"The Anthology contains about 4,100 choice selections, embracing theology, religion, ethical conduct, human relationships, education, nature, history, biography, poetry, stories. In marginal note illuminating references and comparisons of texts are given and sources are traced to the vast ancient and medieval Hebrew literature from which Rashi drew abundantly and which has tremendously influences his copious works. The Anthology also includes a poem on Rashi by Abraham ibn Ezra, and brief statements by medieval and renaissance scholars appraisinig his personality and his works." (verso of t.p.)

Rabbi Shlomo ben Yitzhak, called Rashi (1040 – 1105)was the outstanding Biblical commentator of the Middle Ages. He was born in Troyes, France. He studied with the greatest student of Rabbenu Gershom of Mainz. At twenty-five, he founded his own academy in France.

Rashi's commentary on the Bible was unique. His concern was for every word in the text which needed elaboration or explanation. Moreover, he used the fewest words possible in his commentaries. Besides explaining individual words, Rashi also made much use of midrash. Rashi applied the stories specifically to the Bible text; often abridging them. He assumed that his students knew the midrash; he just emphasized its immediate relevance to the TaNaCH.

Rashi is also important for students of French. Many words in the Bible were unknown to Rashi's students, and obviously there would ask what a particular word meant and Rashi would give the answer in Old French using Hebrew transliteration. These transliterations provide important insights into the development of French and its pronunciation.

Rashi's also wrote a commentary on the Talmud. The Talmud was written in legalese: terse, unexplained language with no punctuation. Rashi provided a simple explanation of all Gemara discussions. He explained all of the terse phrases; he explained the principles and concepts assumed by the sages who put together the Gemara. His simple, brief explanations for practically every phrase of the Gemara made the Talmud understandable to the non-scholar. To this day, it is unthinkable to study Talmud without studying Rashi's commentary at the same time.

שלושה שערים בראש הילקוט. שער מיוחד לחלק ב (עמ' [303]-676). שני שערים נוספים באנגלית: ,Anthology of Rashi in two parts Illustrated with illuminating notes, by Saul Kleiman ... בשער השלישי המפורט: אוצר ספרותי המכיל כארבעת אלפים ומאה ליקוטים מובחרים על אלהות, הבריאה והטבע; עמים וארצות; אבות ישראל ומנהיגיו; האדם ויחסו למקום ולבריות; חיים ובריאות; התורה ודורשיה; חנוך, מדות ומוסר ... מדרשי שמות ותיבות ... דברי פיוט, שירה וספור... ערוכים ומסודרים לפי עניניהם ומאורעותיהם במאה וארבעים ואחד נושאים ... ביבליוגרפיה ותמונות ... עמ' [22]: לכבוד רש"י, מאת ר' אברהם אבן עזרא. שיר. פותח: כוכב דרך מצרפתא מחנה ערך על יטבתא. "הבאתיו בהשמטות כפי שנמצא ב'אוצר השירה והמליצה', [אודיסה תרפ"ב], מאת י[שראל] ח[יים] טביוב". אוצר השירה והפיוט, ב, עמ' 468, מס' 139.