The major Torah commentators
The Torah has been read for a thousand years alongside its great commentators — the meforshim — whose explanations are printed right beside the text. The most influential include Rashi (clarity), Ramban (mysticism and depth), Ibn Ezra (grammar and plain meaning), and Sforno (ethical and philosophical insight). Learning "with the commentators" means reading the Torah through these trusted voices, each bringing a different lens to the same verse. They are how the tradition teaches you to read.
Who are the major commentators?
- Rashi (France, 1040–1105) — the indispensable clarifier; concise and beginner-friendly (who was Rashi?).
- Ramban / Nachmanides (Spain, 13th c.) — deep, often mystical, engaging Rashi and others.
- Ibn Ezra (12th c.) — focused on grammar and the plain sense (peshat) of the text.
- Sforno (Italy, 15th–16th c.) — ethical and philosophical readings.
- Rashbam, Radak, and others — each adding a distinct voice to the conversation.
Why read the Torah with commentators?
The Torah is famously spare, and its meaning opens up through interpretation. Reading with the commentators turns a verse into a conversation across centuries — Rashi asks "what's bothering the reader here?", Ibn Ezra checks the grammar, Ramban probes the depths. Learning to hear these voices is learning how to read Torah, not just what it says. (See how to learn the parsha with commentary.)
In short: the major Torah commentators — Rashi, Ramban, Ibn Ezra, Sforno, and more — each read the text through a different lens, and learning with them is how the tradition teaches you to read.
Learn with the commentators through Derekh Learning
Derekh Learning's lessons weave in classic commentary, grounded in real sources, in a voice that fits you. Start learning or read who Rashi was.
