Eric Lawee, Professor, Bar-Ilan University

Eric Lawee is Professor of Bible at Bar-Ilan University where he specializes in Jewish biblical interpretation in medieval and modern times. He holds the Weiser Chair for Research into Medieval Jewish Biblical Interpretation and directs Bar-Ilan's Institute for Jewish Bible Interpretation. He recently served as Shoshana Shier Distinguished Visiting Professor for Jewish Studies at the University of Toronto. His studies appear in leading journals of Jewish studies, religious studies, and medieval studies. His first book, Isaac Abarbanel's Stance Toward Tradition: Defense, Dissent, and Dialogue (2001), won a Canadian Jewish Book Award and was a finalist for a National Jewish Book Award.

Winner of the Jewish Book Council Nahum M. Sarna Memorial Award in Scholarship

"His work is [written] from a palpably interdisciplinary angle. From this point of view, it uncovers an entire cultural world that until now had only been known in bit and pieces. Hence, this book is of great importance for the understanding of an interpretive and theological dynamic and tracing the coming into existence of cultural modalities of knowledge transmission in late medieval times." - Dov Schwartz, Shnaton: An Annual for Biblical and Ancient Near Eastern Studies

"This lucid and comprehensive book should be found in every library of Judaica. It should be studied in courses in the history of Jewish exegesis of Scripture, and it should be on the desk of every teacher, scholar, and student who cherishes the third most important book in the Jewish sacred canon." - Mayer I. Gruber, The Review of Rabbinic Judaism

"Lawee's masterful book is really two works in one. The second is the more academically novel, but the first is both stunningly impressive and of greater interest to RBL readers." - Aaron Koller, Society of Biblical Literature

"... in every way remarkable, expressed in rich language, at times subtle in thought and informed by theories of hermeneutics beyond the basic requirements of the history of Jewish commentaries, yet always clearly expressed." - Jean-Pierre Rothschild, Revue des études juives

"The study is ambitious in its scope, thoroughly researched and authoritative, judicious in its evaluations and extremely well written... The story of the Commentary's modern reception remains to be told, Lawee has certainly done an excellent job in tracing its vicissitudes during the centuries of the late Middle Ages. This is a remarkable story and Lawee has told it well. It is a demanding read, but an enlightening and rewarding one." - Barry Dov Walfish, Journal of Jewish Studies

"It is very unusual for a scholar to identify a subject of manifestly great importance that has barely been addressed, but Eric Lawee has succeeded in doing so...We owe Lawee a debt of gratitude for his sweeping, learned, and original contribution to our understanding of how this classic text achieved its well-deserved renown." - David Berger, Yeshiva University, Tradition

"An important work to be able to appreciate the impact of Rashi's biblical exegesis on posterity and to understand a good deal of medieval and modern Jewish exegesis." - Carlos del Valle Rodriguez, Iberia Judaica

"Within this master work Lawee has offered a rich sample of the treasures to be found in supercommentarial literature, a field in which he has been a pioneer." - Yedida Eisenstat, Emory University, AJS Review

"Within the robust and multifaceted literature of medieval Jews, heavily characterized by the genre of commentary, Rashi (Rabbi Solomonben Isaac, 1040-1105) stands out as the commentator par excellence...Lawee has penned what should prove to be the classic study of the history of the reception of the classic Jewish commentary on the Bible." - Michael A. Shmidman, Touro College, Speculum

"In short, this is a magisterium-and an essential read for all who desire to quote from RCT in their own works." - Daniel J. Crowther, Journal for the Study of the Old Testament

"I enthusiastically recommend this book as providing a valuable orientation to late medieval and early modern Jewish biblical exegesis, which represents a "golden age" well worth the attention of modern scholars of the Bible. Illuminating discussions among the various medieval exegetes on the interpretation of specific biblical passages are found throughout." - Bulletin for Biblical Research

"Throughout, we find specific references to familiar passages in Rashi that we are made to see through fresh eyes. This alone makes the book valuable even to readers who are not concerned with the overarching historical trajectory that renders the study so significant." - David Berger, Tradition

"Through meticulous scholarship and a vibrant writing style, Lawee takes us on a journey as we follow the twists and turns of this adventure, as the commentary's reach extended around the world...Lawee's book is an example of exemplary scholarship written in a style that will keep you engaged and turning its pages." - Jewish Book Council Award

"[a] lovely and extraordinarily fruitful book [a] supremely well informed and brilliant volume" - Saverio Campanini, Materia giudaica 24

"an essential contribution to the discussion...Lawee's research covers centuries of reactions to Rashi from Jews around the world...[an] excellent book." - Martin Lockshin, The Canadian Jewish News

"After finishing this book, one feels that one has just put down a great piece of scholarship. A book that is deserving of its forthcoming awards. One that will now be on the reading list of every Jewish educator who teaches Rashi and on the reading list of every graduate student. The years put into this project show in the wonderful final product. ... This book is groundbreaking for opening up new avenues of research on Rashi's thought, on medieval intellectual trends, and on the exegetic imagination." - Alan Brill, Cooperman/Ross Endowed Professor in the Department of Religion at Seton Hall University

"excellent book" - Canadian Jewish News