Rashi Script 101

Learn to Read in Ketav Rashi
& Use Hebrew Fonts on Your Computer

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Lynn Chenel Icon Information

The Basics

Named after eleventh-century Jewish scholar, Rabbi Shlomo Yitzchaki, the Rashi script is essentially Hebrew letters in Sephardic cursive form. Alternatively, you may find the Rashi Script mentioned as ketav Rashi or ktav Rashi, both are Latinised versions of saying “Rashi script” in Hebrew [כתב רש”י].

Needless to say, the writing direction is right to left. Just like Hebrew, the Rashi script consists of 22 letters and five letters of the alphabet take a final form. That means the letters Khaf, Mem, Nun, Pei, Fei, and Tzadik will change form if they are the final letter of a word. Some sources may call it the “sofit form” which, again, translates to “final form” in Hebrew [סופית]. The rest of the letters remain the same regardless of placement.

The table below lists the Modern Hebrew alphabet and its Rashi script equivalent in block-letters which is the most commonly used form in printed materials. To the right side of each letter, you will find the final form; the letters which do not take a final form have a dash ( ) instead.

 If you are a beginner, bear in mind that the Hebrew alphabet uses an abjad, i.e. consonantary writing system; therefore the written words will consist of only consonants and long vowel sounds.

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Lynn Chenel Icon Printer

Printer-Friendly Version

Click here to download the black-and-white printable version of the table above. Best of luck with your studies!

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Lynn Chenel Icon Mouse

Rashi Fonts On Your Computer

Today, many computers will have default fonts for Hebrew readily installed. Unfortunately, these fonts only cover Modern Hebrew, and you will need to download a custom font to be able to use the Rashi Script on your pc. For any type of Hebrew font, The Open Siddur Project (an expansive open-source archive on Jewish liturgy and related paraphernalia) offers the most choice and all for free. The website currently offers three Sephardic fonts: Mekorot Rashi; BenOr Rashi; and Sofer Stam Sefarad. Note that Sofer Stam Sefarad is not actually in Rashi Script. Meanwhile, the Mekorot and BenOr fonts provide clean block letters in Rashi, and they both support niqqud

 I have used both Mekorot and BenOr fonts while digitalizing some sources and did not experience any problems. More often than not, I use Mekorot Rashi as I find its book-style lettering and typeface more commonplace amongst contemporary prints in Rashi script. However, I’d recommend opting for the BenOr font especially if you are dealing with earlier linguistic traditions, such as Biblical Hebrew, for the sake of appropriate punctuation.

IF EITHER FONT WILL SUFFICE:

  1. Download Mekorot Rashi or BenOr Rashi.
  2. Download the .ttf file. Some fonts may come Zipped (.zip). Make sure you extract any .zip files into .ttf files before proceeding.
  3. On Mac OS: Double click on the .ttf file and install. You’re done! On Microsoft: Click on Start and go to your Control Panel. Then select Fonts. Drag and drop the .ttf file into the Fonts folder. It installs automatically.

Or If You'd Rather Browse: 

  1. Go to the Fonts page
  2. Scroll down to fonts supporting niqqud only.
  3. Click on the Style column on orange background to alphabetise by font style.
  4. Scroll down for to Cursive Sepharadi. Not to be confused with Scribal Sepharadi.
  5. Click on the Font name and download the .ttf file. Some fonts may come Zipped (.zip). Make sure you extract any .zip files into .ttf files before proceeding.
  6. On Mac OS: Double click on the .ttf file and install. You’re done! On Microsoft: Click on Start and go to your Control Panel. Then select Fonts. Drag and drop the .ttf file into the Fonts folder. It installs automatically.

IF EITHER FONT WILL SUFFICE:

  1. Download Mekorot Rashi or BenOr Rashi.
  2. Download the .ttf file. Some fonts may come Zipped (.zip). Make sure you extract any .zip files into .ttf files before proceeding.
  3. On Mac OS: Double click on the .ttf file and install. You’re done! On Microsoft: Click on Start and go to your Control Panel. Then select Fonts. Drag and drop the .ttf file into the Fonts folder. It installs automatically.

 

 

 

 

 

 Or If You’d Rather Browse: 

  1. Go to the Fonts page
  2. Scroll down to fonts supporting niqqud only.
  3. Click on the Style column on the orange background to alphabetize by font style.
  4. Scroll down for to Cursive Sepharadi. Not to be confused with Scribal Sepharadi.
  5. Click on the Font name and download the .ttf file. Some fonts may come Zipped (.zip). Make sure you extract any .zip files into .ttf files before proceeding.
  6. On Mac OS: Double click on the .ttf file and install. You’re done! On Microsoft: Click on Start and go to your Control Panel. Then select Fonts. Drag and drop the .ttf file into the Fonts folder. It installs automatically.

IF EITHER FONT WILL SUFFICE:

  1. Download Mekorot Rashi or BenOr Rashi.
  2. Download the .ttf file. Some fonts may come Zipped (.zip). Make sure you extract any .zip files into .ttf files before proceeding.
  3. On Mac OS: Double click on the .ttf file and install. You’re done! On Microsoft: Click on Start and go to your Control Panel. Then select Fonts. Drag and drop the .ttf file into the Fonts folder. It installs automatically.

 

 

 

 Or If You’d Rather Browse: 

  1. Go to the Fonts page
  2. Scroll down to fonts supporting niqqud only.
  3. Click on the Style column on the orange background to alphabetize by font style.
  4. Scroll down for to Cursive Sepharadi. Not to be confused with Scribal Sepharadi.
  5. Click on the Font name and download the .ttf file. Some fonts may come Zipped (.zip). Make sure you extract any .zip files into .ttf files before proceeding.
  6. On Mac OS: Double click on the .ttf file and install. You’re done! On Microsoft: Click on Start and go to your Control Panel. Then select Fonts. Drag and drop the .ttf file into the Fonts folder. It installs automatically.

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Lynn Chenel Icon Pen

Changing The Writing Direction Of Your PC

Whether you are using a custom font you downloaded or the Modern Hebrew fonts readily available on your computer, you will need to change the default writing direction of your computer to RTL (right to left). I should clarify that calibrating the text alignment to the right end of a document is not the same as changing the writing direction of a document, and it will cause numerous issues such as odd punctuation mark placements and unintentional line-breaks. Follow the directions below to use RTL fonts on your computer without any of your documents glitching out:

For Mac OS: Applies to all iWork programs (Pages, Numbers, and Keynote)

  1. Launch any iWork program (such as pages)
  2. Go to Formatting on the grey bar at the very top of your screen
  3. Click on Text from the drop-down menu
  4. Select Reverse Text Direction
  5. You are done! You should be able to use any RTL font of your choice glitch-free.

For Microsoft: Applies to all Microsoft Office programs (Word, Excel, Access, Publisher, PowerPoint, and Outlook. The settings on Microsoft is more click-intensive than the Mac OS version so below are some images to help:

Lynn Chenel Rashi Script Text Alignment 0

1. Click on the small downward arrow on the title bar and select More Commands.

Lynn Chenel Rashi Script Text Alignment 1

2. Choose All Commands above the first column instead of the default Popular Commands. Scroll down to Left-to-Right Text Direction, then click on the right-facing arrow between the two columns. Scroll further down and repeat the same for Right-toLeft Text Direction. Hit Save and close settings window.

Lynn Chenel Rashi Script Text Alignment 2

3. You now added text-direction buttons to your title bar and can just click on the left and right arrows to change the writing direction of your document.

And you are all set!

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Also See:

Reader’s Ladino: Practice Reading Judaeo-Spanish through the Rashi Script Translation of The Little Prince

Deal with Dialects: How to Identify the Variegated Dialects of Ladino and create your own dictionary.

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