Tag Archives: Rashi

One Water, Many Wells

02 Saturday Apr 2016

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“Divided as we may be by religion, we are united by charity.”

-Rashi
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Rabbi Shlomo Carlebach, of blessed memory, was at an ecumenical gathering where someone commented that all faiths are headed to the same place, just by different roads. He begged to differ. “We are all on the same road,” he said, “we are just wearing different shoes!”
The word charity traces its origins back to the Latin word caritas, originally  meaning preciousness, dearness, high price. From this, in Christian theology, caritas became the standard Latin translation for the Greek word Αγάπη, meaning an unconditional love for others. It is this latter sense that Rashi would have understood the word, in French,  charité.
Rashi is saying something very simple here- that we may be divided by custom, belief or theology, but when we get to the core of every religion or spiritual path, we find a common theme- unconditional love for others. This is the “water of life” that flows in every religious well. The wells may differ in size, shape, depth or location, but they all tap into the same groundwater. No matter your faith of origin or adoption, you can jump right in – the water’s fine!
How can you “share the water” with someone of a different “well” today?
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Shlomo Yitzchaki( 22 February 1040 – 13 July 1105), generally known by the acronym Rashi (RAbbi SHlomo Itzhaki), was a medieval French rabbi and author of a comprehensive commentary on the Talmud and commentary on the Tanakh (Hebrew Bible). Acclaimed for his ability to present the basic meaning of the text in a concise and lucid fashion, Rashi appeals to both learned scholars and beginning students, and his works remain a centerpiece of contemporary Jewish study. His commentary on the Talmud has been included in every edition of the Talmud since its first printing by Daniel Bomberg in the 1520s. His commentary on Tanach—especially on the Chumash (“Five Books of Moses”)—is an indispensable aid to students of all levels. The latter commentary alone serves as the basis for more than 300 “supercommentaries” which analyze Rashi’s choice of language and citations, penned by some of the greatest names in rabbinic literature.

Joe Laur is a father, husband, naturalist, executive, consultant, and a lowly rabbinic student. Send him your favorite teaching quote for commentary. He can be reached at joe.laur@godsdog.net.