The Medieval Rabbi Who Tried to Read Scripture without Tradition

In the first half of the 12th century, Rabbi Samuel ben Meir of Troyes (known as the Rashbam) set out to write a new commentary on the Pentateuch, modeled on the revolutionary one composed by his illustrious grandfather, Solomon ben Isaac (Rashi). Here Samuel sought to interpret Scripture entirely on its own terms, casting aside rabbinic interpretive traditions. Yet, as Martin Lockshin explains in conversation with J.J. Kimche, Samuel was not some sort of heterodox radical, but an accomplished talmudist who showed no sign of rejecting rabbinic authority. Lockshin explains this exegete’s motivations, methodology, underlying theology, influences on Christian scholars, and much else. (Audio, 59 minutes.)