We all know that Rashi is BEYOND amazing. There is no Rabbi who works are studied as much as Rashi. Think about it - everybody who learns gemara learns with Rashi. Nobody else is as popular. No other commentator on Chumash is learned with the frequency of Rashi. There have been HUNDREDS of sefarim [called "super commentaries"] written just on Rashi on Chumash. His commentary on Nach is also a super classic.
[And to think that he wasn't even a full time kollel fellow. From his wiki page: It is thought by some that Rashi earned his living as a vintner (sounds like a European trying to explain why the weather is so cold E.E.) since Rashi shows an extensive knowledge of its utensils and process, but there is no evidence for this. Most scholars and a Jewish oral tradition contend that he was a vintner. The only reason given for the centuries-old tradition that he was a vintner being not true is that the soil in all of Troyes is not optimal for wine growing grapes, claimed by the research of Rabbi Chaim Soloveitchik. Earlier references such as a reference to an actual seal from his vineyard are said not to prove that he sold wine but just that fermented his grapes for his own use .]
One of the special aspects of Rashi is the every beginner has to look in Rashi for the simple meaning of the text which Rashi readily serves up in a concise and clear manner. Yet, the greatest Roshei Yeshiva and Gedolei Olam find treasures of depth in Rashi. Of course, every level in between also can derive great benefit from Rashi's commentary. There are many darkei limmud - the Brisker derech, the Galitzianisher derech, the Hungarsiher derech, the Sefardi derech etc. etc. but, wonder of wonders - they all use Rashi as their primary text!!
The late Professor Yisrael Ta Shma [yes, that was really his name. Too good to make up] put it:
Wow!! זכותו יגן עלינו!!!!
