person · P0233

Rashbam רשב"ם

Rashi's grandson (son of his daughter Yocheved and R' Meir ben Shmuel), his student and boldest continuator: champion of uncompromising peshat in his Torah commentary, completer of Rashi's unfinished Talmud commentary on Bava Batra and Pesachim. Elder brother and teacher of Rabbeinu Tam.

I. Who

Hebrew
רשב"ם
Also known as
Shmuel ben Meir
Era
rishonim
Received the mesorah from
Rashi
Transmitted the mesorah to
Rabbeinu Tam
Teachers
Rashi
Students
Rabbeinu Tam

II. When

Traditional
c. 4845–4918 AM
Academic
c. 1085–1158 CE
Lifespan (traditional)
≈73 years
Precision
approximate

III. Where

Places
Ramerupt, Troyes

V. How do we know

ClaimEvidenceConfidenceSources
His reception from Rashi is attested in his own commentary: "and also Rabbeinu Shlomo, the father of my mother... I debated with him and before him, and he admitted to me that had he the time he would have needed to make new commentaries according to the plain meanings that newly emerge every day." rabbinic ★★★★★
He also received from his father R' Meir ben Shmuel, Rashi's son-in-law and one of the first Tosafists — not yet in the atlas, so recorded here as a claim only. tradition ★★★☆☆
He completed Rashi's unfinished Bavli commentary: the printed commentary on most of Bava Batra (from folio 29 onward) and on the last chapter of Pesachim is the Rashbam's — direct engagement with the written Talmud, the basis of the writings-reception edge. rabbinic ★★★★☆
Shmuel ben Meir; son of Meir ben Shmuel and of Yocheved daughter of Rashi, and elder brother of Rabbeinu Tam and of Yitzchak (Rivam). rabbinic ★★★★☆
  • Tosafot, standard family designations; Sefer HaYashar (Rabbeinu Tam), references to his brother
Kept livestock and worked in viticulture as his livelihood, alongside his teaching.
Commonly stated; the research pass has not located a single citable primary locus and have kept confidence low accordingly.
rabbinic ★★☆☆☆
  • Northern French tosafist responsa and later reports on the Ramerupt household's economy
The commentary printed on the tenth chapter of Pesachim (Arvei Pesachim) is attributed to him.
The attribution is standard but has been questioned; the research pass has not asserted an exact starting daf because the research pass could not verify it.
rabbinic ★★★☆☆
  • Pesachim, tenth chapter, commentary printed in place of Rashi in standard editions
Wrote a continuous commentary on the Torah, transmitted separately from Rashi's, of which parts (including the opening of Genesis) are lost from the surviving manuscript tradition.
Authorship and transmission fact; content excluded per scope.
rabbinic ★★★★☆
  • Peirush HaRashbam al HaTorah, manuscript tradition