Dr. Pinchas Doron ventures into a number of hitherto unexplored fields in the explanation of Rashi. The author's objectives are accomplished in several stages. An entirely new translation of the biblical verse is given, one which reflects Rashi's comments on the verse. This new approach of making the translation subordinate to Rashi's commentary is an innovation in biblical interpretation. In the other treatments, the English version and Rashi's commentary were not coordinated and were often even mutually exclusive, with the result that the readers often felt lost. The text of Rashi is translated into simple, lucid English. This translation is followed by the Companion which serves as a super-commentary. It presents all the questions and problems arising from a simple reading of the Hebrew verse, which Rashi's comments are designed to answer. The Companion develops in detail the religious, philosophical, and ethical ideas and ideals that are stated by Rashi, very briefly, or are only hinted at. Above all, the Companion shows in numerous passages how Rashi's comments are in line with the basic principles which guided Rashi in his interpretation of the Torah. This work does not require any knowledge of Hebrew. Where philological considerations are necessitated giving some Hebrew forms, they are given in transliteration and translated into English.
by Pinchas Doron