: Yahalom, Shalem (Author)
Format: Electronic Article
Language:English
Check availability: HBZ Gateway
Journals Online & Print:
Drawer...
Fernleihe:Fernleihe für die Fachinformationsdienste
Published: Brill [2020]
In: The review of rabbinic Judaism
Year: 2020, Volume: 23, Issue: 2, Pages: 207-228
Further subjects:B Medieval Jewish Bible commentary
B Rashi
B Nahmanides
B Chiddushei HaRamban
Online Access: Volltext (Verlag)
Volltext (doi)
Description
Summary:Although he highly praises Rashi’s Torah commentary, Nahmanides emphasizes that Rashi’s work is not beyond criticism. This article points out one aspect of Nahmandes’ disagreement with Rashi. Rashi, for his part, is willing to cite traditional Midrashic commentaries without significant additions, assuming that tradition is an effective tool for transmitting reliable information. Nahmanides argued with Rashi over this claim. Rather than sufficing to repeat exegetical traditions, in his Torah commentary, Nahmanides expands them and raises alternatives. In this way, he asserts the importance of analyzing all information critically. This article demonstrates how reservations regarding tradition stand behind several exegetical and halakhic disputes between Rashi and Nahmanides. Through analyzing this principle, the study demonstrates how Nahmanides, under the guise of a guardian of tradition, constructed an original, creative spiritual world in the areas of exegesis, halakha, and kabbalah.
ISSN:1570-0704
Contains:Enthalten in: The review of rabbinic Judaism
Persistent identifiers:DOI: 10.1163/15700704-12341370