Rashi Signs

Rashi signs (Hebrew: סימני רש"י, Simanei Rashi) are a set of cantillation marks used in the masoretic text of the Hebrew Bible to indicate the musical chanting of the text during liturgical services. These signs, attributed to the medieval Jewish scholar Rashi (Rabbi Shlomo Yitzchaki), are part of the broader system of ta'amim (cantillation marks) that guide the melodic recitation of the Torah, Prophets, and Writings. The Rashi signs are particularly associated with the parsha (weekly Torah portion) and are used to distinguish it from the haftarah (prophetic reading), which employs a different set of cantillation marks known as the Targum signs. In French, these signs are referred to as signes de Rachi, and in German, they are known as Raschi-Zeichen. The Rashi signs play a crucial role in the oral tradition of Jewish liturgy, ensuring the accurate and melodious recitation of the sacred text.