Rav Shlomo Yitzchaki Rashi HaKodosh

Rav Shlomo Yitzchaki (Rashi)(1040-1105). He traced his ancestry through the Tanna’im Rav Yochanan HaSandlar and Hillel the Elder back to King Dovid. He received his early talmudic training from his father, Rav Yitzchak. At a young age he went to Worms, Germany, to broaden his knowledge under Rav Yaakov ben Yakar. At the age of 25 he returned to his native Troyes. Amazingly, Rashi accomplished all his work during the Period of the Crusades, when life was extremely dangerous for the Jews. Rashi had three daughters, who were great scholars in their own right, but also were married to men of greatness, and had children known as the “Baalei Tosafos,” the most famous of whom, Rav Yaakov ben Meir, was known as Rabbeinu Tam.