Glosses to Rashi

Thought to have been born in Italy, Shemaiah of Troyes was a student of Solomon ben Isaac (Rashi) in Troyes. He was apparently the father-in-law of Rashi’s grandson Samuel ben Meir (Rashbam). Shemaiah’s most enduring contribution was his editing of Rashi’s works, most prominently the commentary on the Torah and Rashi’s responsa. The earliest and most important copy of Rashi’s commentary on the Torah is a copy of Shemaiah’s own copy of that work. Some of Shemaiah’s own exegetical insights migrated into the text of Rashi’s commentary but have been traced to their author through study of the manuscripts. Shemaiah also wrote talmudic commentaries, piyyutim (liturgical poetry), and, if he is to be identified with Shemaiah of Soissons, a midrashic collection.