Rashi

Rabbi Shlomo Yitzchaki

Who Was Rashi? 

Rabbi Shlomo Yitzchaki (Latin: Salomon Isaacides; French: Salomon de Troyes, 1040 -1105), generally known by the acronym RASHI, was a medieval French Rabbi and author of a comprehensive commentary on the Talmud and commentary on the Hebrew Bible (the Tanakh). Acclaimed for his ability to present the basic meaning of the text in a concise and lucid fashion, Rashi appeals to both learned scholars and beginner students, and his works remain a centerpiece of contemporary Jewish study. His commentary on the Talmud, which covers nearly all of the Babylonian Talmud (a total of 30 out of 39 tractates, due to his death), has been included in every edition of the Talmud since its first printing by Daniel Bomberg in the 1520s. His commentary on Tanakh, especially on the Chumash ("Five Books of Moses"), serves as the basis for more than 300 "supercommentaries" which analyze Rashi's choice of language and citations, penned by some of the greatest names in rabbinic literature. [Source: Based on the Wikipedia article "Rashi"].

The Commentary of Rashi to the Torah (Pentateuch) became so popular with the Jewish masses that is was referred to as, "The Little Sister of the Torah." It was traditionally the first commentary that Jewish children became familiar with. Many Religious Jews make a point of Reading the Commentary of Rashi alongside the Weekly Torah Portion that is read out on Shabat in the Synagogue.
The work of Rashi is considered the most authoritative of all Commentators. This does not mean it has to be automatically accepted. Other Commentaries exist.
The Commentary of Rashi to the Prophets according to some was partly written by his students. Not everybody agrees with this however and it is accepted that no matter who wrote these sections they are still to be considered worthy of consideration.

From a Brit-Am Perspective:

Rashi in his Commentaries tot he Prophets often mentions the Lost Ten Tribes.

Rashi on Obadiah 1:20 says:

    "The first exile of the children of Israel who were exiled from the Ten Tribes to the land of Canaanites unto Zarephath... The exegetes say that Zarephath means  the Kingdom called `France' in common language.."