[Avodah] Today, the 29th of Tammuz, is the Yahrzeit of Rashi, who died 903 years ago.

[Cantor Wolberg]

A wonderful story is told about the birth of Rashi: His father, Rabbi  
Yitzchak once found a rare diamond. "Now, there would be no more  
poverty," he thought and went to sell  
the                                         precious stone to the  
local jeweler. The jeweler hadn't enough money to pay for such a large  
diamond, and suggested to the bishop to buy it. Now the bishop had  
been looking for                                                such a  
diamond for he wanted to put it on his cross. He offered a huge amount  
of money for it. When Rabbi Yitzchak heard for what purpose the bishop  
wanted the stone, he  
refused                                              to sell it. He  
knew, however, that if he did not sell the stone, it would be taken  
from him forcibly, and so he threw it into the sea. A Heavenly Voice  
then resounded: "For this great  
sacrifice                                  you will be blessed with a  
son that will outshine all the precious stones in the world, and the  
light of his Torah will shine for ever." The following year a son was  
born to him,                                                    and he  
called him Solomon, saying, may God grant him wisdom like unto King  
Solomon.
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